Udall Welcomes President's Swift Nomination of New Head for U.S. Interior Department
Promises to Question REI CEO Sally Jewell on Her Vision for Managing Public Lands in Colorado, the West
Mark Udall thanked President Obama today for quickly nominating Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) President and CEO Sally Jewell to succeed former Colorado Senator Ken Salazar as the head of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Udall, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and chairs the National Parks Subcommittee, has worked with Jewell in the past. He said he looks forward to meeting with her and discussing her vision for the department.
"As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I will have a hand in ensuring that Sally Jewell has the skills and policy acumen to carry out the important work of the Interior Department and uphold the legacy left by Ken Salazar and many others there," Udall said. "I appreciate her private-sector experience as head of one of the foremost outdoor equipment retailers, and I look forward to speaking with her about her vision for managing our public lands and how she would attack the challenges we face in Colorado and the West."
Jewell started her career working for Mobil Oil Corporation in Colorado and Oklahoma.
Udall is an outspoken advocate of the vital role public lands play in Colorado and the West in creating jobs and supporting economic growth. He has worked with the Interior Department on issues ranging from wildlife conservation to energy development.
Udall is the nephew of former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall.