Democrats Are Fighting to Protect Our Public Lands

Fighting to Protect the Arctic Wildlife Refuge 

Watch House Democrats speak out against drilling in the Arctic Refuge

Once again, in his budget this year, at the bidding of big oil and gas companies, President Bush is proposing opening the pristine Arctic Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling for the first time.

Democrats in Congress continue to lead the fight to protect the wildlife refuge. The Arctic Wildlife Refuge is one of our most magnificent and rare unspoiled ecosystems, and its natural beauty should be preserved and set aside for generations to come.  Democrats are committed to protecting this pristine wilderness for our children and grandchildren.  And yet Republicans continue to push for a plan that would open the Refuge to drilling and threaten the habitat of more than 200 species. 

For years, drilling in the Arctic Refuge has been opposed by the American public and defeated in Congress, but Republicans continue to try to use every legislative tactic available to open the region to drilling. Last year, Republicans tried to use the budget reconciliation bill as a vehicle to open the Refuge to drilling, and again the provision was defeated.  This year, rather than finding real solutions to America's energy dependence, the Republican advocates of drilling are pushing for a free-standing budget reconciliation bill that would open up the Arctic refuge. 
At a time when gas prices are skyrocketing and gas companies are seeing record profits, Congress should be working to provide real solutions to America’s energy needs, not pandering to the big oil and gas companies.  Drilling in the Arctic refuge would provide only a six-month supply of oil that would not be available for ten years; would not bring down gas prices; and would not bring us any closer to energy independence.  The Arctic refuge is too precious, and contains too little oil, to justify drilling.

Instead, Democrats have a plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by investing in clean and sustainable energy sources. 

Profiles in Cronyism and Corruption:  Stephen Griles

Stephen Griles, a mining industry lobbyist with ties to Jack Abramoff, for years held the position of Deputy Secretary of the Interior, managing a wide range of issues from national parks and Indian affairs to mining, logging and mineral exploration on public lands.  Griles resigned under an ethical cloud, but in his years at the department he worked to make it harder for federal mine inspectors to cite violations, argued for oil drilling off the California coast and pressed to open the Arctic Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas exploration.

Fighting to Prevent the Sell-Offs of Our Public Lands

Democrats believe that protecting our national parks and public lands is critical to preserving our country’s heritage.  In Congress, Democrats are fighting to defend the country's most treasured public lands from troubling Republican initiatives that would sell off America's natural heritage to the highest bidder.

Despite widespread opposition to privatizing America’s public lands, the President and the Republican Congress continue to advocate the sale of national parks and forests.  For example, in October 2005, during the budget reconciliation process, House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) proposed closing 15 national parks and selling them off to the oil and gas industries and private developers.  The plan would require commercial advertising in national parks, sell commercial naming rights of park facilities, and place these 15 national parks, such as Theodore Roosevelt Island, in the hands of developers.  The proposal caused an uproar from conservationists, historians and local elected officials, and Pombo retreated.  

One month later, in November 2005, Pombo and other House Republicans again attempted to raid our federal resources by adding a provision to the budget reconciliation bill that would allow mining companies to buy public lands. Since 1994, there has been a moratorium on the sale of public lands to companies that mine for metals (gold, silver, copper).  In the Republican plan, companies would pay either $1,000 per acre or fair market value, whichever is greater, for the surface lands -- but the price would not have to reflect the value of minerals under the surface. Unlike in the past, the companies would not have to prove that the land contained a valuable mineral deposit or use the land for mining.  Hence, there was nothing in the plan that would have prevented a mining company from buying public land – such as in a national forest – and then reselling it for ski resorts or housing developments. Rep. Nick Rahall, ranking member on the House Resources Committee, led the fight to defeat the mining provision, and ultimately it was removed from the final bill. 

Now, in its FY 2007 budget, the Bush Administration proposes to sell $800 million worth of national forests over five years to offset its budget deficits and fund a rural school initiative, plus an additional $182 million of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.  The Administration’s proposal would sell thousands of acres of hiking trails, rock climbing areas and watersheds.  These public lands offer unparalleled recreational opportunities, and opening them to development could be devastating for the local communities that depend on revenue from tourism.  It is outrageous that the Administration would compromise our nation’s natural resources to pay off the President’s irresponsible tax cuts.  Americans should not have to choose between funding education programs in rural areas and preserving our national treasures.

Profiles in Cronyism and Corruption:  William Gerry Myers III

President Bush appointed William Gerry Myers III—a lawyer who had a career representing grazers and timber companies—as general counsel of the Interior Department.  Myers publicly opposed important environmental policies such as the National Forest Roadless Conservation Policy and grazing fee reforms.  He also supported and vigorously defended the slaughter of bison that wandered out of Yellowstone National Park.

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi