Chairs Maloney, Khanna to Hold Landmark Hearing with Top Fossil Fuel Executives
Hearing will Examine the Role of the Fossil Fuel Industry in Spreading Climate Disinformation and Heating the Planet
Washington D.C. (October 22, 2021)— On Thursday, October 28, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. ET, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Ro Khanna, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Environment, will hold a hearing to examine the fossil fuel industry's long-running, industry-wide campaign to spread disinformation about the role of fossil fuels in causing global warming.
The fossil fuel industry has had scientific evidence about the dangers of climate change since at least 1977. Yet for decades, the industry spread denial and doubt about the harm of its products—undermining the science and preventing meaningful action on climate change even as the global climate crisis became increasingly dire, and its deadly impact on Americans increased.
More recently, some large fossil fuel companies took public stances in support of climate actions while privately continuing to block reforms, invest overwhelmingly in fossil fuel extraction, and support efforts to extend the life of fossil fuel investments. The industry reportedly spends billions to promote climate disinformation through branding and lobbying. Moreover, they increasingly outsource lobbying to trade groups, obscuring their own roles in disinformation efforts.
On September 16, 2021, the Chairs sent letters to top fossil fuel executives requesting documents and communications related to their organization's role in supporting disinformation and misleading the public to prevent action on the climate crisis. To date, all the fossil fuel entities have failed to adequately comply with the Committee's request.
| WHAT:
| Full Committee hearing entitled, "Fueling the Climate Crisis: Exposing Big Oil's Disinformation Campaign to Prevent Climate Action"
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| WHEN: | Thursday, October 28, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. ET
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| WHO:
| Mr. Darren Woods Chief Executive Officer ExxonMobil Corporation
Mr. David Lawler Chief Executive Officer BP America Inc.
Mr. Michael K. Wirth Chief Executive Officer Chevron Corporation
Ms. Gretchen Watkins President Shell Oil Company
Mr. Mike Sommers President American Petroleum Institute
Ms. Suzanne Clark President and Chief Executive Officer U.S. Chamber of Commerce
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| WATCH: | A livestream will be available on YouTube and the Committee on Oversight and Reform website. |
MEDIA
Per the Office of the Attending Physician's guidelines, and in consultation with the Architect of the Capitol, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Sergeant at Arms, and the Committee on House Administration, the hearing room has been reconfigured to provide for social distancing. In light of current guidance from CDC and OAP, media must comply with the Committee's COVID guidelines, including by continuing to wear masks at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
Seating in the hearing room is extremely limited and as a result, credentialed media must RSVP to their respective Press Gallery no later than 5 p.m. ET on October 27, 2021. All witnesses will be appearing remotely.
For more information, please contact the Gallery:
House Radio/TV Gallery: Ryan.Dahl@mail.house.gov 202-225-5214
House Periodical Gallery: periodical.press@mail.house.gov 202-225-2941
House Daily Press Gallery: dailypressgallery@mail.house.gov 202-225-3945
Photographer Gallery: Press_Photo@saa.senate.gov 202-224-6548
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