ARCTIC ACTION ALERT - ISSUED THURSDAY, 12/15

Please Call Your Senators Immediately

Fate of the Arctic being decided in next 24 hours

We have been in touch before about the threat that Arctic drilling
provisions would be added to the budget reconciliation bill.  Through your
good work, and against tremendous pro-drilling forces, it now appears that
those forces will not be able to add Arctic drilling to the budget.

However, there is virtually no limit to what they will try in order to
achieve their special interest goal.  In a last minute effort to pass widely
opposed legislation, Senators led by Senator Stevens from Alaska slipped
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling language onto the Defense
Appropriations (spending) bill.  This cynical back-door maneuver by
pro-drilling politicians is nothing but a desperate attempt to hold the
legislative process hostage to their misguided agenda.  It is particularly
outrageous given that this is the bill that funds our troops in a time of
war.

Obviously, the Defense Appropriations bill is neither the venue in which to
decide controversial policy issues, nor the venue to approve a scheme that
would forever spoil a national treasure.  This legislation is intended to
support our men and woman in uniform and should not be hijacked by those who
are pushing drilling in the Arctic Refuge.

Please call your Senators immediately and express your strong opposition and
outrage to this scheme to force Arctic Refuge drilling into Defense
Appropriations bill.  Urge your Senators to do everything in their power to
stop the drilling lobby from hijacking the Defense spending bill.

CALL SENATOR TOM HARKIN at  202-224-2744 to thank him for his staunch
support for protecting the Arctic and urge that he do everything possible to
stop this maneuver.

CALL SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY at 202-224-3254 to express dismay and outrage
that the Defense bill is being hijacked to attack the Arctic.

P.S. Just two days ago a major victory was won for our public lands when
Congressional leaders agreed to drop a mining provision from the budget
reconciliation bill.  The provision would have put millions of acres of
public lands up for sale, including parks, wildlife refuges, national
monuments, and wilderness areas.  This is a major victory for the
conservation legacy of our nation and would not have been possible without
your constant voice of opposition.

Thank you.

Neila Seaman, MPA
Director
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA  50310
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515-277-8868

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