Press Release
December 13, 2016
CONTACT: [email protected]
CLCV Statement on Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson’s Secretary of State Nomination
Oakland, CA – In response to news reports that Trump will nominate Exxon C.E.O. Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, California League of Conservation Voters CEO Sarah Rose issued the following statement:
“The nomination of Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State is deeply alarming to anyone who cares about our environment. Exxon is among the greatest generators of climate pollutants in the world. What’s more, nominating the CEO of a company currently under investigation for deceiving the public on the realities of climate science to our nation’s top diplomatic post is unconscionable. The Senate must reject Tillerson’s nomination.
“That Tillerson’s nomination comes just days after climate denier Scott Pruitt was named to lead the EPA is no coincidence. This is a clear indication that President-elect Trump intends to gut our environmental protections without concern for the consequences.”
Exxon knew about and deceived the public for decades about climate change, and California has paid a high price with worsening droughts, wildfire, and air quality and increased hospitalizations and deaths from heat waves. Despite failing to have the support needed to hold hearings in Congress earlier this year, the Tillerman confirmation hearings could present an opportunity to do just that.
“Beyond simply rejecting Tillerman’s nomination, the Senate should use the opportunity of having the current CEO of Exxon testifying under oath to require him to answer long-avoided questions on his company’s actions to suppress knowledge of the devastating impacts of climate change on our planet. The American people deserve to find out the truth behind Exxon’s decades of climate deception.”
ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
