Public Outcry Follows ExxonMobil To Senate Hearing Today
Exxpose Exxon Protests ExxonMobil's Opposition to Energy Independence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2006
CONTACT:  Shawnee Hoover, 202-546-9707, shoover@exxposeexxon.com

Print Adobe Version

(Washington, DC) – As oil giant ExxonMobil executive Rex Tillerson testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, members of the ExxposeExxon campaign will be there to remind oil executives and policy makers of the public outrage over ExxonMobil’s exploitation of both taxpayers and the environment.

“ExxonMobil’s outspoken opposition to U.S. energy independence is no surprise,” says Shawnee Hoover, Campaign Director of the ExxposeExxon coalition. “The company is the worst of the worst. Unlike other oil companies, ExxonMobil is refusing to support a national transition off oil and meaningfully invest in clean, renewable energy. Instead, it aggressively pursues policies that keep the U.S. addicted to oil.”

Oil executives are expected to face questions about potential price gouging and expensive mergers in response to the industry’s record profits at a time of high gas and heating prices for consumers.

“After the abject failure to protect their constituents this past year, Members of Congress should be stampeding toward an opportunity to make oil markets more transparent,” says Dave Hamilton, director of global warming and energy programs at the Sierra Club. “Preventing price gouging is certainly easier than proving it.”

When ExxonMobil testified before Congress last November, then-CEO Lee Raymond was later accused of misrepresenting the truth about his company’s dealings with the White House 2001 energy task force. No charges of perjury were pursued since the oil executives had not been placed under oath. Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, in charge of today’s hearings, noted that this time the executives will be placed under oath.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have joined ExxposeExxon to hold ExxonMobil accountable for its renegade ways,” says Hoover. “American consumers want real solutions that will ease our addiction to oil and provide renewable alternatives today, all of which ExxonMobil is working against.”

# # #