Senator Ken Salazar, a Democratic from Colorado, was named the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior by President-elect Barack Obama at a press conference on December 17, 2008.WashingtonPost.com: Obama Names Salazar As Secretary of Interior (December 17, 2008) The senate confirmed Salazar's appointment only hours after the inauguration on January 20, 2009.FOX News: Senate Confirms Obama Cabinet Secretaries (January 20, 2009)
Dept. of the Interior
Ken Salazar was named as the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior on December 17, 2008, by President-Elect Barack Obama. As secretary, Salazar will oversee oil and gas drilling on public land. He will be responsible for the management of the national parks and wildlife refuges in the U.S.
Salazar has opposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife refuge and has opposed the efforts of the Bush administration to lease land for the development of oil shale.FOXNews.com: Obama Rounds Out Environmental Team With Vilsack, Salazar (December 17, 2008)
Background
Salazar has represented Colorado as a senator since 2005. Before attaining that post, he served as the state's 36th attorney general.WashingtonPost.com: Obama Names Salazar As Secretary of Interior (December 17, 2008)
Featured Video
U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics
- Committee Site: Democrats: Ken Salazar
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
- Committee Site: Democrats: Ken Salazar
References
Fast Facts
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Born
March 2, 1955, in Alamosa, Colorado
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Fact:
Chosen as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior by President-Elect Barack Obama on December 17, 2008
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Elected as Colorado's 35th senator in November 2004Official Site: Ken Salazar Bio
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Alma Mater
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Spouse
Esperanza 'Hope' Salazar
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Former Attorney General of ColoradoOfficial Site: Ken Salazar Bio
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Both of Salazar's parents served during World War IIOfficial Site: Ken Salazar Bio
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Family ran a farm in San Luis ValleyOfficial Site: Ken Salazar Bio
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Salazar and his seven siblings became the first generation of their family to have college educationsOfficial Site: Ken Salazar Bio
