Below is the Sierra Club national release reacting to Senator Jeffords's
(I-VT) announcement today.   The statement focuses on Jeffords's
environmental achievements, regardless of party affiliation.  If you get
media inquiries please note, we're not directly talking about change in
party leadership (The Sierra Club is a non-partisan organization).  The
paragraph about Daschle and Lott focuses on them as individuals and their
respective committments to the environment.

For Immediate Release               Contact:
May 24, 2001                        David Willett,  202-675-6698

          Sierra Club Reaction to Senator Jeffords's Announcement
          Statement of Sierra Club Executive Director, Carl Pope

Senator Jim Jeffords is a champion for the environment, regardless of what
party label he wears.  For years, he has fought ardently for clean air and
water, battling against polluters, standing up to defend America's
beautiful landscapes, and staring down those who put profits ahead of our
families' health.  The Sierra Club has long admired Senator Jeffords'
courage and leadership on environmental issues.

It is expected that Senator Jeffords's decision to become an Independent
will result in his chairing of the Environment and Public Works Committee
and Senator Daschle becoming Majority Leader.

With Senator Jeffords heading the Senate's environment committee, the
safeguards protecting America's air, water and lands will be in good hands.
Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) becoming Majority Leader in the Senate will be a
positive step for the environment, both because of Senator Daschle's
dedication to clean air and water, and because Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)
has ignored environmental protection as a priority.  With an Administration
hostile to the environment, Senator Daschle's leadership will be crucial to
blocking attacks to our clean air, clean water, and public lands.

Senator Jeffords has long been a leader on a wide variety of environmental
issues.  A few of his environmental achievements include:

·  Public Lands: Senator Jeffords was one of two Republican cosponsors of
the Arctic Refuge Wilderness Act to protect the coastal plain of the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge from dangerous oil drilling.  Additionally he has
voted to protect our unique and beautiful national monuments.

·  Renewable Energy: Senator Jeffords has fought for funding for renewable
energy programs that help reduce our dependence on more polluting energy
sources.

·  Clean Air: In March, Senator Jeffords, along with Senator Joseph
Lieberman (D-CT), introduced the "Clean Power Act," which, if passed, will
dramatically cut power plant emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide,
mercury, and carbon dioxide by 2007.

·  Sprawl:  Senator Jeffords set up the Senate Smart Growth Task Force,
which includes 24 Senators committed to curbing suburban sprawl. He has
introduced the Post Office Community Partnership Act and is a cosponsor of
the High Speed Rail Investment Act, both of which will help reduce suburban
sprawl.  He supported the Dairy Compact which helps preserve family
farms and protects open space.

·  Family Planning: Senator Jeffords has been a leader on efforts to
eliminate the Global Gag rule which bans US funding for organizations in
other countries that use their own money to perform or educate about
abortion.

###

For the latest environmental news, please visit
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/

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