Greenpeace USA
Give to Greenpeace
Monthly Single
Stories & Victories
Global Africa Arabic Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Croatia Czech Republic Denmark East Asia EU Finland France Germany Greece Greenland Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia International Israel Italy Japan Korea Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Russia Slovakia Slovenia Southeast Asia Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey UK USA
< Back to News & Media
House Science Committee Wants to Protect Exxon From Environmentalists
by Rodrigo Estrada
Washington, DC May 19, 2016 – Yesterday, 13 House Representatives sitting on the 'Science, Space, and Technology Committee' sent letters to 17 state Attorneys General and eight Non-Governmental Organizations, including Greenpeace USA. These letters come as a reaction to the announcement by the Attorneys General to coordinate efforts around climate change related actions, following the NGOs' revelations that ExxonMobil implemented a colossal climate denial operation to deceive its shareholders and the public for decades.
Greenpeace USA Executive Director Annie Leonard responded:
"America's least-respected politicians have now courageously stepped up to defend one of America's most-hated corporations from scrutiny. If these Representatives, who have historically low approval ratings, think they're somehow helping Exxon's public image with this nonsense, then they need to take some time away from lobbyist mixers and meet the people. American citizens believe in climate change and want a better future. Exxon knows now and has known for decades that its work has contributed to catastrophic climate change. The issue here is whether or not it lied to its shareholders and the public.
"If Exxon knew its work made climate change worse and hid this information for profit, it should be held accountable, not protected by elected officials who are there to represent the American people, not corporations. Since 1999, these 13 elected officials have been paid millions in campaign contributions from coal, oil and gas companies, so this letter is more proof that the system works – for corporations."
The list of groups that received the letter includes 350.org, the Climate Accountability Institute, the Climate Reality Project, Greenpeace USA, Pawa Law Group PC, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Rockefeller Family Fund and the Union of Concerned Scientists. The 17 attorneys general are the elected officials of California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington State.
Data retrieved from Oil Change International's website http://dirtyenergymoney.org/ shows the 13 House Representatives have been paid $2,848,418 in campaign contributions from coal, oil and gas companies since 1999.
Rodrigo Estrada [email protected] 202-478-6632
Rodrigo Estrada is an expert on legal communication. He is the global communications manager of the climate justice and liability project. Currently at Greenpeace Canada, Rodrigo has appeared in a wide range of international outlets such as CNN, Bloomberg, Vice, and many more.
Sign the People's Memo to Chuck Schumer!
Call on Gov. Newsom to Act Now on a Fossil Fuel Phaseout
We Need Your Voice. Join Us!
Want to learn more about tax-deductible giving, donating stock and estate planning?
Visit Greenpeace Fund, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable entity created to increase public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through research, the media and educational programs.
702 H Street, NW, STE 300, Washington, D.C. 20001 | 1-800-722-6995
Take action Donate
Fighting Climate Chaos
Protecting The Oceans
Fighting Plastic Pollution
Defending Democracy
Protecting Forests
Issue Experts
Other Greenpeace USA Sites & Blogs Tuna Secrets Bering Sea Canyons Polluter Watch