Alaska Natives are asking Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to withdraw an amendment that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from taking action on climate change for a year.

Native leaders say they can't wait any longer for the federal government to respond to the issue. They say their lands and natural resources are already affected by rising temperatures.

"We are probably going to have the first refugees of America -- climate change refugees and they are going to be Alaska Native people," Larry Merculieff said at a press conference, KTUU-TV reported.

Murkowski's amendment to the fiscal year 2010 Interior appropriations bill delays EPA regulation of greenhouse gases for a year. "So what I'm proposing with this amendment simply gives Congress time to consider the issue (and) do it in a thoughtful and a thorough manner," she told KTUU-TV.

The Senate is currently debating the H.R.2996, the Interior bill.

Get the Story:
Native leaders criticize Murkowski amendment (KTUU-TV 9/22)
Murkowski CO2 Amendment Could Have Broad Reach (CIimateWire 9/22)
Press Release: Murkowski Seeks Vote on Amendment on EPA Regulation of Carbon Dioxide (Sen. Murkowski 9/23)

2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill:
- 2010 Bill and Report: HR 2996
- Bill Summary: As Passed by the House
- Bill Summary: As Passed by the Full Committee
- List of Programs Cut or Terminated in the Bill
- Full Committee Recorded Votes