wfn.org | [ENS] AIDS, Arctic drilling: Senate votes draw comment (Daybook)

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service
March 18, 2005 -- Friday Forum

Senate action affirmed on AIDS, malaria; vote may not decide final
course on
Arctic drilling

Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations urges grassroots
advocacy
to reach lawmakers during next week's spring recess

[ENS] -- Affirming the U.S. Senate's action to add funding for global
HIV/AIDS and malaria relief, but noting that the lawmakers' action is
not
the last word on Arctic drilling, the Episcopal Church's Office of
Government Relations today said grassroots advocacy with a House-Senate
conference committee could help protect pristine lands from fossil-fuel
exploration.

Full text of a statement from the Office of Government Relations follows
here. The office is active in responding to a range of issues including
the
Bush Administration's proposed 2006 federal budget, which faith leaders
have
challenged as "unjust" concerning the poor and vulnerable (see related
article at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_59751_ENG_HTM.htm).

- - - -

Statement from the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations on
Legislative Action in the United States Senate March 16-17, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC: Commenting on action taken by the U.S. Senate as it
considers the 'FY 06 Budget Resolution, Maureen Shea, Director of the
Episcopal Government Relations Office said today: "In votes this week,
the
United States Senate stood up to the Bush Administration by adding
additional funding to fight the global AIDS pandemic in the federal
budget
but failed to stop the Administration's bid to open the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling."

Voting 49 against and 51 for, senators supported the Bush
Administration's
resolve to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. In
a
statement Monday, the House of Bishops voiced full support for
protecting
the Arctic, land that is sacred space to the Gwich'in Nation - 90
percent of
whom are Episcopalians. Bishop Mark MacDonald of Alaska spent Tuesday
talking with Senators and staff about the Arctic and appeared at a press
conference to denounce the proposed drilling. MacDonald emphasized
protecting the Arctic not only as a matter of stewardship of creation
but
also as a matter of justice for the rights of the Gwich'in people.

"Proponents of drilling have far from won," said Bishop MacDonald. "This
is
only one vote in a complicated legislative process." Bishop MacDonald
also
said, "Once again, the United States has failed to honor the basic
requirements of justice for aboriginal people. The Senate voted not to
accord this very special issue even the basic protections offered to
other
concerns and groups. By including this item in the budget, they have
taken
away the right of the Gwich'in to have a fair hearing of their concerns
and
a fair hearing of the concerns of the refuge. This is, of course, a
dangerous matter for the rights and protections of all the people of the
country, a majority of whom support protection of the refuge. It is much
more dangerous when such a small group is not afforded the basic right
of
fairness in the legislative process."

In a positive development, the Senate last night voted to
more-than-double
the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and
Malaria. President Bush's FY'06 budget proposal slashed funding for this
critical multi-national program -- which is active in more than 120
nations
worldwide -- to its lowest level in three years. The amendment passed by
the Senate, which had the bipartisan sponsorship of Sens. Rick Santorum
(R-PA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), boosts funding from $300 million to $800
million, allowing the Global Fund to continue its vital work around the
world. It passed on a voice vote.

The Senate then passed its version of the FY'06 Budget Resolution,
meaning
that action on both the Arctic and global AIDS will now move to a
House-Senate conference committee. The House did not consider either
measure
in its version of the budget. Therefore it is possible for the
conference to
drop drilling in the Arctic and keep the Senate's figures on the Global
Fund. To do so, however, will require strong grassroots advocacy
opposing
drilling and supporting the additional funding for the Global Fund.
Congress
will leave town this week for the Easter-Passover recess, an important
time
for Episcopalians and all people of faith to contact their elected
representatives demanding that they pass a budget that reflects our
nation's
values of compassion for the poor, serving the human family at home and
abroad, and serving the common good. Shea concluded her statement
saying:
"We urge Episcopalians to join our grassroots network
(www.episcopalchurch.oprg/eppn) and be active on these important
issues."

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_59771_ENG_HTM.htm

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