Protect the Arctic, outdoors

The Arctic Refuge is one of the last untouched places in the country. At more than 19 million acres, the Arctic Refuge in northeastern Alaska is America’s largest wildlife refuge and provides habitat and birthing grounds for native caribou, polar bear and migrating birds from across the globe, plus a diverse range of wilderness lands. Our nation’s coastlines support countless marine species and economies that depend on fishing, tourism, recreation and oil-free oceans.

Some members of Congress are eager to give up our public lands and waters and hand over our kids’ outdoor legacy to greedy fossil fuel executives. The attack on the Arctic Refuge and coasts is one of the most selfish, overwhelmingly unpopular and fiscally dishonest pursuits we’ve seen from Congress. These politicians just don’t seem to care what’s at stake, as long as they make good on their promise to deliver tax cuts for billionaires and corporate special interests.

We need leaders in Washington who will defend the longstanding bipartisan legacy to protect the Arctic Refuge and our coasts from corporate polluters who will destroy them. We are counting on our leaders to stand up against this attack and be voices for protecting the Arctic and our kids’ outdoor legacy.

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Protect the Arctic, outdoors."