III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 45 

Expressing the sense of Congress relating to the disapproval of certain activities of certain companies, trade associations, foundations, and organizations. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 11, 2016 

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 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress relating to the disapproval 

of certain activities of certain companies, trade associations, foundations, and organizations. 

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— 


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•SCON 45 IS 

(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 


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•SCON 45 IS 

(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 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) disapproves of activities by certain corpora4 tions, trade associations, foundations, and organiza5 tions funded by those corporations— 

6 (A) to deliberately mislead the public and 

7 undermine peer-reviewed scientific research 

8 about the dangers of their products; and 

9 (B) to deliberately cast doubt on science in 

10 order to protect their financial interests; and 

11 (2) urges fossil fuel companies and allied orga12 nizations to cooperate with active or future inves13 tigations into— 

14 (A) their climate-change related activities; 

15 (B) what they knew about climate change 

16 and when they knew that information; 


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1 (C) what they knew about the harmful ef2 fects of fossil fuels on the climate; and 

3 (D) any activities to mislead the public 

4 about climate change. 

Æ 


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