David J. Hayes
Encyclopedia
David J. Hayes is the Deputy Secretary of the Interior in the Obama administration. His nomination was confirmed on May 20, 2009 by the United States Senate
and he took office on May 22, 2009. In an earlier confirmation attempt on May 13, Hayes received two Republican votes, Olympia Snowe
of Maine and Jon Kyl
of Arizona whom has worked closely with Hayes in the past, but the 57 yea votes he obtained fell short of the 60 votes required to invoke cloture
. Three Democrats did not vote because of absence and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid switched to a nay vote for strategic reasons forcing the confirmation to fail originally. However, Reid's move to nay allowed the Democrats to bring back the vote to the Senate floor after securing the votes to pass the nomination.
Hayes served as Counselor to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt
, and then as the Senate-confirmed Deputy Secretary of the Interior, during the Clinton administration (1997–2001). After leaving government, he has served as a Senior Fellow of the World Wildlife Fund, and as a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute
(the think tank
affiliated with the Democratic Leadership Council
). He also has practiced environmental and energy law as Global Chairman of the Environment, Land and Resources department at the firm of Latham & Watkins
.
During Hayes' first tenure as Deputy Secretary of the Interior, he focused on environmental priorities, including the acquisition and protection of threatened lands (e.g., the Headwaters old-growth redwood forest
in Northern California
); the restoration of threatened ecosystems (e.g. the Bay-Delta ecosystem restoration project in California); the introduction of modern water management approaches in the west (e.g. the Colorado River initiatives undertaken by the Clinton administration); the negotiation of habitat conservation
plans under the Endangered Species Act
; energy-related issues associated with federal lands and resources (e.g. oil and gas development, hydropower
licensing, etc.); and the settlement of long-standing Indian water and land disputes.
Active in the non-profit field, Hayes served as the Vice-Chairman of the national conservation group, American Rivers, and he was a board member of RESOLVE
, a non-profit that focuses on problem-solving in the energy and environmental fields. He is the former Chairman of the Board of the Environmental Law Institute
.
During the 2007-2008 academic year, Hayes was a Consulting Professor at Stanford University
's Woods Institute for the Environment, where he undertook a special project analyzing the regulatory challenges associated with carbon offsets. His report was published by the Center for American Progress
. He is the author of dozens of journal articles on issues related to energy and the environment.
Hayes has been active in Democratic politics in the energy and environmental field. He served on the EPA Transition Team for President-elect Clinton in 1992; acted a special emissary for Vice President Gore
to advise the new President of Bolivia
on sustainable development issues in 1993 and 1994; was a lead environmental and energy advisor to the Kerry
campaign in 2004; and has been actively involved in the Obama
campaign.
Hayes is a 1978 graduate of the Stanford Law School
, and he is a 1975 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame
. He served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors for the Stanford Law School. Born in Rochester, NY in 1953, Hayes lives in Arlington, VA with his wife Elizabeth Haile Hayes and their three children, Katherine, Stephen, and Molly.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and he took office on May 22, 2009. In an earlier confirmation attempt on May 13, Hayes received two Republican votes, Olympia Snowe
Olympia Snowe
Olympia Jean Snowe , née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters. She and her fellow Senator from Maine, Susan Collins,...
of Maine and Jon Kyl
Jon Kyl
Jon Llewellyn Kyl is the junior U.S. Senator from Arizona and the Senate Minority Whip, the second-highest position in the Republican Senate leadership. In 2010 he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his persuasive role in the Senate.The son...
of Arizona whom has worked closely with Hayes in the past, but the 57 yea votes he obtained fell short of the 60 votes required to invoke cloture
Cloture
In parliamentary procedure, cloture is a motion or process aimed at bringing debate to a quick end. It is also called closure or, informally, a guillotine. The cloture procedure originated in the French National Assembly, from which the name is taken. Clôture is French for "ending" or "conclusion"...
. Three Democrats did not vote because of absence and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid switched to a nay vote for strategic reasons forcing the confirmation to fail originally. However, Reid's move to nay allowed the Democrats to bring back the vote to the Senate floor after securing the votes to pass the nomination.
