[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 77 (Thursday, May 9, 2019)]
[Senate]
[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.