>From: [log in to unmask]
>To:
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>Subject: Arctic Refuge: Congress Poised to Vote as Early as Today, Support
>for Protection Strong
>Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 10:20:01 -0500
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>**This statement will be released at a press conference on Capitol Hill
>this morning with Senators Cantwell (D-WA), Kerry (D-MA) and others.
>
>For Immediate Release: March 15, 2005
>Contact: Annie Strickler, (202) 675-2384
>                            Cell (202) 487-4493
>
>        STRONG SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING ARCTIC REFUGE WITH CONGRESS POISED TO
>                              VOTE AS EARLY AS TODAY
>              Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
>
>"The Sierra Club is proud to be here today standing strong with our Senate
>champions to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We're just hours
>away from a vote on this controversial issue in which drilling proponents -
>in an underhanded and abusive attempt to limit debate and amendment - will
>try to attach Arctic drilling to the Budget Resolution.
>
>"They know that Americans support protecting, not plundering, this national
>treasure and that an open and honest debate would mean certain defeat.
>It’s
>hard to believe that the democratic processes we enjoy here in America,
>indeed those same pillars of our democratic system we champion around the
>globe, are being undermined before our eyes.
>
>"This controversial provision to drill the Arctic is an abuse of the budget
>process and has nothing to do with generating revenues for America. This
>action is based on speculative revenues and a speculative amount of oil.
>The risk to too great and the gain would be too little.
>
>"As in past years, drilling advocates are claiming victory before the
>actual vote. And, as in past years, a strong, bipartisan coalition of
>Senators - backed by the will of the American people - will press on with a
>vigilant campaign to keep the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge where it
>belongs: wild and free and out of the budget.
>
>"Americans are going to fight Arctic drilling every step of the way -- in
>the halls of Congress, on the phones, in the media and in their living
>rooms. Over the past week thousands of Americans across the country have
>gathered in their neighbors’ homes, churches, schools, community centers,
>and movie theaters for "Arctic Action Day."  They've written letters to
>their newspapers, called their members of Congress, and sought to educate
>their neighbors through community screenings of documentaries like Oil on
>Ice about the Arctic drilling fight.
>
>"Their dedication is rooted in the knowledge that we have cheaper, quicker
>and cleaner energy choices that safeguard our last wild places, and in the
>belief that the federal budget is no place to make controversial policy
>decisions. The vast, unspoiled wilderness of America’s Arctic National
>Wildlife Refuge is more than a line item in the Federal Budget and it
>should not be destroyed for a short term fix of oil, but rather protected
>for future generations."

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