Protecting America’s Natural Heritage

Protecting America’s vast environmental treasures, such as our National Parks, National Forests, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is a bipartisan tradition stretching back to Teddy Roosevelt. These special places are part of our natural – and our national – heritage.

I have strongly supported protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Arctic Refuge is part of what makes our country unique, beautiful and precious. During my time in the Senate, I have worked to ensure that the Arctic 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 addition, I have voted against opening the refuge to drilling at every opportunity during my time in the 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.

I believe we need a balanced approach to managing our 191 million acres of national forests. Our national forests belong to all Americans, and can produce timber, provide opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting, protect our water supplies and provide habitat for wildlife. I believe that a key component of a balanced management approach is to preserve our remaining pristine national forest areas. These areas are national treasures that should be preserved and passed on to future generations. That is why I have supported protections for pristine national forests by co-sponoring the Roadless Area Conservation Act. This important legislation prohibits road construction and logging in unspoiled, roadless areas of the National Forest System.