WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted (225-Y, 201-N, with 7 members not voting) to support the American-made Energy and Good Jobs Act to open up the Arctic Refuge in Alaska to drilling.  The vote marks in increase in support of lawmakers fighting to protect the Arctic refuge, the last House vote on the Arctic refuge took place in April of 2005 and was passed with a vote of (231-Y, 200-N, with 3 members not voting).Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) a senior Democrat on the House Resources and Energy and Commerce Committee and long-time advocate for preserving wildlife areas from drilling made the following statement:

“Support for protecting our most pristine national wildlife is growing everyday.  The American people support an energy policy that embraces the fuels of the future and the technology already available to increase our energy efficiency not a pipe dream in the form of a pipeline through one of America’s natural treasures,” said Rep. Markey.  “Today’s vote should send a signal to the other body that support for this ill-founded plan to drill in the Arctic is waning.”

For more information on Rep. Markey’s work on energy policy check out http://markey.house.gov/