Clay Says Bush Administration Misleads Public on Global Warming

Press Release

Clay Says Bush Administration Misleads Public on Global Warming

In testimony today before the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, witnesses from the Union of Concerned Scientists reported that almost half of 279 government researchers whom they surveyed reported being pressured to remove or alter references to global warming and climate change from their scientific findings.

Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) MO, who serves on the committee, applauded the courage of the witnesses for coming forward. "I welcome our witnesses and commend them for having the courage to testify about the Bush Administration's policy of misrepresenting global warming data for political reasons," said Mr. Clay. "It is imperative that we ensure the integrity of scientific research on global warming.

Reports that scientists working for federal agencies have been asked to change data to fit policy initiatives are seriously disturbing."Besides receiving testimony from concerned scientists, the committee addressed the Bush Administration's refusal to comply with repeated requests for documents related to White House efforts to undercut the scientific arguments which confirm that the warming of the earth's oceans and atmosphere are due to human activities, most significantly, a build-up of carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

"The Bush Administration has shown a blatant disregard for the health of the American people; they have shown that they would rather safeguard the interests of Big Oil than preserve the future of planet Earth. This Administration has not only failed to address global warming, they have contributed to this crisis," said Mr. Clay.

The American Public Health Association reports that smog, which is made worse by warmer temperatures, increased pollen, and higher carbon dioxide levels are contributing to an epidemic of asthma and other diseases in America's cities. The highest incidence of asthma in the US is among African American children and toddlers from low-income families.

"Political appointees have no business distorting the facts or denying the realities of global warming. Global warming is not a myth or a distant threat. It is a reality that demands immediate action from our government," said the Congressman. "We must implement policies to develop more renewable energy resources, to drastically reduce automobile emissions and to end our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels."

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