ARCTIC UPDATE:
On March 17, the House and Senate passed competing versions of a FY06 budget resolution, and yes, the Senate version includes language that could pave the way for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.   Nevertheless, drilling is not a done deal, and conservation activists need to keep reminding Congress that we like our Arctic just the way it is – wild, unspoiled, and free of oil drilling.  There remain many legislative steps between now and passage of the resolution, and we need your help to keep the pressure on Congress.

The budget resolution sets overall tax and spending targets to guide Congress as it writes bills later in the year that make actual changes in programs and tax laws.  Each house passed its version last week.  The Senate includes explicit “reconciliation instructions” calling for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  The House version doesn’t mention drilling, but it does contain a loophole that could allow the House Resources committee to push for drilling in the later reconciliation process.

In the next step in the budget process, a conference committee, formed from Members of both bodies of Congress  will attempt to iron out the differences between the spending plans passed by the House and Senate.  Congressional leadership needs to know that including Arctic Refuge drilling in the final resolution will make an already controversial budget too difficult to pass.
Please take action now by reminding your congressional members how important it is to protect the Arctic Refuge from oil drilling.

The battle to protect the Arctic Refuge is far from over, despite the Senate’s failure to strip a Refuge drilling provision from their first round budget.  The federal budget process is a long process, and your Members of Congress need to hear from Arctic Refuge supporters every step of the way.

Take Action at:  http://ga1.org/campaign/ArctBudgetConf