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Brown repeatedly votes against environment
Measure opens Alaskan land for drilling

Aug. 2, 2001 -- U.S. Rep. Henry Brown early today voted to allow drilling in the pristine Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - a move that will open the region for oil exploration and has the long-term likely potential to harm wildlife and the environment.

During voting late Wednesday, Brown repeatedly voted in favor of organized energy interests and against positions taken by virtually all of the nation's major environmental organizations. (To see votes, go to: Thomas).

"This is a vote Henry Brown will remember," said Brown's 2000 Democratic opponent Andy Brack. "It paints his environmental values clearly - he's for big oil and corporate interests and opposed to long-term protections of our environment."

As part of Wednesday's voting, Brown also voted against a bipartisan effort aimed at forcing automakers to boost fuel efficiency and, in turn, save more energy. He voted against the proposal to require combined passenger and light truck fleets to achieve an average of 26 mpg by 2005 and 27.5 mpg by 2007.

Passage of the bill, a modified plan of President Bush's package to stimulate energy production, includes billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for energy producers.

Among highlights of the bill, according to The Washington Post):

• $33.5 billion in tax cuts and incentives to encourage oil, gas, "clean" coal and nuclear energy production and conservation measures.
  
  
• Authorizes drilling for oil and gas in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and provides royalty relief incentive for deepwater leases in central and western Gulf of Mexico.
  
  
• Eases restrictions on energy production on federal lands.

"If you care what happens to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and want an energy policy based on conservation, rather than consumption, you can do what I'm doing - pray that the U.S. Senate uses common sense when it takes up the measure later this year," Brack said. "I know Senator Hollings is committed to protecting the refuge and I encourage you to contact Senator Thurmond to support it too by opposing the Bush bill."

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"Why we sort of deserted nuclear power I don't understand."

-- Henry Brown, after he took a March 2001 joyride on the USS Springfield, a nuclear submarine.

• Click here for other pearls of wisdom from Henry Brown