IPPA congratulates Bernhardt on Senate confirmation as Interior Deputy Secretary

The U.S. Senate confirmed David Bernhardt as Interior Department Secretary this week with a vote of 53 to 43 roughly
along party lines, inspiring a congratulatory statement from the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPPA).

“For years, David Bernhardt has been a champion for America’s independent producers –mostly small, family-owned businesses with an average of 15 employees,” IPPA Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Political Affairs Dan Naatz said. “David understands the complex nature of federal land management. With his extensive public policy experience in the executive and legislative branches, as well as in private practice, David is skillfully able to traverse tough policymaking on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and other important federal land management issues.”

Bernhardt served as solicitor general under President George W. Bush. He has also served as counselor and deputy chief of staff
to former DOI Secretary Gale Norton and director of the department’s Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. In 2011, Bernhardt took over the natural resources law division a Washington DC-based law firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP.

“He is a steady hand and seeks to find workable solutions to further Interior’s mission of balancing the need to preserve and protect federal lands with reasonable development of those areas,” Naatz said. “On behalf of independent producers across the nation, IPAA congratulates David on his Senate confirmation and we look forward to continuing to work with him in this new leadership role at the Department of the Interior.”