FCNL LEGISLATIVE ACTION MESSAGE - (date 3/10/03) The following action items from the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) focus on federal policy issues currently before Congress or the Administration. TOPICS: CONGRESSIONAL RECESS and HARMFUL ENERGY BILL PENDING CONGRESSIONAL RECESS: Congress goes on Spring recess April 12 -28. Many members of Congress will return to their districts and states for town meetings and to meet with constituents.  Organize now. Assemble a diverse delegation and schedule a meeting or community forum with your members of Congress.  Find out from your members' local offices if there are any town meetings scheduled.  Organize a group to attend and ask questions about energy policy, budget priorities, restoring civil liberties, and the war in Iraq. HARMFUL ENERGY BILL PENDING:  The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee has begun to mark up its version of the omnibus energy bill.  The draft bill, as it is now written, would expand domestic oil and gas production, open more public lands and the continental shelf to oil and gas production and pipelines, and expand subsidies for coal and nuclear energy development. Yet, it would fall far short of what is needed to reduce U.S. oil consumption or to promote conservation and renewable energy. The Senate mark up will continue the week following the spring recess and then the debate will move to the floor.  The House has already marked up its version of this bill (H.R. 6) and is expected to begin debate on the floor today (Thursday, April 10). ACTION: Please contact your senators.  Urge them to speak out against provisions to expand domestic oil and gas production, to open more public lands and the continental shelf to oil and gas production and pipelines, and to expand subsidies for coal and nuclear energy development.  Urge them to support measures to reduce U.S. oil consumption, promote conservation and energy efficiency, and develop markets and technologies for safer, cleaner renewable energy sources. MAKE COMMUNICATING WITH CONGRESS EASIER: Start with the sample letter posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then email or fax your message directly from our site. You can also print it out and mail it.  To view the sample letter, click on the _link_ below, then enter your zip code and click <Go in the <Take Action Now box.  Here is the _link_: http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=1891141&type=CO BACKGROUND:  U.S. oil consumption is increasing.  It is expected to grow at an average rate of 1.7 percent annually for the foreseeable future.  While the U.S. population is less than five percent of the global population, it already consumes more than 25 percent of global oil production.  Today, the U.S. imports over half of its oil, and by 2025, the U.S. is expected to import two thirds