Its make or break for the Arctic today!  Help us defend this national
treasure. Don't let Congress use the Budget to advance the controversial
issue of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Toll free is 1-888-8-WILD-AK (1-888-894-5325)
or call the capitol switchboard at 202 224-3121

Please call your Congressman:

*Tell them: "Vote against any budget resolution that includes reconciliation
instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling."

Then call our two senators and leave them the same message.

The wording of your message is important because the budget resolution may
not even mention the words "Arctic Refuge." It is more likely to  contain
"reconciliation instructions" to the House Resources Committee and the
Senate Energy Committee requiring them to find budget savings of $1.4
billion or more. The pro-drilling chairmen of these committees would then be
free to say they will generate new revenue by allowing drilling in the
Arctic Refuge.

Though the leadership tried to bury the provision under the cloak of
"reconciliation instructions," Don't be fooled.  This is the language
drilling proponents need to change current law and open the Arctic Refuge to
oil development.

The House is expected to take up the conference report to the FY 2006
Budget Resolution today and the Senate will follow. Drilling
proponents are trying to use the Budget process to advance the
controversial issue of Arctic drilling by including an assumption of
revenues that would be gained through lease sales in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge.

We are VERY close to having the votes to reject this attempt to allow oil
drilling in the Arctic.  On the House side, the Budget only passed by 4
votes the first time around and in the Senate the margin was two votes.
Members of Congress who are against Arctic drilling could make the
difference on whether the Budget passes.This is our best shot to beat
Arctic drilling.  This is THE vote.

DON'T BE FOOLED

Even if the Budget Resolution does not say the words "Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge" these reconciliation instructions would give pro-drilling
Chairmen Pombo and Domenici an open invitation to avoid a filibuster on this
important issue through a reconciliation bill later this year.  Both
Chairmen have repeatedly and publicly affirmed their intention to open the
Refuge through any means possible.

Consequently, the FY 2006 budget bill could set back 45 years of protection
for our nation's largest and wildest Refuge.

Contact your Senators and Congressman and urge them to vote to protect the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by voting against a budget that includes ANY
reconciliation instructions to the Energy or Resources Committee.

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