1. ENVIRONMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
In response to last week’s special alert, you sent more than 9,300 messages
urging your representatives to approve several pro-environment amendments to
the FY05 Interior Appropriations bill (thank you!). Although the results are
mixed, your messages helped produce one significant victory, as the House voted
222-205 to restrict roadbuilding for commercial logging in the Tongass National
Forest. Representatives, however, defeated amendments that would have
prohibited snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park and blocked new Bush
administration efforts to remove critical protections for wildlife and public
participation in managing our national forests. We’ll be back in touch in the
next few weeks as the bill makes its way through the Senate, so stay tuned.
2. ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
In our last alert we asked you to urge your representatives to oppose a House
bill that would have?opened Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to
destructive oil and gas drilling. Your more than 7,900 messages exemplified the
growing momentum against drilling in this pristine wilderness, and we are
pleased to report that opposition to the bill was so strong that its proponents
decided not to bring it to the floor for a vote. Thanks to all of you who
helped stave off this latest attack on America’s premier wildlife refuge.
3. ENERGY BILLS
In our last alert we also asked you to weigh in with your representatives on a
series of energy-related House bills. You responded with nearly 5,000 messages
(thank you!), and we have mixed news to report. The bad news is that the House
(again) passed the massive and irresponsible energy bill that has been stalled
in the Senate since last November. The House also passed two bills that would
gut environmental review for new energy projects and exempt oil refineries from
laws that protect the air we breathe. On the brighter side, representatives
opted not to consider a bill that would have given huge subsidies to companies
that mine frozen natural gas deposits in Alaska and offshore areas. The Senate
currently has no plans to consider any of these bills, so we are hopeful that
we’ve seen the last of them for the remainder of the year.
4. WASHINGTON, DC CLEAN-FUEL BUSES
Last week we asked those of you living in Washington, DC to support Metro’s
clean natural gas bus program. Although you sent more than 150 messages to
Mayor Williams and his environmental advisor urging them to help ensure the
purchase of 200 new natural gas buses and construction of a new natural gas
fueling station in Rockville, Maryland, on June 17th the Metro board voted
instead to buy 117 more dirty diesel buses and 100 experimental diesel-electric
hybrids, and to put the clean bus program on hold. The good news is that the
new buses are included in the fiscal year 2006 budget, giving us some time to
pressure the board to reverse its decision before any new buses are actually
purchased. Thanks to those Washingtonians who took action; we’ll let you know
when we need you to weigh in again on this issue.