[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 172 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16631-S16632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I was greatly disappointed by the 
vote of the Senate last Friday to open the ANWR to oil exploration. 
This was a tremendous mistake that, if uncorrected, will be a 
significant blow to the environment.
  Mr. President, it is time for government to practice fiscal 
responsibility. However, we should not destroy the Arctic National 
Wildlife Refuge [ANWR] in an effort to balance the budget. Our children 
do not deserve to inherit a huge debt. However, they do deserve to 
inherit our Nation's abundant wildlife and wilderness in the same or 
better condition as we did. Cheating our children of this inheritance 
is not sound fiscal policy.
  The attempt to open the ANWR for the exploration of oil is not 
something new. In fact, a battle has been developing for over 15 years. 
Congress has voted to protect this area in the past and must continue 
to fight this battle and preserve the ANWR in the future.
  The Budget Committee claims that opening the ANWR for oil exploration 
may generate $1.4 billion in leasing revenues during a 4-year period. 
This sounds like a lot of money and is a lot of money. Yet, this figure 
represents a mere two-tenths of 1 percent of the budget deficit. Should 
we sacrifice a unique ecological environment whose value is priceless 
in order to pay off less than one-half of 1 percent of our total debt? 
This just does not make sense.
  Oil is valuable and can be priced. But how can we price the 150,000-
member porcupine caribou herd that migrates 

[[Page S 16632]]

to the ANWR each year to give birth to their calves? How can we price 
the culture of the Gwich'in people who have been in northeast Alaska 
for 20,000 years? How can we price an entire ecosystem that is the life 
support of over 165 different species?
  Mr. President, inclusion of the ANWR provision in our budget 
reconciliation plan is unacceptable. It is not fair to our children and 
future generations to come. I urge the conferees to drop this ill-
advised antienvironment provision from the bill.

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