The U.S. Senate gave final approval for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as part of a deficit-cutting budget bill.
The bill, which called for spending cuts of about $35 billion over five years and added 90,000 new employment-based green cards per year and raising the fee by $500 netting the government $251 million, passed 52-47.
Two Democrats joined 50 Republicans in support of the bill and 41 Democrats, five Republicans and one independent opposed.
The provision to increase revenue by drilling for oil in the ANWR survived a challenge, 51-48.
A House bill also includes a provision to drill for oil in the ANWR, however, Republicans say they may have trouble approving the bill with the ANWR measure included, The Washington Times reported.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International
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