Hayes served as Counselor to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt
Bruce Babbitt
Bruce Edward Babbitt , a Democrat, served as United States Secretary of the Interior and as the 16th governor of Arizona, from 1978 to 1987.-Biography:...
, and then as the Senate-confirmed Deputy Secretary of the Interior, during the Clinton administration (1997–2001). After leaving government, he has served as a Senior Fellow of the World Wildlife Fund, and as a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute
Progressive Policy Institute
The Progressive Policy Institute is a think tank in the United States, founded in 1989 which styles itself as promoting the ideas of "New Democrats." It covers a very wide range of issues and describes itself as centrist, although progressive critics frequently describe it as conservative,...
(the think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
affiliated with the Democratic Leadership Council
Democratic Leadership Council
The Democratic Leadership Council was a non-profit 501 corporation that, upon its formation, argued the United States Democratic Party should shift away from the leftward turn it took in the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...
). He also has practiced environmental and energy law as Global Chairman of the Environment, Land and Resources department at the firm of Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins LLP is a global law firm, one of the largest in the world. Latham currently employs approximately 2,000 attorneys in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was started in Los Angeles in 1934 and has extensive Californian roots, but its largest office is now...
.
During Hayes' first tenure as Deputy Secretary of the Interior, he focused on environmental priorities, including the acquisition and protection of threatened lands (e.g., the Headwaters old-growth redwood forest
Headwaters Forest
The Headwaters Forest Reserve is a series of old growth Coast Redwood groves measuring about . Located in the Northern California coastal forests ecoregion near Humboldt Bay of the U.S. state of California, most of it was owned by the now defunct Pacific Lumber Company, which was owned by Charles...
in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
); the restoration of threatened ecosystems (e.g. the Bay-Delta ecosystem restoration project in California); the introduction of modern water management approaches in the west (e.g. the Colorado River initiatives undertaken by the Clinton administration); the negotiation of habitat conservation
Habitat conservation
Habitat conservation is a land management practice that seeks to conserve, protect and restore, habitat areas for wild plants and animals, especially conservation reliant species, and prevent their extinction, fragmentation or reduction in range...
plans under the Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
; energy-related issues associated with federal lands and resources (e.g. oil and gas development, hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
licensing, etc.); and the settlement of long-standing Indian water and land disputes.
Active in the non-profit field, Hayes served as the Vice-Chairman of the national conservation group, American Rivers, and he was a board member of RESOLVE
RESOLVE
RESOLVE is a Washington, D.C. based non-profit group dedicated to dispute resolution of public policy related topics. They will help interested parties reach consensus on difficult issues in a results oriented process....
, a non-profit that focuses on problem-solving in the energy and environmental fields. He is the former Chairman of the Board of the Environmental Law Institute
Environmental Law Institute
The Environmental Law Institute is a non-profit, non-advocacy environmental group, which specializes in producing publications and research that target legal practitioners, business leaders, land managers, land use planners, environmentalists, journalists, and lawmakers...
.
During the 2007-2008 academic year, Hayes was a Consulting Professor at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
's Woods Institute for the Environment, where he undertook a special project analyzing the regulatory challenges associated with carbon offsets. His report was published by the Center for American Progress
Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress is a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization. Its website states that the organization is "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action." It has its headquarters in Washington D.C.Its President and Chief...
. He is the author of dozens of journal articles on issues related to energy and the environment.
Hayes has been active in Democratic politics in the energy and environmental field. He served on the EPA Transition Team for President-elect Clinton in 1992; acted a special emissary for Vice President Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
to advise the new President of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
on sustainable development issues in 1993 and 1994; was a lead environmental and energy advisor to the Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
campaign in 2004; and has been actively involved in the Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
campaign.
Hayes is a 1978 graduate of the Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
, and he is a 1975 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. He served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors for the Stanford Law School. Born in Rochester, NY in 1953, Hayes lives in Arlington, VA with his wife Elizabeth Haile Hayes and their three children, Katherine, Stephen, and Molly.