American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves expressed the trucking industry’s disappointment that House leaders stripped Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) oil and gas drilling from the budget reconciliation bill after concluding it endangered the bill’s chances on the House floor.
Also stripped was a section that would have expanded the area where companies can drill for oil and natural gas along the US coastline.
ATA considered environmentally sound exploration of ANWR an integral part of a long-term strategy to reduce US dependence on foreign oil and increase national fuel supplies.
“The U.S. must be given opportunities to improve our energy situation,” Graves said. “Without them, the trucking industry will continue to suffer, and the economic effects of rising fuel prices will only worsen. ATA strongly supports efforts that will increase national energy self-sufficiency and reduce vulnerability to future energy disruptions.”
To see more about Graves' comments, click here for the ATA Web site at truckline.com.