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Urge Congress to Keep Arctic Drilling out of Conference Report
House and Senate Conferees will begin meeting soon to negotiate different versions of the budget resolution and then bring their negotiated final to both floors for a vote.
Members of Congress who have voted to protect the Arctic Wildlife Refuge in the past are under tremendous pressure from the White House and others to vote to pass the final budget resolution. However, they should bear in mind that voting for any resolution that includes arctic drilling would be seen by their constituents – you -- as reversing their stance on drilling in the Arctic Refuge.
No matter how often you've taken action on this issue in the past, please help us deliver this latest message to your members of Congress.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Budget Resolution: Don't Open the Arctic Refuge to Oil Drilling
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Budget Conferees will be hard at work on a Budget Resolution this week and you may have an opportunity to vote on the Budget Conference Report within the next several days.
I want you to know that in my opinion, a vote for a budget resolution that paves the way for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is a vote for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
I'm deeply disappointed that to this point the budget process has been marred by underhanded attempts to limit public debate and amendment; fiscal irresponsibility; and a blatant attempt by the Alaska delegation and drilling proponents in Congress to mislead the American public -- a troubling precedent that threatens not only the Arctic Refuge but all of America's cherished wildlands.
But I am optimistic that you will restore some integrity to this process, and vote against any budget that contains reconciliation instructions that would open the door to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
I am among the majority of Americans who are committed to protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and keeping it wild, free, and out of the budget process.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
April 11, 2005
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NEXT STEP: BUDGET RESOLUTION CONFERENCE
The battle to protect the Arctic Refuge is far from over, despite the Senate’s failure to strip a Refuge drilling provision from their first round budget. ( To see how your Senator voted on that amendment, click here: http://ga1.org/ct/C712M241dqXb
The federal budget process is a long process, and your Members of Congress need to hear from Arctic Refuge supporters every step of the way.
In the next step in the budget process, a conference committee, formed from Members of both bodies of Congress will attempt to iron out the differences between the spending plans passed by the House and Senate.
House Conferees have not yet been selected. Senate Conferees are:
Four Republicans: Gregg (NH), Allard (CO), Domenici (NM), Grassley (IA). Three Democrats: Conrad (ND), Murray (WA) Sarbanes (MD).
Congressional leadership needs to know that including Arctic Refuge drilling in the final resolution is exactly like voting to open the Arctic Refuge to drilling. Please click here to take action now: http://ga1.org/campaign/ArctBudgetConf2
To see how your Reprsentative voted on the Budget Resolution, click here:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll088.xml
To see how your Senators voted on the amendment to strip Arctic Refuge drilling from the Budget Resolution, click here:
http://ga1.org/wilderness/arcticsenatevote.html
NOT THIS PLACE
There are some places that should be off-limits to oil drilling and industrial development, and the Arctic Refuge is one of them. The harm to wildlife habitat for polar bear, caribou, and millions of migratory birds would be permanent and irreparable. We have a moral responsibility to save wild places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for future generations. That’s why our country has remained committed to its protection for nearly 50 years.
NOT A SOLUTION TO ENERGY PROBLEMS
Drilling in the Refuge won’t solve our energy problems. It is not worth damaging America’s greatest national wildlife refuge for what the U.S. Geological Survey says would be far less oil than the U.S. consumes in a single
year.
It’s misleading and untrue to say oil drilling won’t harm the environment, since the result would be a sprawling industrial complex of drilling sites spread throughout one and a half million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Hundreds of miles of pipelines and roads, airstrips, power lines and pumping stations and housing for
workers would be needed, as well as tankers to transport this oil -- risking further oil spills in critical habitat. And even the oil companies admit none of the oil would reach the market for 10 years.
The best ways to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil are to conserve more, make cars more fuel efficient, and invest in renewable forms of energy like wind and solar.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW! http://ga1.org/campaign/ArctBudgetConf2
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