WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:10.090 Hello, I’m Myrna Palfrey, Superintendent of the San Juan National Historic Site. 00:00:10.090 --> 00:00:12.679 And you’re watching This Week at Interior. 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:14.880 This Week at Interior 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:18.710 Multiple events this week marked Native American Heritage Month. 00:00:18.710 --> 00:00:23.010 Secretary Haaland joined First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the White House for the first-ever 00:00:23.010 --> 00:00:25.670 Native American Heritage Month reception. 00:00:25.670 --> 00:00:30.019 Secretary Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland also joined 00:00:30.019 --> 00:00:34.180 Interior employees at the Stewart Lee Udall Building's Yates Auditorium for a Heritage 00:00:34.180 --> 00:00:35.420 Month event. 00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:40.149 In her remarks, Secretary Haaland reflected that this year’s theme, “Revitalizing 00:00:40.149 --> 00:00:44.809 Indigenous Connections,” cuts right to the heart of what we do at Interior every single 00:00:44.809 --> 00:00:45.829 day. 00:00:45.829 --> 00:00:50.800 It's been one year since President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 00:00:50.800 --> 00:00:55.210 Since then, Interior staff have been working to implement the law so that future generations 00:00:55.210 --> 00:01:00.600 have clean air, drinkable water, fertile soil and an overall quality of life that is currently 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:03.199 threatened by the worsening climate crisis. 00:01:03.199 --> 00:01:07.500 This week the Biden-Harris administration joined public and private-sector partners 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:13.060 to announce nearly $91 million in grants through the America the Beautiful Challenge. 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:19.180 The grants will support conservation projects in 42 states, three U.S. territories and 14 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:20.850 Tribal Nations. 00:01:20.850 --> 00:01:25.880 Interior leaders were also on hand in California to celebrate investments of more than $25 00:01:25.880 --> 00:01:30.950 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to boost water infrastructure and tackle 00:01:30.950 --> 00:01:32.590 western drought. 00:01:32.590 --> 00:01:36.840 Secretary Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:41.020 Cantor visited the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this week. 00:01:41.020 --> 00:01:45.439 The trip highlighted how significant investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:50.140 the Inflation Reduction Act will help ensure the U.S. territories have the resources they 00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:54.530 need to withstand the impacts of extreme weather events and the climate crisis. 00:01:54.530 --> 00:01:58.979 The visits were also part of Interior's pledge to tell a more complete and inclusive story 00:01:58.979 --> 00:02:00.219 of America. 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:04.540 Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo traveled to Sharm El Sheikh, 00:02:04.540 --> 00:02:10.580 Egypt, to represent Interior at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties, 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:11.920 or COP27. 00:02:11.920 --> 00:02:15.930 The conference has been held annually since the first United Nations climate agreement 00:02:15.930 --> 00:02:21.730 in 1992 -- it's an opportunity for governments to come together to discuss policies to limit 00:02:21.730 --> 00:02:26.410 global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change. 00:02:26.410 --> 00:02:30.620 The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management this week announced it's seeking public comment 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:35.000 on the proposed Empire Wind energy project offshore New York. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:39.760 If approved that project could generate more than 2000 megawatts and provide power for 00:02:39.760 --> 00:02:42.280 at least 700,000 homes. 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:45.720 Over the past year, the Department of the Interior has moved forward at the pace and 00:02:45.720 --> 00:02:50.970 scale required to help achieve the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to deploy 30 GW of 00:02:50.970 --> 00:02:54.739 offshore wind energy capacity by 2030. 00:02:54.739 --> 00:02:59.310 The Bureau of Land Management this week released a new policy designed to protect connections 00:02:59.310 --> 00:03:04.810 between priority habitats for fish, wildlife and native plants, preserving the ability 00:03:04.810 --> 00:03:09.040 of wildlife to migrate between and across seasonal habitat. 00:03:09.040 --> 00:03:11.380 That's a concept known as habitat connectivity. 00:03:11.380 --> 00:03:16.209 The policy will support the BLM’s ongoing partnerships with states, Tribes and diverse 00:03:16.209 --> 00:03:20.600 stakeholders aimed at meeting 21st century conservation challenges. 00:03:20.600 --> 00:03:25.650 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week took steps to help protect the African elephant, 00:03:25.650 --> 00:03:28.379 which is listed under the Endangered Species Act. 00:03:28.379 --> 00:03:33.080 The Service is proposing changes to rules to ensure any live African elephants brought 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:37.420 into the United States are treated humanely and are well-cared for throughout their lifetimes. 00:03:37.420 --> 00:03:42.510 There are also revisions that apply to the importation of African sport-hunted trophies. 00:03:42.510 --> 00:03:47.439 Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton and other Reclamation leaders 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:52.730 took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery this week to honor America's 00:03:52.730 --> 00:03:57.519 veterans, those currently serving in uniform, and all the selfless men and women who have 00:03:57.519 --> 00:04:00.670 sacrificed their lives for our nation. 00:04:00.670 --> 00:04:04.840 And our social media Picture of the Week is a stunning reflection of autumn. 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:09.420 This time every year, tens of thousands of sandhill cranes, ducks and geese return to 00:04:09.420 --> 00:04:14.080 Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico to spend the winter. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:20.170 Sprawling across nearly 60,000 acres, Bosque del Apache was established in 1939 to provide 00:04:20.170 --> 00:04:23.699 a critical stopover site for migrating waterfowl. 00:04:23.699 --> 00:04:28.000 Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:29.580 That's This Week at Interior.