During a recent business meeting of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), who serves as the Ranking Member, voted against advancing several key nominations, including that of former Congressman Steve Pearce for Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Senator Heinrich explained his opposition to Pearce’s nomination by referencing both Pearce’s testimony and his previous record on public lands. “And while Congressman Pearce has said that his past actions opposing national monument designations and calling for public land sell-offs are in his rearview mirror, they remain very much in the memory of every New Mexican who faced his opposition to protecting the lands that they cherish,” Heinrich stated.
Heinrich acknowledged Pearce’s assurances before the committee that he would not recommend reversing national monument designations and recognized BLM’s legal limitations regarding large-scale sell-offs of public lands. However, Heinrich said he remains cautious about such commitments given past experiences with nominees from the Trump administration.
Heinrich also voted against Kyle Haustveit for Under Secretary of Energy and David LaCerte for a full term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He cited concerns over energy policy direction and alignment with long-term innovation goals at the Department of Energy. Regarding Haustveit, Heinrich said: “Mr. Haustveit’s insistence on picking the ‘best of the above’ energy sources is inconsistent with the ‘all-of-the-above’ policy that Democrats and Republicans alike have championed for decades.”
Heinrich further criticized current administration policies, stating: “This administration is creating a grid crisis, it’s killing good union jobs, and it’s raising electricity prices with its back-to-the-past energy policies, and until this administration respects the will of Congress, I cannot in good conscience support its nominees.”
The meeting also addressed pending legislation related to public lands. Heinrich voiced support for bills such as one establishing the Ralph David Abernathy National Historic Site and another resolving land issues in Carson City, Nevada. He also highlighted collaboration with Chairman Lee on legislation benefiting Price, Utah.
However, Heinrich opposed two specific bills: S. 2787 (the Grasslands Grazing Act) and S. 3527 (the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act). On grazing management reform efforts like S. 2787, he noted ongoing challenges due to automatic permit renewals without agency review: “Sixty percent of acres on Bureau of Land Management land that are currently being grazed are under automatic renewals without any review by agency staff.” While supporting consistency in management practices, he objected to expanding perpetual renewals without oversight.
Regarding S. 3527, which relates to public land conservation changes without corresponding additions elsewhere, Heinrich said: “But I cannot support removing public land conservation in some places, without adding it in places where conservation is broadly supported by local communities and elected leaders.”
A video recording of Senator Heinrich's opening remarks from March 4 is available online.
