1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Today I take pen in hand to write and urge you to Vote NO on the so-called “Stop Climate Shakedowns Act.” This bill would grant fossil fuel companies blanket immunity from climate liability lawsuits and strip communities of their right to seek justice in court. Unacceptable in any society. No company should be above the law, especially those that spent billions of dollars and decades deceiving the public about climate change to protect their profits. Eleven states, the District of Columbia, and dozens of local governments have filed lawsuits with evidence that fossil fuel companies knew about and lied about their products' role in causing climate change. This legislation would dismiss all pending cases and ban future ones, denying people their day in court. The bill's sponsors claim they're protecting lawful activity, but if these companies did nothing wrong, why do they need immunity? Juries are a cornerstone of our democracy. Allowing powerful corporations to shield themselves from accountability twists the knife of a climate crisis already harming families across the country. The recent $744 million jury verdict against Chevron in Louisiana and the youth victory in Held v. Montana show that when communities get their cases heard, they can win, especially when their cause is not only just, but necessary. This is corporate immunity from the law disguised as energy policy. Reject it. Vote NO. Thank you.