Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman reported that the Senate tonight voted to confirm a New Mexican as the Department of the Interior’s top legal officer.   The move follows weeks of Senate Republican “secret holds” on the nomination of Hilary Tompkins to the key position.  

Bingaman chaired the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s hearing on Tompkins’ nomination on April 23 and since then has been forcefully urging the Senate to approve her.  Bingaman tried several times – including earlier today -- to bring her nomination up for consideration, but Republicans kept objecting, for undisclosed reasons.  Tonight, they dropped their objection. 

Tompkins, who is Navajo, served as chief counsel to Governor Bill Richardson and is well versed in the areas of environmental, natural resources, water, and Indian law.  She is also experienced in the areas of constitutional law, administrative law, and the legislative process.  

“Interior Secretary Salazar has been trying hard to put together his team, and it was unacceptable to continue denying him his choice for this important position.  I’m very pleased Hilary Tompkins can finally get to work.  I know she will be terrific in this key position,” Bingaman said. 

In his statement on the Senate floor earlier today, Bingaman pointed out that Tompkins is the first Native American to be nominated by the president to be the solicitor of the Department of Interior and she is the second woman in the history of this country to be nominated for this high position.