Welcome to our collection of insightful quotes by Deb Haaland, a prominent figure in American politics and a trailblazer in Indigenous rights advocacy. As the first Native American woman to serve as a United States Cabinet secretary, Deb Haaland has left an indelible mark on the political landscape, inspiring many with her dedication to environmental conservation, social justice, and the empowerment of marginalized communities. With her historic appointment as the Secretary of the Interior under the Biden administration, Haaland has brought a fresh perspective and a powerful voice to the forefront of decision-making in Washington, D.C.
Throughout her career, Deb Haaland has championed causes close to her heart, drawing from her own experiences as a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe and as a single mother. Her unwavering commitment to environmental protection, renewable energy initiatives, and the preservation of public lands has resonated deeply with advocates and activists alike. Haaland’s journey from community organizer to Congresswoman to Cabinet secretary serves as a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and advocacy in effecting meaningful change. Below, you’ll find a selection of quotes that encapsulate Haaland’s wisdom, vision, and unwavering dedication to creating a more just and sustainable future.
I want to double down on our commitment to clean energy into New Mexico – that way we’ll create good paying jobs by harnessing the power of our natural resources. Deb Haaland
The promise of American opportunity and prosperity means something different to each of us. What we each envision varies in terms of wants and needs, and aspirations can change over time. But we all want to see our children have more opportunities than we had. Deb Haaland
If we’re not protecting our women and we’re not protecting our girls and we’re not protecting the most vulnerable people in this society, who are we as a country? Deb Haaland
Everything depends on our ability to sustainably inhabit this earth, and true sustainability will require us all to change our way of thinking on how we take from the earth and how we give back. Deb Haaland
The GOP wants to cut funding for birth control, place undue burdens on clinics that serve low income women and families, and defund Planned Parenthood. Deb Haaland
In spite of our agonizing history, Native American people find much to celebrate. The songs, the dances, the culture and traditions surrounding planting and harvests, the prayers that are sent upward for healing and peace, and the welcoming of children into our families, are all reasons for us to keep moving forward with optimism. Deb Haaland
Running for Congress isn’t something I ever thought I would do. Deb Haaland
A free and open Internet is crucial for innovation and the exchange of information and ideas. It allows grassroots communities to organize and mobilize against injustice across our nation and the globe. It’s good for business, consumers, and our entire economy. Deb Haaland
There is no moral high ground from which President Trump or any of his followers can tell anyone to leave this country, because they are not the first inhabitants of this land. They should instead look into their history to learn where, when and why their ancestors came to this country. Deb Haaland
Net Neutrality is Internet freedom. Deb Haaland
Our country has a trust responsibility to Indian tribes, and it seems like their voice has been lacking in so many conversations that we’ve had in this country. And so, I’d like to make sure that tribal leaders have that seat at the table. Deb Haaland
We can’t afford to compromise on anything we have fought for – abortion is legal in our country, and I will do everything in my power to stand up for the rights of women and all people to choose when and how they build a family. Deb Haaland
We don’t have time to play politics with people’s lives or the planet’s future. Deb Haaland
In 1881, my dad’s grandparents, who were Norwegian farmers, immigrated to the United States – the same year my great grandfather from Laguna Pueblo was put on a train to Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. Deb Haaland
I spent my 20s earning minimum wage decorating cakes for a living. But one day, I looked in the mirror and realized I wanted more, for me and my people. I saw too many Native Americans struggling, and I realized we should have a voice in who our elected officials are. Deb Haaland
Offshore drilling is not the solution to U.S. energy independence, and I am against opening parts of the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans to oil and natural gas production. Deb Haaland
The majority of America wants action on climate change. The majority of America thinks we should regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant. And the majority of America thinks we should prioritize solar and wind infrastructure over fossil fuels. Those are impressive majorities, ones that every office seeker and office holder should heed. Deb Haaland
