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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate former U.S. 
4Representative Debra Anne "Deb" Haaland on her confirmation as 
5U.S. Secretary of the Interior; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Secretary Haaland was born in Winslow, Navajo 
7County, Arizona on December 2, 1960; she graduated from 
8Highland High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1978; she 
9earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of 
10New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1994; she earned her 
11Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 
122006; she is a registered member of the Laguna Pueblo; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Prior to her appointment, Secretary Haaland held 
14a number of leadership positions; she was a delegate at the 
15Democratic National Convention in 2008; she served as a tribal 
16administrator for the San Felipe Pueblo from 2013 to 2015; she 
17chaired the New Mexico Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017; she 
18was elected as U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 1st 
19Congressional District in 2018, making her one of the first 
20Native American women elected to the House of Representatives; 
21she was reelected in 2020; and
  
 
22    WHEREAS, Secretary Haaland was nominated for Secretary of 
 
 
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1the Interior by President Biden on December 17, 2020; she was 
2confirmed by the Senate on March 15, 2021; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Secretary Haaland is the first Native American 
4Secretary of the Interior since the department's inception in 
51849 and the first Native American cabinet member in U.S. 
6history; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Secretary Haaland's nomination is as symbolic as 
8it is historic; she will be responsible for managing the 
9Interior Department, a department once used as a tool of 
10oppression against the Indigenous peoples of the U.S.; her 
11unique background and  experience will be an asset to all 
12American citizens; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
14HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
15we congratulate former U.S. Representative Debra Anne "Deb" 
16Haaland on her confirmation as U.S. Secretary of the Interior; 
17and be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to Secretary Haaland as an expression of our esteem 
20and respect.