August 2, 2001

(Washington, D.C.) - The International Brotherhood of Teamsters today took their battle for a responsible energy policy into the halls of the U.S. Capitol. Teamster representatives attended a press conference with Cabinet and Senate allies to talk about the need for Senate passage of the Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act.

"Our opponents have said all along that we could never get a comprehensive energy bill passed through the U.S. House," said Jerry Hood, Special Assistant for Energy Policy to General President James P. Hoffa. "Despite all the misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric, the Teamsters and our allies were able to show the Congress that Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) exploration is the right thing to do for working families."

The House vote on the SAFE Act took place after a lobbying campaign at all levels of the Teamsters Union. Teamster members contacted Congressional representatives, held rallies and wrote letters to the editor in an effort to pass the legislation that will add 735,000 new jobs in the petroleum industry. These efforts were augmented by a series of 60-second radio ads that aired in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

"Teamsters believe that job creation and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive," Hood added. "We have the technology to explore the ANWR with no negative impact on the environment. This can ease America's energy costs while creating good jobs for working families."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.