Good news.  The Senate today voted UNANIMOUSLY to keep Inhofe's bad energy
amendments out of the Defense Authorization bill.

Please thank our senators, and remind them the Arctic is not yet
safe--we will need their help soon, when the Administration's energy bill
is considered, to keep Arctic drilling provisions out of that legislation.
Point out the best way to safeguard this national, natural treasure is to
cosponsor S. 411, the Arctic wilderness bill,

We will doubtless face other efforts in the coming months to use the
September 11 Tragedy as a lever against the environment. But today's victory
will make those efforts more difficult and may chasten some who would join
them.  It may also serve as a lesson to us on how powerful we can be when we
whisper.

Thank you to all!

For Immediate Release:
October 2, 2001

Contact:
David Willett, 202-675-6698

         Senate Keeps Inappropriate Amendments out of Defense Bill

Washington, DC:  The Sierra Club today thanked the Senate for voting to
keep inappropriate and untimely amendments out of the Defense Authorization
Bill.

"We're thankful that the Senate is acknowledging that this fall is not the
time to debate controversial energy policies, including drilling in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," said Carl Pope, Executive Director of the
Sierra Club. "In a unanimous vote, the Senate said that it would be
inappropriate to exploit the tragedy our nation faces for personal
political agendas or divisive issues. Our country must focus our attention
now on issues of national security, personal safety and healing."

The Senate today defeated attempts to attach controversial and
inappropriate energy amendments, which included provisions to drill in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and give subsidies to polluting energy
industries, to the Defense Authorization bill.

Drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will not promote national
security or develop stable and environmentally acceptable energy supplies
because it would take a least 10 years to produce even a drop of oil.  In
addition, the U.S. Geological Survey says that the Arctic Refuge would
provide less than a 180-day supply of oil for the United States.

The safest and fastest way to increase America's energy security is to
increase the energy efficiency of our cars, SUV's, homes, factories,
offices and appliances, and to increase reliance on renewable energy
sources such as wind and solar power.

"We hope that the Senate will continue to support protecting the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge and oppose those who would try to take advantage
or our national crisis to push their controversial and irresponsible
policies," Pope said.

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