Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Obama Picks Senator Ken Salazar For Interior Department

President Elect Barack Obama has selected Hispanic Colorado Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) to be his Secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). Salazar, right, received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1981 and after a short private practice was elected as Attorney General for the State of Colorada in 1998. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. While in the Senate, Salazar voted against increasing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, against repealing tax breaks for oil companies, and he favors increased offshore oil drilling.

The Mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to the Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor trust responsibilities to Indian Tribes and commitments to island communities. Interior has established goals that encompass the major responsibilities of the Department. These goals provide a framework for the strategic plans of Interior's bureaus. The Departmental goals are as follows:

Resource Protection - Protect the Nation's Natural, Cultural, and Heritage Resources
Resource Use - Manage Resources to Promote Responsible Use and Sustain a Dynamic Economy Recreation - Provide recreation opportunities for America
Serving Communities - Safeguard lives, property and assets, advance scientific knowledge, and improve the quality of life for communities we serve

These goals are pursued through eight DOI bureaus:

1) Bureau of Indian Affairs

2) Bureau of Land Management

3) Bureau of Reclamation

4) Minerals Management Service

5) National Park Service

6) Office of Surface Mining

7) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

8) U.S. Geological Survey

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