Title: A resolution 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.
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Expresses the sense of the Senate that:

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 573 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 12, 2018

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
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.

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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