Like many New Mexicans, I enjoy spending time outdoors and understand how important New Mexico’s natural beauty and resources are. Deb Haaland
I think Nancy Pelosi is extremely qualified to be speaker of the House, because she has been speaker of the House. I trust her leadership. I trust her judgment. Deb Haaland
I learned from my parents to revere nature. Their way of teaching my siblings and I to respect the environment was to be in it, and so we spent a great deal of time outdoors. Deb Haaland
My mother was a stay-at-home mom until I turned 14, and up to that point, we were made to study hard after school each day, and appreciate what my dad called ‘a free education.’ Deb Haaland
Over-dependence on finite resources, like oil, ignores the ability of our great minds to develop alternative energy for the masses, and in doing so ignores climate change and sets up our students and workforce for failure by not educating them about the needs of our future. Deb Haaland
I think it’s important that we have different perspectives. We need more diversity in Congress. Deb Haaland
Loss of natural areas threatens our water supply, national security, farms, and health. Deb Haaland
My mother was an extremely strong Pueblo woman. My grandmother was the same. I had strong women in my life. My aunties who were there for me every step of the way. Deb Haaland
We need a national universal paid family leave program that allows families to be together in the most important moments of our lives – from having a baby to caring for a dying parent. Deb Haaland
Healthcare is a human right. No one should face bankruptcy or death because of lack of healthcare. All Americans – regardless of their health or residential status – should be able to access the healthcare they need, whenever they need it. Deb Haaland
Time and again, it has been proven that SNAP benefits are the most valuable government stimulus we can have for local economies. Deb Haaland
Trump continues to diminish the office of the Presidency. Deb Haaland
I will continue to be at the forefront, participating in rallies, marches, letter-writing campaigns, and fighting for federal funding for Planned Parenthood. And, I will always oppose the nomination of any anti-choice U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Deb Haaland
We are not strangers to poverty in New Mexico. Deb Haaland
In New Mexico, we’re very lucky that we have laws in place that really help ensure that Native Americans’ right to vote is unencumbered. Deb Haaland
I believe Native Americans, women, and all of us deserve representation, and that we all need to fight with everything we have to make it so. Deb Haaland
I want every young Indigenous girl to think about getting involved in their communities. You’re never too young to help with community efforts. Deb Haaland
Native American activists have been present as long as the Europeans have been working to colonize us. Deb Haaland
Immigrants and Native Americans have made our country what it is today, and if we’ve learned anything through these hundreds of years – it should be that we can accomplish more when we work together. Deb Haaland
During my elementary and middle school years, my mother made me and my siblings’ lunches every single day – this was affordable for a Marine climbing the ranks and supporting a family of six. Deb Haaland
I’m concerned that if we don’t do more to protect our open spaces and reduce climate change, there will be devastating and lasting impacts on us and future generations. Deb Haaland
Fairness is not just about getting equal pay for equal work (though it is that too!) – it’s about taking bold and challenging steps to raise incomes and protect those with little or no economic power. Deb Haaland
Even after being diagnosed with Covid-19, Bolsonaro fails to take this virus seriously and is directly targeting vulnerable indigenous communities by failing to provide them with adequate funding to address this pandemic. It’s an attack on human rights. Deb Haaland
We must ensure full access to all reproductive health services, including abortion. We must also provide for our aging population, ensuring our parents and grandparents have the care they need. We must defend Medicare, expand Social Security, and provide tax credits for families who care for their elders and loved ones with disabilities. Deb Haaland
There is no justifiable reason why our electricity, heating and cooling and transportation needs aren’t powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Deb Haaland
The 50th Earth Day was always going to be special, but the coronavirus pandemic has made it even more so. The unprecedented steps the world has taken to slow the spread of the virus have dramatically reduced the number of cars on the road, planes in the air, and oil being pulled from the ground. Deb Haaland
I’m not exceptional. I didn’t grow up with privilege. Deb Haaland
