Senate Budget Rebuffs White House on Arctic

Statement of Rodger O. Schlickeisen, President, Defenders of Wildlife on House and Senate Budget Proposals and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

(03/03/2004) - WASHINGTON - The Senate Budget Committee has finally woken up to the fact that Americans don't want oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This is a setback for the president, who made Arctic drilling a centerpiece of his energy policy and of his budget request for this year. Americans have said loud and clear that it doesn't make sense to wreck one of the wildest places left in this country for less oil than the U.S. uses in six months that wouldn't reach consumers for a decade or more. This is an encouraging development, but those of us who care about the Arctic Refuge must remain vigilant, as energy industry backers have shown they will do or say just about anything to throw open the refuge to the oil companies.

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Defenders of Wildlife is one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat, and was named as one of America's Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine. With more than 450,000 members and supporters, Defenders is an effective voice for wildlife and habitat. To learn more about Defenders of Wildlife, please visit www.defenders.org.

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Contact(s):

Brad DeVries, (202) 772-0237
William Lutz, (202) 772-0269

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