Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to keep drills out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Introduced by Rep. Jared Huffman, the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act would repeal a provision in the controversial December 2017 tax bill that opened up the refuge’s sensitive coastal plain for drilling. The bill passed 225-193 with bipartisan support.
Companion legislation was introduced yesterday in the Senate. The Arctic Refuge Protection Act would establish the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a wilderness area, permanently protecting it from destructive oil and gas exploration.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“The overwhelming majority of the American people oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge because it would threaten one of America’s last truly wild places, the climate, and the human rights of the Gwich’in people. Today’s vote should be a clear signal to the oil industry that opposition to drilling in the coastal plain isn’t going away, and that investing in Arctic drilling would be an expensive risk that’s not worth taking.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.