<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center">It looks like Republicans are pushing to achieve another longtime goal. The Senate could finally approve oil drilling in Alaska&#8217;s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ;voted 13-10 to approve an additional measure to the tax-reform bill that would allow for oil and gas exploration at the 19.6 million-acre refuge.  ;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Senate will be voting to pass the tax bill by the end of the year and it&rsquo;s expected to pass since the GOP has the majority in the chamber.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 1960, President Eisenhower ;declared the refuge as a protected area and then in 1980 oil and gas drilling was banned in the refuge.  ;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, there is an estimated 4.3 billion to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil in ANWR, according to the U.S. Geological Survey from 2002.  ;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But, this is merely an estimate. The accurate amount is unknown, as written in a Department of Energy report from 2008.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;There is considerable uncertainty regarding both the size and quality of the oil resources that exist in ANWR,&rdquo; said the report. &ldquo;Thus, the potential ultimate oil recovery and potential yearly production are highly uncertain.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But Republicans have been pushing to do studies to accurately determine how much oil is available.  ;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Proponents believe this could help make the U.S. much less dependent on countries like Venezuela, Russia, and those in the Middle East that export a significant amount of our oil supply.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The House Committee on Natural Resources ;estimated that 130,000 jobs could be created and $440 billion could be generated from an ANWR drilling project, depending on the oil reserves.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another study from the Center for American Progress said that the drilling could bring in over $37.5 million for the treasury.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Senate Energy committee is being led by Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who introduce the oil and gas exploration bill. She has said that at least 2 billion would be generated from a drilling project, half of which would go to the state of Alaska and half to the federal government.  ;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Proponents also point out that with today&rsquo;s advanced technology, the energy production would have much less of an impact on the environment than in the past.  ;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;Alaskans will do this the right way,&#8221; said Murkowski ahead of the committee vote. &#8220;We will protect the environment while providing substantial economic benefits all across America.&#8221;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, passing the bill means Murkowski has to support a healthcare agenda she has not supported in the past.</p>
<p>&#8220;Murkowski, along with fellow GOPers Susan Collins of Maine and John McCain of Arizona, voted down the Senate GOP&#8217;s efforts to repeal much of the ACA. In doing so, she repeatedly cited the potential impact on health coverage in her state, which has expanded under the law,&#8221; writes <em>E&;E News. ;</em></p>
<p>&#8220;Murkowski now may face a choice of whether to secure the legislative victory on ANWR that has eluded the Alaska delegation &mdash; including her father, former Energy Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) &mdash; for nearly 40 years, or maintain health coverage for thousands of Alaskans.&#8221;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Critics, including Democrats and environmentalists, argue that the damage to wildlife and ecosystem could still be significant enough to be detrimental and could cause permanent damage to the environment.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Democrats have also blasted the measure doubting its significance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&#8220;The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has been instructed to raise a billion dollars, and at the same time the Finance Committee is trying to increase the deficit by $1.5 trillion with tax cuts for corporations and millionaires,&#8221; said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., at this week&#8217;s committee hearing. &#8220;The fact our committee&#8217;s contribution to that deal is about 7/100th ;of one percent of the Republicans&#8217; increased deficit spending shows that this is not a serious budget proposal. It&#8217;s a cynical effort to open up the heart of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge for oil.&#8221; ;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The bill only needs 51 votes to pass, meaning Democrats won&rsquo;t be able to produce a filibuster. The House tax bill that was passed 227-205 last Thursday does not include the ANWR drilling measure, but House lawmakers plan to fight for its inclusion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Author&rsquo;s note:</strong> It looks like this Senate bill with this measure is going to past. We should at least try to find out what Alaska&rsquo;s oil reserves are. This could potentially be a goldmine we are just sitting on.</p>
<p> ;</p>