Senate Votes to Restore Arctic Drilling in Alaska

The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution to restart oil and gas drilling in part of the Arctic. The move directly challenges a Biden administration rule that had protected the area. The resolution overturns a 2023 rule that blocked new drilling leases on 13 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). President Biden had stopped the drilling to protect the local ecosystem. A key group of Alaska Native communities on the state's North Slope strongly supports the drilling revival. Their leaders argue the projects are vital for local economic survival and fund essential services. Democratic opponents argue that industrial activity in the NPR-A threatens wildlife and the environment. They say it could damage a region home to caribou and migratory birds. The resolution now goes to President Biden, who is expected to veto it. Congress would then need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override the veto and enact the law.