Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, speaking to the to the 111th Congress of American Indians Tribal Nations Legislative Summit, today highlighted more than $2 billion in President Obama’s economic recovery package to create jobs and economic opportunity in Indian Country.

Topic: The Secretary says close to a half billion of the money will come through Interior Department Programs. (Text)

Topic:  Secretary Salazar says that Indian country will play a key role and benefit economically from the administration’s renewable energy development plans. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar pledges to make education a top priority. (Text)

Topic: ecretary Salazar commented on the ongoing Cobell litigation. (Text)

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar met with the Senate Indian Affairs committee on Capitol Hill on Thursday, February 12 to address the new administration’s commitment to Native Americans.

Topic: Secretary Salazar on the priority of Native American issues within the Obama Administration. (Text)

Topic:  Secretary Salazar's comments on economic recovery plan's investments in Native American communities. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar on the need to bolster law enforcement in Indian Country: (Text)

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a strategy Tuesday, February 10, extending public comment period on a proposed 5-year plan for oil and gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and calling for a detailed report from Interior agencies on conventional and renewable offshore energy resources.

Topic: The Secretary says he will extend the comment period on the Bush administration’s 5-year plan by 180 days. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar has directed scientists in the USGS and MMS to assemble all available information on offshore gas, oil and renewable resources, to help guide decisions on an offshore energy strategy.(Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar will convene meetings in coastal areas to hear from stakeholders on offshore energy development. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar describes the scale of what is at stake, given the area that the Department of the Interior oversees in the Outer Continental Shelf is nearly ¾ the size of the United States landmass. (Text)

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar was joined by Senator Benjamin Cardin, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Congressman John Sarbanes on Monday Februay 9 at the Patuxent Research Refuge and Wildlife Research Center in Maryland to highlight the job creation and conservation benefits of President Obama’s economic recovery plan, which is currently before Congress.

Topic: The Secretary says the projects submitted as part of the stimulus package meet the criteria of job creation. (Text)

Topic: The research refuge, located between Washington and Baltimore, gained national renown as the place where researchers discovered the link between the pesticide DDT and the decline of many bird species. Secretary Salazar pledged he will work hard with the President to get the stimulus package passed. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar says the 100,000 jobs that could be created by the Department of the Interior will help to stand up the country’s economy again. (Text)

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today withdrew 77 contested BLM oil and gas leases citing a need to review environmental considerations and consultation with other agencies as well as their proximity to national treasures. Below are excerpts from Wednesday’s teleconference on the decision.

Topic: Secretary Salazar says the 77 leases were withdrawn to insure proper consultation with affected agencies and for environmental review. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar says he will seek balance in use of the public’s natural resources and that oil and gas will continue to be part of America’s energy portfolio. (Text)

Topic: The area of the leases included Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, and Nine Mile Canyon. Secretary Salazar said the nation’s treasures must be protected. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar repeated his charge from the President to reform the Department of the Interior on behalf of the American People. (Text)

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar hosted a "pen and pad" meeting with journalists Wednesday morning in Washington D.C. and via teleconference. Below are excerpts from that meeting.

Topic: The Secretary says his first priority is to restore the integrity and confidence of the American people. (Text)

Topic: On the issue of energy production on public lands, Secretary Salazar says the Department of the Interior has a very central role in the nation's energy future. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar says that energy exploration and global warming are strongly linked by science from USGS and the FWS. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar comments on water conflicts and competing needs of agriculture, wildlife and municipalities. (Text)

Topic: Secretary Salazar says he wants to restore collaboration between the United States of America and Indian tribes across the country. (Text)

Topic: Community Service is a key White House Initiative to engage citizens, many for the first time, to participate in public service. The Department of the Interior Department has many opportunities for volunteers, Secretary Salazar said. (Text)

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will meet with the staff of the Minerals Management Service's Denver office on January 29, 2009 and announce the first steps of his agenda to undertake reform at the Department of the Interior. The Secretary will hold a press conference following the meeting.