SENATE FAILS TO LIMIT DEBATE ON MURKOWSKI-BREAUX-STEVENS AMENDMENTS TO OPEN ANWR’S COASTAL PLAIN – BATTLE CONTINUES

WASHINGTON ~ The U.S. Senate today failed to secure cloture on two amendments to the Senate energy bill from Alaska’s Senators Frank Murkowski and Ted Stevens to open the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development.

The cloture votes on the amendments were a procedural step to eventual success. ‘The battle is still being waged,’ said Roger Hererra, Arctic Power’s DC Coordinator. ‘Opening the Coastal Plain is inevitable. It’s the only thing that will have a significant impact on national security.’

Once the Senate passes their version of the energy bill it will head to a conference committee with HR 4, passed by the House last August.

Senator Murkowski’s provision, Senate Amendment 3132, gives the President the authority to safely explore, develop and produce the resources of the Coastal Plain if it is determined to be in the national economic and security interests of the United States. It would also designate an additional 1.5 million acres of the refuge to wilderness status. Senator Murkowski has not withdrawn amendment 3132.

Provisions in Senator Stevens proposal, Senate Amendment 3133, would have created a legacy fund to assist retired steelworkers and help revitalize the industry. The Senator withdrew his amendment after the cloture vote.

‘In addition to ignoring the critical national security implications of our need for increased domestic production, the Majority also ignored the voice of organized labor and the Native Alaskans who live and own land in ANWR,’ said Kim Duke, Executive Director of Arctic Power.

‘By failing to pass these amendments the Senate failed not only the Inupiat land holders in the Coastal Plain and Alaskans who rely on a resource economy, but all Americans who face rising gas prices and greater dependence on foreign and unstable sources of oil,’ said Al Adams, Arctic Power Board Member and Deputy Special Assistant for Resource Development for the North Slope Borough.

Jerry Hood, Special Assistant for Energy Policy to James Hoffa, President of the Teamsters union said, ‘I am extremely disappointed in those members of the U.S. Senate who purport to be friends of organized labor and working American families. They are not and they proved that by their votes today.’ He added, ‘This issue is far from over and in the end we will prevail.’