[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 117 (Thursday, July 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 573--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT CLIMATE 
 CHANGE IS REAL AND THAT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SHOULD ENGAGE 
   ON THE COMMUNICATION OF SOUND CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE TO THE PUBLIC

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Reed, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Van Hollen, 
Mr. Udall, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Booker, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Ms. 
Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
Sanders, Ms. Harris, Mr. Schatz, and Mr. Markey) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 573

       Whereas there is scientific consensus based on peer-
     reviewed research and scientific evidence that--
       (1) climate change is occurring due to increases in carbon 
     dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; and
       (2) human activity has caused a significant increase in the 
     atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases;
       Whereas scientific measurements show that the concentration 
     of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ranged from 170 to 300 
     parts per million for at least 800,000 years (4 times as long 
     as the species homo sapiens has existed), but has now, 
     according to measurements taken at the Mauna Loa Observatory, 
     exceeded 400 parts per million in each of the last 5 years;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation (referred to in 
     this preamble as the ``NSF'') is an independent Federal 
     agency created by Congress ``to promote the progress of 
     science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and 
     welfare; [and] to secure the national defense'';
       Whereas the approval of any grant awards by NSF must 
     undergo a rigorous merit review standard, including review by 
     outside independent reviewers who do not work for the NSF or 
     the institution that employs the researchers applying for the 
     grant;
       Whereas Congress reaffirmed the rigorous merit review 
     standard of the NSF in Public Law 114-329;
       Whereas the authorizing statute of the NSF states that the 
     long-term goals of the NSF include promoting ``the discovery, 
     integration, dissemination, and application of new knowledge 
     in service to society'';
       Whereas the American Meteorological Society, the premier 
     professional organization of the United States for 
     individuals who work in the atmospheric and related 
     sciences,--
       (1) promotes broadcast meteorologists as ``station 
     scientists''; and
       (2) equips broadcast meteorologists with tools and skills 
     necessary to cover weather and climate effects on public 
     health, transportation, agriculture, and energy use;
       Whereas fossil fuel companies and allied organizations 
     (according to peer-reviewed scientific research and 
     investigative reporting) have long known about climate change 
     and the role of fossil fuels in driving climate change;
       Whereas fossil fuel companies are known to, both directly 
     and through their trade associations, public relations firms, 
     and foundations--
       (1) support sophisticated campaigns to deny, counter, and 
     obfuscate peer-reviewed research; and
       (2) use misinformation campaigns to mislead the public 
     about climate change; and
       Whereas, it is in the public interest that scientists and 
     other experts--
       (1) communicate peer-reviewed science to the public; and
       (2) educate the public about the causes and consequences of 
     climate change: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) climate change is real and human activity is the main 
     driver of modern climate change;
       (2) the scientific consensus on climate change and the 
     implications of climate change with respect to the increase 
     in the frequency and severity of extreme weather makes it in 
     the public interest that broadcast meteorologists 
     knowledgeably communicate scientifically-based climate 
     information to the public;
       (3) fossil fuel companies, both directly and through their 
     trade associations, public relations firms, and foundations, 
     should cease their misinformation campaigns concerning the 
     dangers of climate change; and
       (4) it is within the authority and aligned with the mission 
     of the National Science Foundation to provide grants to 
     broadcast meteorologists to improve their understanding of 
     climate change science and ability to communicate climate 
     change science to the public.

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