Garett Reppenhagen, repp@vetvoicefoundation.org, 719-235-7030
Virginia Cramer, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org, 804-519-8449
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Vet Voice Foundation and Sierra Club Military Outdoors today launched ads in the districts of Representatives Mast and Zeldin, urging them to oppose the current tax scheme being considered by Congress. The tax plan aims to offset tax cuts for corporate polluters by raising revenue through allowing oil companies to conduct dangerous drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The ads make clear that the tax bill’s steps to open the door to drilling the Arctic Refuge and a vote for the passage of the bill itself are unacceptable.
The full page print ads, running in Newsday and the Florida Sun Sentinel call on the Representatives to defend the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the human rights of the Gwich’in Nation, who rely on the Arctic Refuge for survival.
“The wilderness offers some of most transformative and healing opportunities available. If that is lost in the Arctic Refuge, then no wilderness is safe from destruction,” said Garett Reppenhagen, Army veteran and Rocky Mountain West Coordinator for Vet Voice Foundation.
“The Arctic Refuge is more than a line item,” said Robert Vessels of Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors program. “We cannot afford to lose one of our country’s last great wild places in a misguided bid to offset tax cuts for the wealthy and corporate polluters.”
Other provisions of the deeply regressive tax scheme will set up cuts to critical public health programs, undermine renewable energy, and continue to grant billions of dollars in tax breaks to the oil industry.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.