Please make a call to Senators Grassley and Harkin about this important
vote.
Thanks,
Jane Clark

Senator Grassley:  202-224-3254
Senator Harkin:  202-224-3744

Last night, Sen Gramm from TX offered an amendment to the Aviation Security
bill ---- to drill in the Arctic Refuge.  He's using a very complicated
parliamentary situation to push this vote.  He is offering a "second degree"
amendment to an unrelated amendment by Senator Carnahan.  Bottom line, is,
the message for senators is to vote FOR cloture on the Carnahan amendment,
this will mean that Gramm can't attach drilling to her amendment.

HOWEVER, we expect that Gramm or someone else may try to offer the
amendment later on the same bill.  Ask senators to vote FOR cloture on
Carnahan and against all other efforts to drill the Arctic Refuge.

Really sorry for the short notice.  Vote is coming up shortly.
****************************************
Here's a letter we've delivered to targeted senators on the cloture vote
this afternoon:

Dear Senator:

This afternoon, the Senate will vote on a motion to invoke cloture on
Senator Carnahan's amendment to the Aviation Security bill (S. 1447). The
motion would make out of order a second degree amendment by Senator Phil
Gramm that would allow oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. On behalf of the Sierra Club, I strongly urge you to vote in favor
of cloture, so that this partisan and self-serving effort does not
interfere with Congress' efforts to strengthen national security.

Senator Gramm's amendment is irrelevant to airline security, and merely
represents a cynical effort to exploit divisions about the Arctic to deny
aviation workers the economic security that Senator Carnahan's amendment
would provide. In this time of national crisis, Congress should put aside
narrow and divisive issues like drilling in the Arctic Refuge and focus on
strengthening our national security and ensuring the safety of all
Americans.

We condemn Senator Gramm's effort and urge you to reject this attempt to
exploit our nation's crisis. Please vote "YES" on cloture on the Carnahan
amendment.

Sincerely

Carl Pope
Executive Director

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