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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Jonathon Berman, (202) 495-3033, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org

Forty-Two Organizations Call On Congress To Protect The Crude Oil Export Ban

WASHINGTON

Today, forty-two organizations submitted a letter to Congress urging them to keep the 40-year old crude oil export ban in place. The letter was sent just ahead of the U.S. House of Representatives vote to repeal the ban, and just after an underwhelming vote in the Senate Banking Committee to move their version of the bill along.

In an attempt to garner Democratic votes, Big Oil's friends in Congress attached an unrelated earmark to the bill, which calls for an increase in the operating budget for the Maritime Security Fleet.

Yesterday, President Obama announced that he would veto this attempt to lift the crude oil export ban.

Following the submission of the letter, Sierra Club Federal Policy Representative Radha Adhar released the following statement:

"This letter was submitted because it's time Congress adhered to the wishes of the people -- not Big Oil. The people have spoken loudly that they are against the repeal of the crude oil export ban. They know that it is bad for our environment, our jobs, and our wallets.

"We applaud President Obama for standing standing up for our environment, our jobs, and our wallets when he threatened to veto this attempt to lift the crude oil export ban.

"Rather than doubling down on 19th century energy, the U.S. should play a leading role in transitioning the world to clean and renewable forms of energy."

The Sierra Club is the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. We amplify the power of our 3.8 million members and supporters to defend everyone's right to a healthy world.

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