ANWR SUPPORTERS APPLAUD STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
President Bush Urges Senate to Pass National Energy Plan, Points to Job Creation and National Security
January 30, 2001 – Washington, DC – In the annual State of the Union address last night President Bush called for immediate passage of a National Energy Plan that would create immediate jobs for hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans and decrease dependence on foreign sources for energy. Although the speech was for all Americans, the President’s comments were directed at the U.S. Senate where energy legislation is currently stalled. During one-half of the 47-minute speech, the President spoke to economic issues facing the country and made specific inference that developing domestic resources for energy was a matter of both national security and economic recovery.
Supporters of opening the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) say that it was a well-rounded speech that addressed all the major topics that touch the nation including energy. The President’s remarks are further support that safe and responsible ANWR development could double the current U.S. domestic supply of oil, make the U.S. far less reliant on foreign sources for our energy needs and help stimulate the economy through job creation.
"The President focused on three things – National Security, Homeland Security and Economic Security. ANWR contributes positively to all three. He’s my guy. I’m sticking with him," said Roger Herrera, Washington, D.C. spokesman for Arctic Power, an Alaskan-based non-profit organization that supports legislation to open ANWR to responsible energy development and production, and is closely allied philosophically to the Energy Stewardship Alliance.
The president made a strong statement in a bipartisan and balanced fashion that included support for domestic energy. The presence of Mr. James Hoffa, as a guest of honor, illustrated the importance President Bush place on ANWR and jobs. "The entire Congress stood up and supported the President’s need for an Energy Bill. Now it’s our responsibility to stand up and make it happen," said Jerry Hood, Special Assistant to the President on Energy, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
The President said he wanted to "offer every American the dignity of a job." "If you are an Inupiat Eskimo, that means opening up the coastal plain of ANWR. We whole-heartedly support the President in that resolve," said Fenton Rexford, Inupiat Eskimo, resident of Kaktovik Village in the North Slope Borough.
"I am proud to be part of the challenge to achieve energy independence and create good jobs for Americans," said Gary Wilson, Local Teamster 469, Hazlet, New Jersey. The Teamsters are one of the most vocal and devoted members of the Energy Stewardship Alliance.
The President enhanced bipartisan support for domestic energy production by orders of magnitude in his speech. He demanded environmental protection. No areas in the U.S. are equal to ANWR in their oil potential and environmental safeguards.
House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO) said, "We want to roll up our sleeves and work together with our President to end America’s dependence on foreign oil while preserving our environment." No oil in America is produced with greater protection of the environment than Alaskan oil.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that beneath the 1.5 million-acre tract in Alaska's Coastal Plain is upwards of 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil. The 2,000 acres of the ANWR designated for exploration could replace Iraqi imports for the next 70 years, create hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide and help promote national security.
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The Energy Stewardship Alliance (ESA) is a non-profit organization formed to support a balanced national energy policy. Its members believe that development of U.S. domestic energy resources is a national priority and the most effective way to reduce reliance on imported energy sources. They also encourage energy conservation and promote ways to improve energy sufficiency.
The Energy Stewardship Alliance and its new ad campaign will bring attention to both the energy crisis facing America today and the need to increase domestic oil production – all in support of the recently introduced National Energy Security Act 2001.
Members include: 60 Plus Association - Air Transport Association -Alaska Municipal League-Alaska Support Industry Alliance- American Bus Association - American Moving and Storage Association - American Petroleum Institute - American Trucking Association - Associated Equipment Distributors - Associated General Contractors of America-California Independent Petroleum Association - Competitive Enterprise Institute - Energy Consumers & Producers Association-Equipment Manufacturers Institute- Illinois Oil & Gas Association-Independent Petroleum Association of America - International Association of Drilling Contractors - International Brotherhood of Teamsters - Marine Retailers Association of America - Montana Independent Automobile Dealers Association-Motor Freight Carriers Association - Mountain States Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association - National Association of Counties - National Association of Manufacturers - National Black Chamber of Commerce - National Business Aviation Association - National Business Travel Association - National Cattlemen’s Beef Association - National Food Processors Association - National Grange - National Independent Automobile Dealers Association - National Industrial Transportation League - National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association - National Private Truck Council - National Paint and Coatings Association - National Petrochemical & Refiners Association - National Truck Equipment Association - New Mexico Independent Automobile Dealers Association-New York State Oil Producers Association-Northwestern Lumber Association of South Dakota - Petroleum Marketers Association of America - Recreation Vehicle Industry Association-Service Station Dealers Association - Small Business Survival Committee - South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association - South Dakota Independent Automobile Dealers Association - Transportation Institute - U. S. Chamber of Commerce - United Seniors Association Inc.
Members of the Energy Stewardship Alliance Petroleum Council include: Alabama Petroleum Council - Arkansas Petroleum Council - Connecticut Petroleum Council - Delaware Petroleum Council - Florida Petroleum Council - Georgia Petroleum Council - Illinois Petroleum Council - Indiana Petroleum Council - Iowa Petroleum Council - Kansas Petroleum Council - Kentucky Petroleum Council - Maine Petroleum Council - Maryland Petroleum Council - Massachusetts Petroleum Council - Associated Petroleum Industries of Michigan - Minnesota Petroleum Council - Missouri Oil Council - New Jersey Petroleum Council - New York State Petroleum Council - North Carolina Petroleum Council - North Dakota Petroleum Council - Ohio Petroleum Council - Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania - South Carolina Petroleum Council - Tennessee Petroleum Council - Virginia Petroleum Council - Wisconsin Petroleum Council
For further information, contact Energy Stewardship Alliance at 866-444-ANWR (2697).
