The Senate Energy and Commerce Committee voted 13-9 on Wednesday to authorize drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

The provision was added to the budget reconciliation. Under Senate rules, the reconciliation can't be filibustered.

Most Inupiat Eskimos, who own land and subsurface rights in ANWR, support drilling. They stand to gain jobs and revenues if oil and gas production is allowed.

The Gwich'in Nation opposes drilling. The tribe says development will hurt the Porcupine caribou herd that lives and usually calves in ANWR and is a central part of tribal culture.

Get the Story:
Senate panel OKs oil drilling in Arctic refuge (Reuters 10/19)
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Senate Panel Approves Arctic Drilling (The New York Times 10/20)
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Congress inches near ANWR oil drilling (The Anchorage Daily News 10/20)
ANWR bill clears hurdle (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 10/20)

Relevant Links:
Arctic Slope Regional Corp - http://www.asrc.com
Gwic'hin Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Willdife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org

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