Friday, April 11, 2003 Contact: Sean Oblack (202) 225-4176 Schiff Speaks In Opposition To Drilling In The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge WASHINGTON, DC - During the debate on the House Energy Bill, U.S. Representative Adam Schiff spoke on the House Floor in vehement opposition to a clause in the bill to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Rep. Schiff said the following during the debate: "I strongly oppose drilling in the refuge, one of our Nation’s most treasured places. The coastal plain is a priceless piece of American wilderness that has been set-aside for future generations in recognition of its unique wildlife values. We should not steer our energy policy to drilling in this remote wilderness area, the biological heart of the refuge, home to caribou, polar bears, grizzlies, musk oxen, and migratory birds. Drilling in ANWR would be extremely shortsighted. The scant amount of oil we would wring from this pristine area, estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey to be the amount the U.S. consumes in just 6 months, would cause irreparable damage to the area. By drilling there, we would set a dangerous precedent that no wilderness is sacred. There is an even more important reason to oppose drilling in ANWR, and that is because ANWR is merely the most graphic example of the wrong-headed nature of our energy policy. We cannot drill our way out of our energy dependence. We cannot drill our way out of our dependence on foreign sources of oil. I believe in the American entrepreneur. I believe in that spirit. I believe in our ability to develop technologies that will dramatically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Many of those technologies already exist. Many of them are on our roads. They have just to be cultivated, given incentives and developed further. The biggest lost opportunity of this administration has been the failure to set a goal for this country of cutting our dependence on fossil fuels in half in the next decade. This would wean us from foreign oil. This would clear our air, and this would preserve once and for all the sacred places like ANWR." Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.