Chairman Don Young's Response To Rep. Vento's ANWR Lock-Up Bill

Washington, D.C. - The following is U.S. Rep. Don Young's (R-Alaska) response to legislation introduced today by U.S. Rep. Bruce Vento (D-MN) which would permanently lockup up the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas exploration.

"Any legislation which would increase America's dependence on Middle East oil and continue our nation's growing foreign trade deficit is not a priority of the House Resources Committee," said Young, the Chairman of the Committee.

"Any legislation that would eliminate hundreds of thousands of new American jobs in all 50 states and deny Alaska's Native people vital funding for clean drinking water, medical and emergency services will not be considered by this Committee.

"Unfortunately, this is exactly what Mr. Vento's ill-conceived legislation would do, so it will not be considered by the Resources Committee during the 106th Congress.

"However, should Mr. Vento decide to introduce legislation to strengthen America's energy security, decrease our trade deficit, create new jobs in America, and help improve the Alaska Native people's living conditions, then I would embrace his efforts.

"It's ironic that while Mr. Vento is actively working to appease a major airlines in his home state by allowing for the degradation of a national wildlife refuge in order to expand an airport runway, he is seeking to promote his alleged 'environmental' concerns on a section of a wildlife refuge in my home state.

"My advice to him would be to reconsider his avid support for the degradation of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and start taking care of the species he claims to care so much about that live - at least for now - in his state."