Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) issued the following statement on President Obama’s announcement to immediately begin managing 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as wilderness, in addition to the 18 million acres of ANWR that have already been designated wilderness.  This will prohibit any motorized access to the area.
 
“This action by the Obama Administration is as irrational as it is hypocritical.  It is irrational to continue to bow to environmental extremists by taking away opportunities to give our nation energy independence while squashing the futures of local economies.  It is hypocritical for the U.S. to continue to encourage other countries to develop and export their own energy resources for our benefit while we lock up our own resources.  This doesn’t just hurt Alaskans – it hurts all Americans in that it stifles opportunities for a better way of life and sends a message to our friends and foes across the globe that our President is more interested in appeasing some of the most extreme elements of his party rather than improving economic outcomes for our own citizens.”