Madam President, I thank Senator Warren for her terrific remarks. When I left off speaking, we were talking about the-- not just the web of denial of organizations that have been propped by the polluters to look as though they are real and to broadcast phony science, but also to know that people are on the hunt looking for them. I had begun to talk about the academic researchers who are treating this web as a social phenomenon--as a bizarre sociopolitical phenomenon--and beginning to look at how it works. I mentioned first Dr. Brulle of Drexel University, and then we were looking at the work of Dr. Dunlap and Dr. McCright--Dr. Dunlap from University of Oklahoma and Dr. McCright from Michigan State University. Let's look for a minute at what they say in their publications. When you listen to this, consider today's blockaded Senate Chamber. I will quote them. It is reasonable to conclude that climate change denial campaigns in the U.S.-- This stuff-- have played a crucial role in blocking domestic legislation and contributing to the U.S. becoming an impediment to international policymaking. Because of the perceived threat posed by climate change to their interests-- To the fossil fuel interests-- actors in the denial machine have strived to undermine scientific evidence documenting its reality and seriousness. Their success in these efforts weakens an essential component of societal reflectivity when the need is greater than ever. With that quote, I will yield the floor.…
On the recordJuly 11, 2016
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