Today I voted against an amendment that would have prevented the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration and drilling. Over ten years, I have been absolutely clear that my support for energy development in northern Alaska is based on its importance for Native, indigenous peoples who live on and depend upon the resources of the Coastal Plain. My support has been based upon visits to the village of Kaktovik and other Arctic villages, and assurances from local officials and individuals that they want oil development, while protecting the environment and subsistence cultural traditions.

Three weeks ago, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee marked up legislation to open a small portion of the Coastal Plain of Alaska to oil and gas exploration and provide an estimated $2.4 billion in federal revenues to help balance the budget. While I do not like legislating on budget bills, this avenue appears to be the only way to allow oil and gas exploration to proceed in an area that was long-ago designated for study for oil and gas drilling under Section 1002 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (P.L. 96-487).

When ANWR was established in 1980, Section 1002 of the Act set aside approximately 1.5 million acres on the Refuge's Coastal Plain, now referred to as "Section 1002," as an area for study, including an assessment of fish and wildlife resources on the Coastal Plain, the impacts of oil and gas exploration and development on those resources, and a delineation of the extent and amount of potential petroleum resources. Since that time, Section 1002 has always been an area where exploration and development could potentially occur. It is not part of the designated Wilderness Area in the Refuge, it has never been part of the Wilderness Area, and it is not new land carved out from the Wilderness Area.

If the reconciliation bill passes, I will be working with my colleagues on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to move forward S. 1891, which includes assurances and mechanisms that the people of Kaktovik want for the leasing activities in the Coastal Plain -- assurances that had to be stripped out of the legislation under Budget Reconciliation rules. The Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2005, S. 1891 introduced by Senator Murkowski and cosponsored by myself, Senator Stevens, and Senator Inouye, provides impact support if traditional lifeways are threatened, and a mechanism for the people of the North Slope to have a voice in prospective development. I intend to push for this bill if reconciliation conference report is agreed to.