Department+of+the+Interior-+Tara



__Department of the Interior__
Current Leaders - Secretary Ken Salazar

-Assistant Secretary Tom Strickland
 * Ken Salazar, a fifth generation Coloradan, was confirmed as the 50th Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior on January 20, 2009, in a unanimous vote by the U.S. Senate.

**__Mission Statement __**
- The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our nations natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to indian tribes and our commitment to island communities.

**__Current Issues __**
//- Salazar announces $305 million economic stimulus investment through the bureau of land management to restore landscapes, develop renewable energy, and create jobs.//

-//Bureau of Land Management (BLM) gets $32 Million for Oregon Stimulus// The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will be spending $32 million from federal economic stimulus program on projects in Oregon. Money will go 56 projects in Oregon including construction, maintinance, habitat restoration, roads and bridges. //-// Overall, the department of the interior will manage $3 billion in investments as a part of the recovery plan Source: Bureau of Land Management
 * Salazar wants to lead the clean energy revolution. They pledged to create four renewable energy coordination offices. Wind can generate as much as 20 percent of US domestic electricity by 2030 and create a quarter-million jobs in the process.
 * [|//http://www.ktvz.com/global/story//]

**__Bureaus under the Department of Interior__**
-**Bureau of indian affairs** Responsibilility is the administration and management of 55.7 million acres of land. -**Bureau of Land Management** Manages 264 million acres of public lands located primarily in the 12 western states including Alaska. Manage and develop, and protect water and related resources in an enviromentally and econimically sound manner in the interest of the american public. Established in 1902, reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier in the country. Regulates and manages the development of mineral resources in the federal waters off the mations shores. Perserves, unimpaired, the natural and cultural resources and values of the natural park system for enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
 * - Bureau of Reclamation**
 * - Mineral Management Service**
 * - National Park Service**

__History__
The Interior Department had a wide range of responsibilities entrusted to it: the construction of the national capital's water system, the colonization of freed slaves in Haiti, exploration of western wilderness, oversight of the District of Columbia jail, regulation of territorial governments, management of hospitals and universities, management of public parks,and the basic responsibilities for Indians, public lands, patents, and pensions. In one way or another all of these had to do with the internal development of the Nation or the welfare of its people.

1980 The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act is enacted adding 47 million acres to the National Park System and 54 acres to the National Wildlife Refuge System. 1982 The Minerals Management Service is established to facilitate mineral revenue collection and manage the Outer Continental Shelf offshore lands. 1993 The President convened the Northwest Forest Plan Summit and released the "Forest Plan for a Sustainable Economy and Sustainable Environment." 1996 Interior science and technology functions are consolidated in the U.S. Geological Survey. 2001 Gale A. Norton is nominated the first woman to serve as Secretary of the Interior.
 * __Some Siginificant Dates__ **

Due to the $305 million economic stimulus I think that you should continue with it. It is helping our national parks stay clean. Another plus side to the economic stimulus is that it will create new jobs for all the people who are unemployed. Also by the time we reach 2030 we will be saying money and will be using wind energy. Wind energy will also help with our economy.
 * __PRESIDENT OBAMA__**