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[Pages S2753-S2754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Climate Change
Madam President, on the climate and dark money, I want to return to
the topic of climate change, specifically today. Why in our political
system has progress on climate change been so slow? Why is it that so
many Republicans here in the Senate are afraid to say yes to three
questions: Is climate change real? Is it caused by humans? Should we do
something about it? They are afraid to say yes on any of those. Why? It
is so obvious to almost everybody else.
Well, one of the dominant reasons is that for decades Big Oil, Big
Gas, and Big Coal have devoted huge financial resources to stymie
political progress and sow doubt about climate science. For years, one
of the biggest perpetrators of this anti-climate campaign has been the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The national chamber of commerce, which bears almost no resemblance
to local chambers across the country, has acted like a fossil fuel
front group. It accepts millions of dollars in dark money, will not
reveal its secret donors, and has consistently fought any attempts by
our government to grapple with climate change--carbon pricing, reducing
methane emissions, and even the Paris climate accords.
The game has become so obvious that major American corporations have
disassociated themselves with the chamber over its climate policies.
Recently, the chamber has begun to talk as if it intends to get
better on climate change. They added a new page to their website and
announced an ``energy innovation'' agenda. I welcome the progress. But
truthfully, the chamber has made a shocking about-face from climate
denier to supposed climate believer and advocate. It is hard not to be
skeptical. Now, if the chamber were serious about combating climate
change, it would disclose its donors and let the world see that it is
finally changing. Maybe it would even start endorsing different
candidates or getting behind truly bold legislation. Maybe they can
come here and lobby that we should support the Paris accords. Until
that day, the chamber's so-called big change on climate seems to be
cosmetic.
It may seem that I am spending an awful lot of time on one group, but
it matters. The chamber is part of a vast network of generally
rightwing organizations that accept and disseminate billions of dollars
of special interest money with zero disclosure. It has warped our
political process by creating a financial incentive for many of my
colleagues on the other side of the aisle to oppose climate policies
that deal with climate change, to oppose appropriate consumer
protections, to oppose environmental protections, and to oppose issues
such as gun safety, as well.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island has done an amazing--an
outstanding job--of bringing this issue to the forefront and exposing
the web of dark money that lurks evilly behind our politics. I want to
thank and commend him for it.
I am glad that organizations like the chamber are feeling the heat
for opposing climate change and proposed solutions. They should. But
the bigger and more pervasive issue is that dark money will continue to
flow into our political system until we change it. Until we deal with
it or until groups start voluntary disclosures, in all likelihood these
organizations will continue to frustrate the progress behind the scenes
and the longing we all have to keep our planet the beautiful place that
it is and to prevent the seas from rising and the weather from changing
and the coral reefs from disappearing. That will not become a reality
as long as this dark money is still having a stranglehold on so many of
the other party.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be
permitted to speak as in morning
[[Page S2754]]
business for up to 5 minutes, and that following my remarks, Senator
Rosen be recognized to speak as in morning business for as much time as
she may consume.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
