The Cantwell-Kerry amendment would remove a provision currently in the president's budget that will allow oil companies to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"The fight over ANWR is more than a battle over the wildlife refuge, it's a battle over two very different visions of our energy future. The President has a plan to sell off our public lands to the special interests that will make us no less dependent on foreign oil and will not lower prices for consumers at the pump. We have a vision that will put America's energy future in the hands of Americans - by inventing our way to real energy independence, we will have energy sources that create jobs and lower prices - energy sources that no terrorist can hijack, no cartel can embargo, and that no American soldier will ever have to risk his life to defend.

Americans will define our energy future, not the Saudi Royal Family. It's time we stood up in the Senate and fought for America's real energy future, and stopped selling off our Arctic treasures to the highest bidder," said Kerry.

Republican senators have included the drilling portion of their energy proposal as part of a broader budget package, which would make it immune to filibuster.

"I know a lot of people are wondering why the Republicans are afraid to have an open and honest debate about the Arctic refuge. Sneaking Arctic Refuge drilling into the federal budget bill reveals the fundamental weakness of the push for drilling. The drilling lobby knows they cannot pass this through the normal process for controversial bills, so they are resorting to a procedural end-run instead of an open honest debate. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure they don't succeed," Kerry added. ANWR is one of the world's most diverse and extraordinary wildlife reserves. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge won't make even a small dent in meeting America's energy needs. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey estimate that there is very likely only enough oil to supply America's needs for six months. And oil companies admit even that won't be available for at least 10 years. Even President Bush's own Energy Information Administration has concluded that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would have a negligible effect, if any, on U.S. imports or oil prices.

Joining Senators Kerry and Cantwell at today's press conference were Savannah Rose Walters, a 13-year-old girl from Florida who is fighting to save the Arctic Refuge; Episcopalian Bishop Mark McDonald from Alaska; Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club; and Luci Beach, Executive Director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee.