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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]