Outdoor Industry Association called on its members to write their U.S. Senators to support President Obamas nomination of industry leader and REI CEO Sally Jewell to be the next Secretary of the Interior even as an Alaska senator threatened to block the nomination over a recent ruling by the department..
On March 7, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing to consider her nomination.
We need your help to create a loud and vocal chorus in support of her nomination, OIA wrote in a plea to its members Wednesday. Sally is an excellent choice for this job. She recognizes that our nations natural resources support the economy, local communities and the people whose lives depend on having access to quality places in the great outdoors.
OIA urges supports to share their support for the nomination by visiting its Take Action page. There, you can:
- Look up your senators
- Download the sample letter (customize if you wish)
- Send to your senators (Deadline March 5)
- Spread the word through your social media channels
Partipants are asked to submit letters by March 5.
Meanwhile, news broke Thursday that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the senior Republican on the Senate Energy Committee, said she is prepared to block Jewells confirmation as part of her efforts to convince the Department of Interior (DOI) to reverse its ruling on a road to a remote Alaskan town.
The contested road would run through a national wildlife refuge to connect King Cove, AK with an airport in Cold Bay. The road would greatly expedite medical evacuations for the approximately 1,000 residents of King Cove, but the DOI ruled earlier this month that the road would cause permanent damage to the refuge, which is home to grizzly bears, caribou, waterfowl and shorebirds.
Bloomberg news reported that Murkowski met with Jewell for an hour Wednesday to discuss the issue. On Tuesday, Murkowski voted against confirming former Sen. Chuck Hagel as the new Secretary of Defense. Hagel was confirmed 58-41.
