Conservation groups back Grijalva for Interior secretary
by B. William Poole on Dec. 09, 2008, under Local, Nation/World, Special
Grijalva
More than 100 environmental groups from across the nation have urged President-elect Barack Obama to pick U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva to lead the Department of the Interior.
Grijalva, a former Pima County supervisor who represents the 7th Congressional District in the House of Representatives, is among top contenders for secretary of the Interior.
In a letter dated Dec. 8, the groups praised the Tucsonan’s longstanding dedication to environmental protection. Highlighted was Grijalva’s work to develop the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, which protects more local species than does the endangered species list.
“We believe that congressman Grijalva’s demonstrated strength in navigating these sensitive issues and his commitment to science-based decision-making will serve the Interior well,” the letter says.
Groups that signed the letter include the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, the Tucson Audubon Society and the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. Nineteen of the 100-plus groups are based in Arizona.
Grijalva, who is in his third term, has long been a conservation advocate. In Congress, he serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and is chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
Last month, he issued a report critical of what he called the Bush administration’s “assault on public lands.”
