BILL REQ. #:  H-4515.1 

Read first time 02/02/2004.   Referred to Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Washington state is the gateway to Alaska, with our fates intertwined and our economies, people, and ecologies interdependent; and
     WHEREAS, Workers in Washington state depend upon the healthy wildlife protected by the National Wildlife Refuge System established by President Theodore Roosevelt when he visited Pelican Island a hundred years ago; and
     WHEREAS, Our wildlife refuge system has grown through the work of common Americans with uncommon dedication and perseverance; and
     WHEREAS, The refuges now number more than 500 and cover every state; and
     WHEREAS, Here in Washington state, volunteers work hard to protect the wildlife refuge lands at the Nisqually River, Willapa Bay, the Hanford Reach, and other important locations throughout our state; and
     WHEREAS, Hunters, birdwatchers, kayakers, and hikers all enjoy the benefits of these wildlife refuges; and
     WHEREAS, Americans built this refuge system because of their love of wildlife and the promise made by Congress that it would serve as a good steward of those lands; and
     WHEREAS, Congress and the Bush Administration is breaking that promise by authorizing a massive oil drilling operation in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and
     WHEREAS, This breach of trust undermines 100 years of cooperation and progress;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the federal government abandon plans to open any national wildlife refuge, including the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge, to industrial development like drilling or mining.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.