Schumer, Whitehouse Lead Letter Challenging U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Largest Lobbying Organizing in the Country, to Back Basic Science And Immediately Begin Advocating for Senate Dem Resolution That Calls for Urgent Action on Climate Crisis
In New Letter to Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Senate Dems Urge Chamber to Support, Issue a “Key Vote Alert,” and Include Support in Their Legislative Scorecard for New Senate Resolution Co-sponsored By Entire Senate Democratic Caucus Stating Climate Change Is Real, Caused By Humans, And That The U.S. And Congress Need To Take Immediate Action
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and 22 of their Democratic colleagues are challenging the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to accept that human-caused climate change is real and warrants immediate action, and to urge members of Congress to follow suit. In a letter sent today to Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Senators called on the largest lobbying organization in the country to begin advocating for an existing commonsense resolution that calls for urgent government action on climate change.
“It is time that we put aside our differences and start working to take real actions on climate change because the American people and American businesses can no longer afford inaction,” wrote the Senators. “We believe the time has come for the Chamber to act on behalf of its members who support and stand to benefit from a transition to a clean energy economy.”
While many member companies of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce pursue the reduction of carbon emissions as part of their business models, the Chamber has marshaled its considerable lobbying resources on behalf of those same companies to oppose congressional, executive, and judicial actions that would meaningfully address climate change.
“Once we achieve this first step of acknowledging the reality of the climate crisis and the need to act, we look forward to working with you and your membership to enact real, long-lasting policies that will benefit the economy and create millions of jobs,” the Senators conclude.
The letter was also signed by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Chris Coons (D-DE).
Full text of the letter is below. A PDF is available here and below.
