[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 111 (Monday, July 11, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S4947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 45--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS 
RELATING TO THE DISAPPROVAL OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN COMPANIES, 
           TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Schatz, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
Merkley, Ms. Warren, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Franken) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                            S. Con. Res. 45

       Whereas in the case of tobacco companies and allied 
     organizations--
       (1) according to peer-reviewed scientific research and 
     Federal court findings, tobacco companies knew about the 
     harmful health effects of their products; and
       (2) contrary to the scientific findings of the tobacco 
     companies and of others about the danger tobacco poses to 
     human health, tobacco companies, directly and through their 
     trade associations, and foundations--
       (A) developed a sophisticated and deceitful campaign that 
     funded think tanks and front groups, and paid public 
     relations firms to deny, counter, and obfuscate peer-reviewed 
     science; and
       (B) used that misinformation campaign to mislead the public 
     and cast doubt in order to protect their financial interest;
       Whereas in the case of lead-related manufacturers and 
     allied organizations--
       (1) according to peer-reviewed scientific research and 
     State court findings, the paint industry, gasoline 
     manufacturers, and lead producers knew about the harmful 
     health effects of lead in paint and other products throughout 
     the 20th century; and
       (2) contrary to the scientific findings of the paint 
     industry, gasoline manufacturers, lead producers, and others 
     about the danger lead poses to human health, those companies, 
     directly and through their trade associations, and 
     foundations--
       (A) developed a sophisticated and deceitful campaign that 
     funded think tanks and front groups, and paid public 
     relations firms to deny, counter, and obfuscate peer-reviewed 
     research; and
       (B) used that misinformation campaign to mislead the public 
     and cast doubt in order to protect their financial interest; 
     and
       Whereas in the case of fossil fuel companies and allied 
     organizations--
       (1) according to peer-reviewed scientific research and 
     investigative reporting, fossil fuel companies have long 
     known about climate change and the harmful climate effects of 
     their products; and
       (2) contrary to the scientific findings of the fossil fuel 
     companies and of others about the danger fossil fuels pose to 
     the climate, fossil fuel companies, directly and through 
     their trade associations, and foundations--
       (A) developed a sophisticated and deceitful campaign that 
     funded think tanks and front groups, and paid public 
     relations firms to deny, counter, and obfuscate peer-reviewed 
     research; and
       (B) used that misinformation campaign to mislead the public 
     and cast doubt in order to protect their financial interest: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) disapproves of activities by certain corporations, 
     trade associations, foundations, and organizations funded by 
     those corporations--
       (A) to deliberately mislead the public and undermine peer-
     reviewed scientific research about the dangers of their 
     products; and
       (B) to deliberately cast doubt on science in order to 
     protect their financial interests; and
       (2) urges fossil fuel companies and allied organizations to 
     cooperate with active or future investigations into--
       (A) their climate-change related activities;
       (B) what they knew about climate change and when they knew 
     that information;
       (C) what they knew about the harmful effects of fossil 
     fuels on the climate; and
       (D) any activities to mislead the public about climate 
     change.

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