WASHINGTON, DC, May 19, 2006 - Responding to an outpouring of public support for protecting Americas forests and coastlines, the US House of Representatives approved -- by impressive margins -- a long list of policy changes as amendments to the FY 07 Appropriations Bill for Interior and related agencies.
An amendment to end decades of subsidies for logging in the Tongass -- our country's largest national forest and the world's largest intact coastal temperate rainforest -- garnered overwhelming support, passing 235-181. Sixty-eight Republicans voted in favor of the Amendment, sponsored by Republican Steve Chabot (OH) and Democrat Robert Andrews (NJ).
"This vote is an affirmation that taxpayers should not be required to subsidize the clear-cutting of our old-growth trees in the Tongass National Forest," said Bill Meadows, President of The Wilderness Society. "The Senate should take note of the overwhelming public support for ending these wasteful subsidies as it considers its own bill."
The House also reinstated, 217-203, the longstanding moratorium that protects the nation's coastlines from oil and gas drilling. During debate, Representatives questioned the rush to increase drilling as close as 3 miles from US coastlines, citing the government's own statistics that show 33 million acres of the Outer Continental Shelf are already leased by oil companies -- but not yet being drilled. Indeed, 320 trillion cubic feet of gas, enough to supply America's needs for over a decade, is already available for lease and development off America's coast, primarily in the western Gulf of Mexico.
"Congress recognized in this vote what most Americans understand: We can't drill our way to lower gas prices," said Dave Alberswerth, Senior Policy Director for The Wilderness Society. "Proposals to drill in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, unspoiled landscapes in the Rocky Mountain West, and along America's fragile coasts won’t provide relief at the pump. Clean renewable energy sources and making our cars go farther on a gallon of gas are the best ways to reduce consumers' costs now and in the future."
Other successful conservation amendments also passed with broad support. Highlights included:
- The Hinchey amendment to stop the federal government from giving oil and gas companies "royalty relief" in a time when they are making record profits, which won easily 252-165
- The Oberstar/Leach/Dingell amendment to block the EPA's 2003 policy directive that has effectively eliminated Clean Water Act protections for many small streams, wetlands, ponds and other waters around the country won by a vote of 222-198, with 37 Republicans voting the right way, despite well organized industry opposition.
Nevertheless, the overall bill continues a multi-year trend of deep cuts to funding for conservation agencies, and would leave critical conservation programs badly under-funded. Many members of Congress lamented the inadequate funding during debate yesterday, but the final bill retained deep cuts to Interior agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency.
"Clearly, many in congress understand that funding levels for conservation and environmental programs have been cut beyond what is sustainable," said Sarah Neimeyer, Director of Budget and Appropriations for The Wilderness Society. "The Senate has an opportunity to begin to reverse this trend. Millions of conservation-minded Americans will be watching closely as they take up their bill."
