DRILLING & DEFENSE
By TED STEVENS
NEW YORK Post Opinion
December 20, 2005
The U.S. Senate has a unique op portunity to support our troops, increase our energy in dependence, plan for the potential of a global pandemic and arm our first responders to protect our citizens in the event of another terrorist attack. All of these things can be accomplished by casting a vote in favor of the annual Defense spending bill this week, but some senators — under pressure from single-issue extreme environmentalists — are hesitating.
The Defense bill has billions of dollars for such essential items as body armor for our troops and their vehicles and technology to remotely detonate improvised explosive devices. It also sets aside funds for Katrina victims, and to purchase vaccines to guard against the specter of a bird flu epidemic
Some of its provisions are of particular interest to New Yorkers.
Many will recall the tragic failure of communications between the NYPD and FDNY on 9/11. This bill establishes a new grant program dedicated solely to providing state and local governments with interoperable communications equipment so that our police and fire-fighters can communicate during a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The 9/11 Commission specifically called for such efforts and has been critical of Congress for not moving quicker on this issue.
The bill also allocates $2 billion to help our poorest citizens meet their home energy costs, which are skyrocketing this winter. Each year, residents of the Northeast rely on this program, known as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, as a vital lifeline to keep the pilot light on.
But here's what the extreme environmentalists object to: The bill authorizes responsible development of the Arctic coastal plain, which will provide up to 14 billion barrels of oil to help mitigate our dependence on foreign oil.
This is an important step toward the United States increasing production of its own energy supplies — rather than relying on unstable regions of the world, such as the Middle East and Venezuela. Some 60 percent of our oil now comes from overseas.
Contrary to hysterical propaganda, any development will be small and will strictly adhere to all environmental laws. After all, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the size of South Carolina, while the area slated for development is no bigger than Dulles Airport outside Washington, D.C.
Both the House and the Senate have given thumbs up to this common sense effort, as recently as last month, to limit our dependence on foreign, potentially unstable governments.
But the extreme environmentalists apparently aren't concerned if they derail this important legislation. Their focus is to have members of Congress support their narrow agenda, regardless of the repercussions. They have called upon senators to defeat this bill.
It is my hope that all Americans will reject this extreme agenda. Let's support our troops, plan for the future and help those in need.
Ted Stevens, the senior senator from Alaska, chairs the Senate Commerce Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
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