the american geo physical union or a.g.u. this spring of a group of 254 earth scientists cited these lies in an extensive report as one of the many reasons why the american geophysical union declined to accept exxonmobil's financial sponsorship of their group. the earth scientists also made clear that exxonmobil distributed scientifically false and misleading information, were members in or financially supported other climate denying organizations, donated to climate denying politicians and passed misinformation campaigns. now, exxonmobil is not alone in spending money to influence elections that affect environmental policy. the oil and gas industry pours millions of dollars in election campaigns every year. in the 2012 election cycle, energy and natural resource corporations, their employees, and industry superpacks, spent $147 million to make sure the right people were elected in congressional seats, in senate seats, and in the presidential campaign. during the current election cycle, they have already spent more than $101 million. they'll likely contribute millions more in the four months remaining. experts estimate that in total candidates, political party, and

national scientific organizations, including the american association for the advancement of science, the american meteorological society, the american geophysical union and 28 others, sent members of congress a no-nonsense message that human-caused climate change is real. that it poses serious risks to society, and that we need to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. they told us, and i quote, "observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring and rigorous scientific research concludes that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver." end quote. they went on to say "this conclusion is based on multiple independent lines of evidence and the vast body of peer-reviewed science." and i'd like to ask unanimous consent to submit the letter from these 31 scientific organizations also into the record. thank you, mr. president. that letter is the voice of fact, of scientific analysis, and of reason. up against it is the apparatus. the apparatus has the money. the apparatus has the slick messaging. the apparatus has the political clout. it has that parallel election spending muscle. it has t