First Native American cabinet secretary Deb Haaland makes climate change plea at DNC

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland spoke on the final night of the Democratic National Convention Thursday making the case that Vice President Kamala Harris is the better candidate to handle the climate crisis.

Haaland, a former U.S. Representative from New Mexico, is the first Native American to serve in as a cabinet secretary. She has long fought for environmental justice.

She spoke at the convention following a video comparing Harris ' and Donald Trump 's record and promises on climate change, and was greeted with prolonged cheers and chants.

"Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will fight for a future where we all have clean air, clean water and healthy communities," she said.

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Watch Secretary Deb Haaland's Democratic National Convention speech

What to know about Deb Haaland

• Who is she? Secretary of the Interior, former Congresswoman from New Mexico who has long been outspoken on environmental issues .
• What role does she play? She is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. The Department of the Interior oversees federal lands, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.
• Key quotes: "An American president must lead the world in tackling climate change, we need a president who understands that assignment," Haaland said. "Let me go back to the lesson I learned in the desert southwest: we all have a role in protecting our Earth for future generations, so let's all be fierce and let's make Kamala Harris the next President of the United States."

When and where is the DNC

The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois.

The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the main venue for the DNC.

Chicago has hosted the Democratic Convention 11 times, most recently in 1996 when the United Center saw President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second time.

How to watch and stream the 2024 DNC

The convention will air live on its website , from the United Center in Chicago between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m Central) on Monday, and 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central) the other days.

USA TODAY will provide livestream coverage on YouTube each night of the DNC, Monday through Thursday.

What are the themes for each night of the DNC?

The DNC announced nightly themes for the convention. The title of the convention is "For the People, For Our Future."

Here are the themes for each night:

• Monday: "For the People"
• Tuesday: "A Bold Vision for America's Future"
• Wednesday: "A Fight for our Freedoms"
• Thursday: "For our Future"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First Native American cabinet secretary Deb Haaland makes climate change plea at DNC