To: The United States Senate
Tell Your Senators: Stand Up for the American People, Not Big Oil Companies
Over the past decade, the big five oil companies BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell have enjoyed more than $1 trillion in profits. Last year alone, these oil giants made a record-high $137 billion in profits. At the same time, Big Oil continues to benefit from billions in taxpayer-funded government handouts.
I urge you to support the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act (S. 2204), which would eliminate unnecessary tax subsidies and promote renewable energy and energy conservation.
Why is this important?
Did you know that over the past decade, the big five oil companies – BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell – have earned more than $1 trillion in profits?
At the same time, these oil companies also enjoy billions in special tax breaks. Meanwhile, Big Oil’s congressional allies continue to push ‘oil above all’ energy policies – from advancing the toxic Keystone XL tar sands pipeline to expanding dangerous drilling off our coasts.
It’s time to fight back. The Senate may soon vote on legislation to end billions of dollars in annual giveaways that the Big Oil companies receive.
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has introduced the ‘Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act’ (S. 2204), which would cut billions of dollars in unnecessary oil subsidies. Additionally, the senator’s bill would use those savings to invest in clean, renewable energy sources that would create new jobs, make America more energy independent and reduce harmful pollution.
It makes absolutely no sense that ExxonMobil, which reported annual profits of $41 billion in 2011, continues to benefit from massive taxpayer-funded government handouts. But this upcoming Senate vote represents an opportunity to put every senator on the record.
As President Obama said recently, “They can either stand up for oil companies, or they can stand up for the American people.”