The immigration policies that Donald Trump and the Republicans are pushing are downright hateful and must be stopped. Deb Haaland
Every American has a right to food, housing, and health care – and we can afford to provide it if billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share. Deb Haaland
I know what it’s like to have to put back food at the checkout line because you don’t have enough money and those kinds of things. Deb Haaland
As an organizer in the most underrepresented communities in my state, I have felt the frustration that so many voters must feel when other states limit polling locations, require photo IDs, and put unnecessary barriers in front of voters. Deb Haaland
I am disappointed and frustrated by the FCC’s decision to ignore the vast majority of Americans across the political spectrum, and instead side with corporations that now have the power to manipulate Internet access based on who can pay more. Deb Haaland
We – our children need a quality public education. Deb Haaland
Too many American families go bankrupt from healthcare expenses, and low wage workers have to hold two or three jobs just to make ends meet, which leaves many young children without any hope of having a pre-K education – the most important start to a good education and a path out of poverty. Deb Haaland
In Indian communities, it’s a separate sovereign government, so you have to get permission from the tribal leadership before you can start campaigning on their land. Deb Haaland
Moving to 100 percent renewable energy is a good economic opportunity, one that the U.S. must seize before other nations take full advantage of it. Deb Haaland
The tenets of my cultural teachings are rooted in our commitment to lift up every community member so that no one is left behind. Work and food were shared equally. Through our commitment to community, we care about children, even when they aren’t ours, and we want our old folks, and yours, to live their last days in dignity and comfort. Deb Haaland
We have a government-to-government relationship with tribes, and they should have that opportunity to weigh in on important decisions that affect them. Deb Haaland
It would be nice if every state were like New Mexico and cared about the Indian vote. Deb Haaland
On this 50th Earth Day, we face a crisis unknown to those who gathered on the first Earth Day – the climate crisis. Deb Haaland
When the sun is sending more energy to earth in one hour than the entire world consumes in a year, any political play to undermine our ability to harness this energy effectively and efficiently is clearly not economical but it’s also unethical. Deb Haaland
We must shift our thinking away from short-term gain toward long-term investment and sustainability, and always have the next generations in mind with every decision we make. Deb Haaland
We must be welcoming to those who flee their country because of violence and abject poverty in hopes of a better future – that’s who we are as Americans. Deb Haaland
In 2008, I was a full-time volunteer for Barack Obama’s first election. I’d take a carload of people and we’d go and canvass in a Native American community every evening. Deb Haaland
I was a chairwoman of my state Democratic party. Deb Haaland
In Congress, I will fight for an education system that bridges the opportunity gap in order to help close the achievement gap, and prioritize models that sustain and enrich whole people and communities. Deb Haaland
Look, there are people hurting in this country. We have to find solutions to make their lives better, right? Deb Haaland
November is Native American Heritage month, and a good time to honor the legacy of our ancestors, but every day we should stop to think about our country’s beginning and that the United States would not exist if not for a great deal of sacrifice, blood, and tears by Indian Tribes across the country. Deb Haaland
My dad was a 30-year career Marine. He was stationed in Quantico Va., and another military base. Deb Haaland
I think it’s important to always have diversity, in our Congress or anywhere, but you also need diversity not just for women of color who are most underrepresented, but diversity in different walks of life. Deb Haaland
As someone who has dealt with economic hardship, I am committed to making the changes necessary for our country to become more equitable. And to do so, I believe we need to think big. Deb Haaland
If Trump wants to appeal to protectionism, the president should be protecting Americans from global warming and the accompanying extreme weather that’s becoming more common. Deb Haaland
Racism and bigotry should never fuel any administration’s policies. Calls to send anyone ‘back’ contradict who we should be as a country and the ideals for which we stand. Deb Haaland
