Center for Biological Diversity

For Immediate Release, January 31, 2017

Contact: Brett Hartl, (202) 817-8121, bhartl@biologicaldiversity.org

Statement in Response to Rep. Ryan Zinke's Nomination for Secretary of Interior Advancing to Senate Floor Vote

WASHINGTON— The Senate Energy and Natural Resource committee today voted to recommend Rep. Ryan Zinke as the next secretary of the Interior. If confirmed, Zinke would be responsible for overseeing the protection of more than 1,500 endangered species and more than 500 million acres of America's public lands.

“If Zinke acts as he did in Congress, he will bring untold harm to native wildlife and America's public lands,” said Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity. “During his short time in Congress, Zinke voted against public lands, endangered species and the environment 97 percent of the time. And when it came to endangered species, he voted against protecting them 100 percent of the time.”

“Zinke has consistently fought to increase coal mining, hard rock mining, oil and gas drilling, logging and grazing on public lands. And he has led legislation to turn over management authority of public lands to state-appointed panels. There is no question that Zinke intends to ramp up mining, drilling and fracking to the detriment of some of our nation's most beautiful wild places. When this nomination goes to the Senate floor, every senator who cares about preserving imperiled wildlife and America's natural heritage should vote against this dangerous choice.”

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

www.biologicaldiversity.org

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