Make a Call Now to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge NOW

Imagine the view! 

Early Saturday morning, the Senate voted to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as they rushed to pass a tax bill last week. Congress has never been closer to opening the Arctic Refuge to drilling. But we have one more chance to stop them. The House still needs to vote on a final bill, and that vote could be as soon as this week.

Please call your U.S. Representative right now and demand that they oppose a final tax bill that opens the Arctic Refuge to oil drilling. It only takes two minutes to make your call through our Action Center.

The Senate vote was a shameful act to sell out this vital bird nursery, one of America’s last wild places. Millions of birds depend on the Arctic Refuge. They undertake miraculous journeys year after year, migrating through every state in the nation to nest on its coastal plain. But some short-sighted members of Congress want to turn their nesting ground into an oilfield.

Audubon and citizens like you have fought to protect the Arctic Refuge habitat for more than 50 years. We are now at the most critical moment in this battle. Right now, Audubon is fighting in the halls of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, and across the country, but we need your voice to speak for the birds, caribou, polar bears, and people that depend on this Refuge for survival.

Please call your U.S. Representatives right now and tell them keep the Arctic Refuge out of the final tax bill, so that it remains a sanctuary for birds forever.

By filling out the form on the link (above) you should receive a call to connect your Representative.

Tell the person who answers the phone your name and town so they know you are a constituent, and then your message: "I'm calling to ask the representative to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Please keep it out of the tax bill."

- Audubon

Using that link, I got a hold of Rep. McSally's staffer who is tallying calls.

For even more impact share this blog.

The GOP sneaks bad bills that the public fought into their tax reform bill

Will the GOP tax plan bring back jobs? 

The GOP has found a way to sneak the bad bills that the public fought into their tax reform bill - all under the guise of giving us a tax cut. This includes allowing drilling in our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, cutting the EV tax credit that makes clean vehicles affordable, limiting the ability of clean energy developers to use solar and wind tax credits (while fossil fuel companies still get theirs), cutting tax deductions for student loan interest, and not just dismantling Obamacare, but defunding Medicare and Medicaid!

The truth is that this tax plan will benefit big corporations and billionaires at the expense of the working class. After this irresponsible tax cut raises the deficit by $1.7 trillion, the GOP will use that as an excuse to cut even more vital services for the American people.

And for what? The taxes for the poorest Americans will actually go up. Married couples making less than $19,050 will pay 2% more. The taxes for the lower and middle class will increase steadily after 5 years. But the tax cuts for the wealthiest people the planet has ever known, will last FOREVER.

The 1% already has 90% of the wealth in America. But that isn't enough for them. They have invested millions of dollars in bribing our politicians. The GOP tax bill is their big payoff.

This will increase wealth inequality and give them even more power over our government and the American people. And they have no intention of giving anything to the American people. Look at the cabinet that Trump nominated. His choice to head the Department of Labor was Carl's Jr. CEO Andy Puzder who fought raising the minimum wage and cheated managers out of overtime pay.

They say this tax bill will bring companies back. Then why does it include a provision allowing companies to deduct moving expenses for relocating abroad? This tax bill won't bring back companies until the GOP succeeds in making the US "competitive" - which is code for paying us slave wages and dismantling worker protections. For a temporary minimal tax cut, are we willing to give up the protections that our ancestors sacrificed for?

When they say "Make America Great Again" is that code for going back to a time when a privileged few benefited from slavery?

Don't believe your bought and sold Representatives. (Rep. McSally, I mean you.) Do your own research on how the average American will fare with the new tax code.

The House Tax Bill: An All-Out Attack on Clean Energy

Congress is threatening the progress we’ve made on electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy. The House tax reform bill is a dangerous blow to growing industries that reduce global warming emissions, clean our air, create jobs, and save consumers money.

In addition to cutting taxes for the wealthy at the expense of middle class and low-income families, the bill includes energy provisions that are nothing but a blatant handout to the fossil fuel industry. The bill eliminates the EV tax credit that makes these clean vehicles more affordable to consumers, just when the industry is beginning to reach a scale to compete with gasoline-powered vehicles. It will also limit the ability of clean energy developers to use solar and wind tax credits.

We can't let Congress stall the progress we’ve made in building a domestic clean energy and transportation economy.

Learn more about the importance of EV incentives and the recent growth of U.S. solar and wind.

Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. An operator will connect you directly with the congressional representative you request.

TALKING POINTS TO GUIDE YOUR CALL

• Hi, my name is [YOUR FULL NAME] and I'm a constituent from [YOUR TOWN/CITY].
• I am calling about the shortsighted House tax reform bill and its focus on creating tax breaks for the wealthy while undermining things that benefit everybody, such as clean energy.
• I strongly oppose eliminating the federal electric vehicle tax credit as part of this bill.
• I want to continue to have access to the $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicle car buyers, so that EVs become more affordable and automakers continue to drive innovation.
• Although I don't think the electric vehicle tax credit will be necessary forever, we do need it now to continue to make the technology more cost competitive with conventional vehicles.
• I also would like to express my strong opposition to limiting eligibility for two critical renewable energy credits for wind and solar energy production, the PTC and ITC.
• These two tax credits are critical to growing our clean energy economy, which has led to new jobs, reliable access to affordable energy sources, new income for rural communities, and has greatly benefited our health and environment. 
• It is hypocritical to claim we need to lose these tax credits—which offer clean air, new jobs, and benefits to rural economies— when you aren’t cutting things like fossil fuels subsidies and are using the money for a tax cut for the most wealthy.
• I ask [REPRESENTATIVE] to oppose any cuts to Electric Vehicles Tax Credit, in Section 30 D of the tax code, as well as any changes to the wind and solar production tax credits.
• Thank you for your time.

If you reach voicemail, feel free to leave a message. Please leave your full street address and zip code to ensure your call is tallied.

- Union of Concerned Scientists