Bennet Statement on Senate Failure to Protect Arctic Refuge

Washington, D.C. -- Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, along with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Tom Udall (D-NM), today offered an amendment to the Senate budget resolution that would have stricken language to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. The amendment failed by a vote of 48-52.

"Voting to open up the Arctic Refuge for drilling after a mere two minutes of debate is an embarrassment to this institution," Bennet said. "For nearly forty years, there has been bipartisan consensus not to drill in this land that is sacred to tribes and important to wildlife. Today, Senate Republicans turned their backs on that legacy with a legislative sleight-of-hand that is nothing more than a political stunt masquerading as an energy plan. It made no sense to drill in the Arctic years ago, when oil was more expensive, domestic production was lower, and foreign imports were higher. And it makes even less sense today, when the United States is exporting oil, supplies are at historic highs, and oil prices are at long-term lows."