WASHINGTON, D.C. --Today, the U.S House of Representatives released its Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution which includes instructions that would allow the House Natural Resources Committee to throw open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for destructive oil drilling via the federal budget process. By instructing the committee to find $5 billion over 10 years, Congress can throw out protections from drilling in the Arctic Refuge through the budget reconciliation process.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"House Republicans did not get the memo that Donald Trump is one of the least popular Presidents in history, as their budget resolution embraces the same dirty and dangerous motivations as Trump’s proposal. But even worse than that, House Republicans are using the budget process to try and sneak a massive giveaway to the oil industry past the public by proposing to throw the pristine Arctic Refuge open to destructive drilling. That’s on top of ruthless cuts to the programs that protect our health from deadly pollution so that money can be dumped into tax cuts for billionaires.
“This isn’t just a dangerous budget, it’s offensive because of cuts and gimmicks that enrich big polluters and endanger wildlife, native communities, our most pristine places, and the health of our families. Americans want the Arctic protected, they want clean air, and they want healthy communities but this budget proposal provides none of those things. It should be rejected without delay.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.