GOP HOUSE LETTER SENDS CLEAR SIGNAL OPPOSING ARCTIC REFUGE DRILLING IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL

This week a letter from 24 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives voicing strong opposition to including Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling language in the budget reconciliation bill was sent the Committee chairmen and House leadership.   

By signing this letter, these Representatives have taken a courageous, principled stance in support of America’s Arctic Wildlife Refuge.  Their action reflects constituents’ belief that the Arctic Refuge should be protected for all Americans, and that the budget reconciliation bill is not an appropriate place to consider such a controversial plan. 

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS TWO PORKY BILLS:  THE ENERGY BILL AND TRANSPORTATION BECOME LAW

ENERGY FAILURE

The energy bill passed through Congress on Friday, July 29 when the Senate voted 74-26 to approve the measure.  The bill had received a 275-156 victory in the House the day before.  And now, with President Bush's signing of the bill on Monday, August 8, the bill has become law.  Despite the broad bipartisan support in Congress, the legislation has been roundly and rightly criticized by the press.  In addition to massive tax breaks for the oil, gas, coal and nuclear energy industries, the bill does not improve fuel efficiency standards and fails to seriously promote renewable sources of energy.

THE ROAD PAVED WITH PORK

The Transportation Bill passed with a 412-8 vote in the House and a 91-4 vote in the Senate.  With these votes, an irresponsible, pork-ridden transportation bill has won out over the transportation and infrastructure needs of our nation.  President Bush signed the hefty bill into law on Wednesday, August 10.  The bill -- which consisted of a staggering 2,000 pages -- arrived on the president's desk with a massive $286.5 billion price tag, including a staggering $22 billion earmarked for special member projects.  

To read full story and to Take Action, go to:
http://www.alaskawild.org/takeaction_alaskawild_update.html

VICTORY FOR THE TONGASS:  COURT RULING FINDS ERRORS IN LAND MANAGEMENT

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday, August 5, that the Forest Service must correct serious problems in the 1997 Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan. The challenge to the 1997 Forest Plan by conservation organizations centers on the impact of a Forest Service error that doubled its projections of market demand for Tongass timber.  Market demand projections were used to determine the maximum logging level allowed in the 1997 Forest Plan.  The overall effect of this error was to exaggerate Tongass logging levels, and put much more land in logging designations than the agency’s own economists found was necessary to supply local mills.

To read full story and to Take Action, go to:
http://www.alaskawild.org/takeaction_alaskawild_update.html

TAKE ACTION -- THE TIME TO PROTECT THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IS NOW!!

Don't Drill -- Storm Capitol Hill!!  Arctic Refuge Action Day, September 20

On Tuesday, September 20, an impressive and diverse coalition of groups will hold a day of action on Capitol Hill.  WE WANT YOU THERE!!  If you do anything for the Arctic Refuge in the next two months, make sure that it's attending the Arctic Refuge Action Day.   At the event, we'll have many well-known speakers, including but not limited to leaders from environmental organizations, religious communities, Native American communities, and Congress.  After the rally is over, we're strongly encouraging everyone to visit their Representative and Senator's offices and tell them why you're in DC.  

To read full story and to Take Action, go to:
http://www.alaskawild.org/takeaction_alaskawild_update.html

ACTIVIST RESOURCES

Don’t know who your Representative is? Find out at http://capwiz.com/awc/dbq/officials/. 
US. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Senate Address: The Honorable _______, US Senate, Washington, DC 20510
House Address: The Honorable _______,US House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515
Contacting the President: George W. Bush, The White House, Washington DC 20500
Contacting the Secretary of the Interior: Gail Norton, 1849 C St, NW, Washington DC 20240
White House Comment Desk: (202) 456-1111, Fax: (202) 456-2461
Send a letter to the editor of your local paper at http://capwiz.com/awc/dbq/media/
Send a FREE fax to protect Alaska’s Rainforest at http://www.akrain.org/