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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2021)
OREGON A10 — THE OBSERVER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021 Nominee from Oregon pledges to boost workforce By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chuck Sams on Tuesday, Oct. 19, stepped out pub- licly for the fi rst time not as an administrator for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Res- ervation, a nonprofi t exec- utive or a veteran, but as the potential director of the National Park Service. With his wife and eldest daughter seated behind him, Sams introduced him- self to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources at a confi rmation hearing in Washington, D.C. In his opening statement, Sams, an enrolled member of the CTUIR, said his lin- eage is split between the Cayuse, Walla Walla, Yankton Sioux, Cocopah, Dutch and French, the roots of his American Indian family stretching back at least 15,000 years, or “time immemorial.” He also addressed his lack of experience in the park service. “Although I have not worn the National Park Service uniform, I have worn the uniform of the United States Navy during war time, and I wear the regalia of my tribe to honor my ancestors and elders,” he said. “These uniforms are reminders of the sac- rifi ces made to protect our homelands and the respon- sibility to pass down those lands in a stronger state than they are now.” On a day when com- mittee members seemed to train most of their scru- tiny on the other two presi- dential nominees they were vetting simultaneously — potential appointees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Lose Weight Now, in La Grande Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File Chuck Sams, a former interim executive director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, stepped out publicly for the fi rst time not as an administrator for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, a nonprofi t executive or a veteran, but as the potential director of the National Park Service. Department of Energy — it was one of a few points of concern for some senators. Since its creation in 1916, the National Park Ser- vice has mostly relied on career service staff or expe- rienced state park admin- istrators to lead it. If con- fi rmed, Sams would be the fi rst director without expe- rience in public parks since former director Roger Ken- nedy was named to the job in 1993. Sams told the com- mittee he intended to rely on the experience of career staff while making deci- sions for the park service. He also got backup from his home state senator, Ron Wyden, who extolled Sams’ other experience in his introduction. “The National Park Ser- vice gives us the ability to visit places most Ameri- cans would not or could not otherwise reach, and they play a vital role in teaching us. I can’t think of any- body better and more qual- ifi ed to do that than Chuck Sams, with his unique perspective as the fi rst Native American to lead the Park Service,” he said. “Quite frankly, this is long overdue.” But most committee members wanted to talk with Sams about park per- sonnel and maintenance. A surge in visits to the country’s national parks and historical sites has stretched a shrunken staff and strained the system’s infrastructure. Several sen- ators asked Sams ques- tions about problems in their home state parks: Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, on inac- cessible boat ramps at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, on fencing the Valles Caldera National Preserve to prevent cattle grazing; and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on a closed road at Denali National Park. Sams said he was now aware of all of these issues, and more broadly, planned to prioritize building staff morale, advocate for more park funding, improve recruiting and invest in park infrastructure that could stand for the next “50 to 75 years.” 1.51 Doddsy from EOAlive lost 40 pounds so far , MBA Scan the code to watch Doddsy on video tell his story James R. Kopp, MD, MBA Weight Loss Physician "If you struggle to lose weight and keep it off, come see me. Our program helps men, women, and adolescents lose 10 to 150+ pounds safely, rapidly, and healthfully. Scan the code and watch Doddy's video. Please call my office, and Kathy will schedule your Free No-obligation Consultation to learn how we can help you too. Then you decide what you'd like to do. I look forward to meeting you." —Dr. Kopp Call 541-963-9844 Or visit MetTrimMD.com/LaGrandeOR to Schedule your Free No-obligation Consultation MetTrimMD La Grande 907 Washington Ave, La Grande, OR 97850 MetTrimMD.com/LaGrandeOR | 541-963-9844 *Personalized plans. Individual results vary.
