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House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans call on certain environmental organizations to disclose their ties with a non-governmental organisation. The committee stated thatAccording to Russian President Vladimir Putin, this was used to impact American energy production.
According to Republicans on the committee, three environmental groups, the League of Conservation Voters and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Sierra Club, have ties with the San Francisco-based NGO called the Sea Change Foundation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
(Yuri Kochetkov/Pool)
MARYLAND GOV. LARRY HOGAN WORKING IN EMERGENCY SUPPORTION OF STATE GASS TAX
In a LetterThe three groups were contacted by Republicans who inquired about the funding they received from Sea Change between 2006 and 2006. They also asked for disclosures on whether the groups knew of Russian funding through Sea Change.
“Provided public reporting on Putin’s dark money influence over Europe and concerns surrounding similar efforts by the United States, we wrote today to explore your links with Sea Change,” the Republicans stated. “Any action of President Putin, Russia’s government, or Putin’s allies to undermine American Energy Security must be addressed.”
The Republicans also wanted to know if the groups had received funds or performed a particular act after receiving a request from “the Russian government” or “anyone connected with the Russian Government.”
Friday, February 19, 2021 – An oil pump jack in a field containing wind turbines in Corpus Christi Texas, U.S.A.
(Eddie Seal/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
According to Republicans on the committee all three groups were named as top recipients of Sea Change grants. More than 20 Congressional Republicans signed this letter, including Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington and Rep. Fred Upton, R.Mich.
In a reply to Fox News, Bob Deans – the director of strategic involvement for the NRDC – stated that the “allegations were false” and were “rooted in a smear operation.”
Deans stated that they do not receive funding from China or Russia. “We answer to our independent leadership. We don’t do any bidding of any foreign government in our work for commonsense environmental protections that are in the public interest. These accusations are rooted in a smear operation nearly a decade old by fossil fuel companies and a right-wing thinktank. They serve only as a distraction, and they do so now.
Fox News was also provided with a statement by the LCV that said the “story” was completely false and had been put to rest for many years.
The group stated that they have no links to Russia or China and have been an effective advocate of environmental protection for more than 50 years. These false and poorly researched claims are rooted in a nearly ten-year-old right-wing think-tank and a fossil fuel industry-funded smear program that is revived every few year to distract.
After a rocket attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday February 25, 2022, Natali Sevriukova reacts near her house.
((AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti))
Melinda Pierce, the Sierra Club’s legislative Director, stated that the allegation regarding collusion is a “false conspiracy theory” in a statement she shared to Fox News.
Pierce stated, “This false conspiracy theory was invented by the same front groups that paid polluters’ and tobaccos dirty work.” “The Sierra Club does not have any connections to Russia and China. It proudly supports clean energy and climate change because this is what the planet requires, what our families deserve, what the overwhelming majority Americans across the country want.
The Sea Change Foundation did not immediately respond to Fox News.
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American gasoline prices have reached an all-time high of a HighestThis week was marked by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the announcement by the United States that it would cease buying Russian oil. According to the National Average for Regular Gasoline, $4.318 was the national average as of Thursday. AAA data. Sunday’s price record of $4 was broken for the first-time in 14 years.
The Republican members requested a response by March 25.