Key Vote Letter to House Urging Oil Exploration in ANWR

TO MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector, and region, urges you to vote yes on H.R. 5429, the American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act that would authorize much needed energy exploration of a small portion of Alaska's coastal plain.

As one of America's greatest prospects for future domestic oil exploration, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is conservatively estimated to contain 10.4 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil. ANWR would provide the United States with about 1 million barrels per day for the next 30 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. An additional 1 million barrels a day produced domestically would decrease oil imports from the Persian Gulf region by 40%, which strengthens national security by making the United States less dependent on oil from politically unstable regions.

Energy exploration in ANWR can be done in an environmentally sensitive way. The proposal currently before the House would limit development to a small footprint of 2,000 acres required for production and support facilities, while utilizing the best commercially available technology. Exploring ANWR will also bring good paying jobs for Alaska's indigenous populations while ensuring protection of the environment.

Americans should not be made to endure high energy prices while substantial energy resources remain off limits. H.R. 5429 is an important step in the effort to provide an affordable, reliable supply of domestically produced energy. The Chamber urges you to vote yes on H.R. 5429, and may consider any votes related to this issue in our annual How They Voted congressional scorecard.

Sincerely,

R. Bruce Josten