While the Pilgrims landed on ‘Plymouth Rock’ in 1620, the Spanish had already settled in to the Southwest beginning in the late 1500s, and with the coming of Europeans, some tribes suffered massive declines in populations due to disease and violence. Some Tribes were wiped out by 90 percent, while others were completely decimated. Deb Haaland
Renewable energy and climate change are very important to a lot of people, because we need jobs and we really, really believe that we can create jobs by moving down a path toward 100 percent renewable energy. Deb Haaland
We have to move toward renewable energy in a big way here in America. Deb Haaland
Any type of anti-Semitism in any form needs to be soundly rejected. Deb Haaland
Whenever the Republicans have an opportunity, they’ve tried to make New Mexico into a right-to-work state, and so I’ve been on the front lines fighting that for a long time. Deb Haaland
Elizabeth Warren has been a champion for working people. She has been a champion for Native people. She has been a champion for education and all of the things that we should care about in this country. Deb Haaland
I have spent my life fighting for the underrepresented and I am working tirelessly to be New Mexico’s champion in Congress. Deb Haaland
It’s taken over 240 years for there to be a Native American woman elected to congress, so it’s definitely significant that we were able to accomplish that. Deb Haaland
As a country, we should be moving forward, but instead conservative lawmakers keep dragging us back. Deb Haaland
When my daughter Somah was young, I didn’t have much money. But I was fortunate to find a preschool where I could volunteer in exchange for lower tuition. I saw firsthand how an early childhood education shaped my daughter’s success. Deb Haaland
For almost 20 years, I’ve worked on various campaigns. I started out as a phone volunteer. I’d go into campaign offices, ask for lists of Native American voters, and just start calling people because I felt that I just wanted to help more Native folks get to the polls. Deb Haaland
We only have one earth. Let’s take care of it. Deb Haaland
We are pushing for Medicare-for-all. That’s an economic issue – it really is. And if we can work toward a fair, more-equitable system for working families, everybody would have health care. Deb Haaland
The Republicans cry for smaller government; however, it seems that at every turn, they work at interfering with the lives of Americans, and we can add food-choice to the list. Deb Haaland
Growing up in my mother’s Pueblo household, I never imagined a world in which I would be represented by someone who looked like me. Deb Haaland
The health of Americans must no longer be a commodity to be traded, bought, or sold for profit by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. We must promote medical and Medicaid home models to provide comprehensive care for body, mind, and spirit. Deb Haaland
SNAP benefits help local economies because the benefits are spent at local grocery stores – with locally grown and locally-made products. I remember many years ago, while on food stamps, I advocated for the benefits to be spent at local farmers markets – a move that has helped local economies even more. Deb Haaland
None of us want to ever face a choice between putting food on the table or paying rent. Deb Haaland
We’re a matrilineal society, as Pueblo women, and there are a lot of tribes across the country who are. Deb Haaland
If anyone can say ‘go back,’ it’s Native Americans. My Pueblo ancestors, despite being targeted at every juncture – despite facing famine and drought – still inhabit this country today. But indigenous people aren’t asking anyone to go back to where they came from. Deb Haaland
The provision of healthcare in America has been a major policy issue for many decades. From the establishment of Medicare & Medicaid to the Affordable Care Act, we have struggled to find a solution for not just providing access to healthcare – but also becoming a healthier population. Deb Haaland
I wasn’t raised to make history. In high school and family, no one around me was politically involved, and few of my friends planned to attend college or even thought about it. Deb Haaland
We need more people in office who understand struggle. In Congress, I want to take my experience and fight to expand support for families who are hurting. Deb Haaland
The Violence Against Women Act didn’t have specific provisions for Indian country until 2013, which is really sad. It’s Native women who are the most vulnerable. Deb Haaland
It’s always really great when your hard work pays off. Deb Haaland
We have to protect our democracy. Deb Haaland
I will fight special interests in Washington who exploit Native, rural, and low income communities for the purpose of fracking and drilling that pollutes our environment. No short or long term gain is worth polluting our water. Water is life. Deb Haaland
If we don’t have a planet, we don’t have anything. Deb Haaland
My first job was at a local bakery, and when I graduated from high school, I was promoted from retail sales to cake decorator. Deb Haaland