Washington (April 11, 2019) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement today in opposition to the nomination of David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Interior.

“David Bernhardt is nothing more than another pawn of Big Oil at the Department of Interior,” said Senator Markey, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. “He wants to fast track drilling in the Arctic Refuge and undermine environmental protections for the truly last wild place in America. Mr. Bernhardt will be a rubber stamp for the Trump administration’s effort to massively expand offshore drilling off our beaches and coastlines. This would threaten our fishing and tourism industries in Massachusetts and up and down the East and West Coasts.

“Mr. Bernhardt’s background as a lobbyist for Big Oil is the sole qualification Donald Trump wants or cares about for his Secretary of the Interior, and it is what disqualifies David Bernhardt from being the steward of our public lands.”  

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