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Dear Hunter,

VoteVets.org is partnering with CREDO Action on the email below, about the GOP putting Big Oil above the lives of our troops. It's shocking, and even more shocking that Senator John McCain is one of the leads on doing so, pushing an amendment in committee.

I wrote about this issue recently at Huffington Post*, and to me, it might be the single most important vote pending in Congress that affects the lives of our men and women overseas in uniform.

We have to speak out, strongly on this. See below, and sign the petition - http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/.

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman, VoteVets.org
@JonSoltz [ http://www.twitter.com/jonsoltz ] @VoteVets [ http://www.twitter.com/votevets ]


Don't let Republicans force the military to use dirty energy [ http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ ] Click here to add your name to this petition to Congressional Republicans: [ http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ ] * "It is outrageous that Republicans are working to block the military from developing biofuels and other renewable sources of energy that will save lives and save money. Stop protecting Big Oil's profits at the expense of our troops and our national security." [ http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ ] *


Take action now! [ http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ ]


CREDO Action | more than a network, a movement.

*Tell the GOP: Stop forcing the military to use dirty, dangerous oil. [ http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ ]*

Dear Friend,

Here's the most direct proof yet that Republicans care more about protecting Big Oil than anything else -- even our national security and our troops:

* Republicans in Congress are working to block the military from developing biofuels and other renewable sources of energy that will save lives and save money by reducing the military's dependence on oil.*1

This is brazen -- even for the GOP. As Congress works to finalize the defense budget, we need to call out Republicans' attempts to keep the military locked into dirty, dangerous energy.

* Tell Republicans: Stop forcing the military to use dirty energy. Click here to sign the petition. [ http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ ]*

We know that as a whole, our dependence on oil is a threat to our national security and well-being, both in terms of our dependence on hostile regimes and the rapid escalation of climate change.

* But for the military, the costs of oil dependence are far more acute. One in eight troop casualties in Iraq came as a result of protecting fuel convoys, according to a 2009 study by the military.2 And the rising price of oil will put the military more than $3 billion over budget this year, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said earlier this month.*3

So it only makes sense that the military, as our nation's largest and most demanding energy user, would seek energy alternatives to ever more costly fossil-fuel, whose transportation and defense represents a clear point of vulnerability for our soldiers. Everyone from the President, to military leadership,4 to the airline industry5 agrees.

But not the oil-money soaked Republican party. Earlier this month, the House passed a 2013 defense budget which included provisions that would block the military from purchasing, developing and even testing biofuels. And last week, the Senate Armed Services Committee followed suit.6 But if we raise enough pressure, there's still time to strike these provisions from the final bill on the Senate floor.

* Tell Republicans: Stop forcing the military to use dirty energy. Click here to sign the petition. [ http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ ]*

Republicans claim these provisions are about the costs of alternative energy sources, but immediately undermined that hollow claim by passing a resolution to promote the use of expensive and filthy coal-to-liquid fuel.

It is literally sick that oil industry campaign contributions to Republicans could so successfully maintain the vicious cycle of our continued dependence on oil, which creates the need to engage with hostile nations, which endangers our troops in military operations, which require even more fossil fuel transported at higher costs and greater risk to military personnel, (all while speeding catastrophic climate change.)

* Republicans love to talk about "supporting the troops." We need to remind them that that should mean our soldiers in harm's way, not oil industry lobbyists.*

Click below to sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ [ http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repub_biofuels/ ]

Thanks for fighting our dependence on dirty oil.

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets [ http://www.credoaction.com/ ]


* "Republicans Put Oil Money Above Troop Lives [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-soltz/republicans-put-oil-money_b_1553159.html ]," Huffington Post, 5/29/2012
1. "Republicans try to force the military to use dirty energy it doesn't want [ http://grist.org/politics/republicans-try-to-force-the-military-to-use-dirty-energy-it-doesnt-want/ ]," Grist, 5/29/12
2. "For the military clean energy saves lives [ http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/17/technology/military_energy/index.htm ]," CNN, 8/17/11
3. "Panetta warns climate change having 'dramatic impact' on national security [ http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/225475-panetta-climate-change-hits-national-security ]," The Hill, 5/4/12
4. "15 Military Leaders Who Say Climate Change Is A National Security Threat [ http://mediamatters.org/blog/201205300012 ]," Media Matters, 5/30/12
5. "Airlines, Farm Groups Petition Senate for Military Biofuels [ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/26/airlines-farm-groups-petition-senate-military-biofuels/ ]," Clean Technica, 5/26/2012
6. "Senate blocks biofuel development in draft defense bill [ http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/budget-approriations/229573-senate-blocks-biofuel-development-in-draft-defense-bill- ]," 5/25/12
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