Senate Narrowly Passes Budget Bill With Arctic Language

We've just heard that the U. S. Senate narrowly passed its version of a budget reconciliation bill after failing to strip out language that would turn America’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge into an industrial oil field.

I am very disappointed in today’s vote. However, I want to thank Senator Ron Wyden and the other courageous Senators who voted to reject oil and gas drilling in one of America’s last wild places in the earlier vote on the Cantwell Amendment and also by voting NO on this budget reconciliation bill at final passage.

Now our attention turns to the House of Representatives. Our staff on Capitol Hill tell me that a significant number of members on both sides of the aisle have been outspoken in their opposition to Arctic drilling language in this unrelated budget bill, creating serious concerns about whether a bill with Arctic drilling in it can pass the House at all. Let's do all we can to send the message to the Oregon House delegation as they consider their budget bill.