Dear Friend: 

Thank you for writing about oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  I care about this important environmental issue and I appreciate the time you took to share your concerns with me.

 Unspoiled environments like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are a part of our natural – and our national – heritage.  The Arctic Refuge is part of what makes our country unique, beautiful and precious.  It deserves protection, not exploitation.

 During my time in the Senate, I have worked to ensure that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will not be opened to unnecessary development.  I am an original cosponsor of legislation that would protect the refuge by designating it as a protected wilderness area.  In the debate on the Senate budget resolution, I voted to remove provisions from this bill that would have allowed drilling in the refuge.  I also voted against the budget reconciliation bill in the Senate, which contained language that would open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas production.  However, this language is not contained in the budget reconciliation bill that passed the House of Representatives. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that such language is not contained in the final budget reconciliation package that will come before both the House and Senate.

            Drilling for oil in the Arctic Refuge is bad environmental policy, and it is bad energy policy.  It would take ten years of drilling in the Arctic Refuge to produce oil. We do not need to despoil an environmental treasure on a gamble for oil where the odds of finding significant supplies are remote.  We instead need to provide the appropriate incentives for the development and use of energy efficient products, alternative and renewable fuels, and improved conservation measures.  As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and promote environmentally sound energy policies.

            Thank you again for sharing with me your concerns on this important environmental issue.  Please be assured that I will continue to fight to protect our nation’s natural heritage.  For updates on this and other issues under consideration by the Senate, please visit my website at http://clinton.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton