Cindy Carr, (202) 495-3034 or cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is holding a hearing to examine the nomination of former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"At a time when the climate crisis is deepening, both the United States and the world deserve much better than having a fossil fuel tycoon run U.S. foreign policy. Rex Tillerson has been knee-deep in the oil and gas industry for more than four decades, working for Exxon, which not only deliberately concealed its knowledge of climate change for decades, but pushed climate science denial while being responsible for one of the costliest environmental disasters in history.
“Tillerson can't be trusted to protect the health and interests of all Americans when he has demonstrated over and over again he is more invested in Exxon’s massive profits and the dirtiest fuels known to humanity. His blatant disregard for the law and his unabashed pursuit of profits over the needs of people have more than disqualified him to be America’s top diplomat. The Senate Judiciary Committee and all Senators who care about their constituents should stand up for families across the nation and oppose this nomination.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.