House panel claims oversight of state climate probes into ExxonHOUSTON (Reuters) - A Republican-led congressional committee sought on Friday to assert oversight over inquiries that about 20 states are making into Exxon Mobil and climate change, reiterating demands to know more about state attorneys general’s consultations with environmental groups. In a letter, some 17 members of Congress and ranking members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee said they have broad jurisdiction that allows them to review investigations carried out by states. The committee was pushing back against state officials who have said they are not subject to federal oversight. The standoff is the latest in a high-stakes battle between the world’s largest publicly traded oil company and a coalition of state attorneys general who have said they would go after Exxon in a bid to force congressional action to tackle climate change. About 20 state officials jointly said in March they would participate in inquiries into whether Exxon executives misled the public by contradicting research from company scientists that spelled out the threats of climate change. Prior to that March announcement, some state officials met with a range of prominent environmental and investment groups that oppose fossil fuels. The House committee has complained the inquiries risk stifling free speech and scientific inquiry, and that state officials were coordinating with special interest groups. The House committee demanded for the second time since May that state officials hand over all records of communications between their offices and outside groups. “Congress has a responsibility to investigate whether such investigations are having a chilling effect on the free flow of scientific inquiry and debate regarding climate change,” the letter said. “People should be troubled by any attempt by members of Congress to silence or undercut basic investigatory authority by a state attorney general’s office,” said Cyndi Roy Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. “Our office will not be intimidated by oil industry-backed members of the U.S. House of Representatives.” Exxon, for its part, has said it has acknowledged the reality of climate change for years and communicated this to investors.   On Wednesday, Exxon asked a federal court to throw out a subpoena that would force it to hand over decades of documents on climate change to Healey’s office. politicsNews
house panel claims oversight state climate probes exxonhouston reuters a congressional committee sought friday assert oversight inquiries states making exon mobil climate change retreating demands know state attorneys general consultations environmental groups in letter members congress ranking members house science space technology committee said broad jurisdiction allows review investigations carried states the committee pushing back state officials said subject federal oversight the standoff latest battle world largest publicly traded oil company coalition state attorneys general said would go exon bid force congressional action tackle climate change about state officials jointly said march would participate inquiries whether exon executives misled public contradicting research company scientists spelled threats climate change prior march announcement state officials met range prominent environmental investment groups oppose fossil fuels the house committee complained inquiries risk stirling free speech scientific inquiry state officials coordinating special interest groups the house committee demanded second time since may state officials hand records communications offices outside groups congress responsibility investigate whether investigations chilling effect free flow scientific inquiry debate regarding climate change letter said people troubled attempt members congress silence undercut basic investigator authority state attorney general office said hindi roy gonzalez spokeswoman massachusetts attorney general mara healed our office intimidated oil members house exon part said acknowledged reality climate change years communicated investors on wednesday exon asked federal court throw subpoena would force hand decades documents climate change healed office politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: House panel claims oversight of state climate probes into ExxonHOUSTON (Reuters) - A Republican-led congressional committee sought on Friday to assert oversight over inquiries that about 20 states are making into Exxon Mobil and climate change, reiterating demands to know more about state attorneys general’s consultations with environmental groups. In a letter, some 17 members of Congress and ranking members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee said they have broad jurisdiction that allows them to review investigations carried out by states. The committee was pushing back against state officials who have said they are not subject to federal oversight. The standoff is the latest in a high-stakes battle between the world’s largest publicly traded oil company and a coalition of state attorneys general who have said they would go after Exxon in a bid to force congressional action to tackle climate change. About 20 state officials jointly said in March they would participate in inquiries into whether Exxon executives misled the public by contradicting research from company scientists that spelled out the threats of climate change. Prior to that March announcement, some state officials met with a range of prominent environmental and investment groups that oppose fossil fuels. The House committee has complained the inquiries risk stifling free speech and scientific inquiry, and that state officials were coordinating with special interest groups. The House committee demanded for the second time since May that state officials hand over all records of communications between their offices and outside groups. “Congress has a responsibility to investigate whether such investigations are having a chilling effect on the free flow of scientific inquiry and debate regarding climate change,” the letter said. “People should be troubled by any attempt by members of Congress to silence or undercut basic investigatory authority by a state attorney general’s office,” said Cyndi Roy Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. “Our office will not be intimidated by oil industry-backed members of the U.S. House of Representatives.” Exxon, for its part, has said it has acknowledged the reality of climate change for years and communicated this to investors.   On Wednesday, Exxon asked a federal court to throw out a subpoena that would force it to hand over decades of documents on climate change to Healey’s office. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: house panel claims oversight state climate probes exxonhouston reuters a congressional committee sought friday assert oversight inquiries states making exon mobil climate change retreating demands know state attorneys general consultations environmental groups in letter members congress ranking members house science space technology committee said broad jurisdiction allows review investigations carried states the committee pushing back state officials said subject federal oversight the standoff latest battle world largest publicly traded oil company coalition state attorneys general said would go exon bid force congressional action tackle climate change about state officials jointly said march would participate inquiries whether exon executives misled public contradicting research company scientists spelled threats climate change prior march announcement state officials met range prominent environmental investment groups oppose fossil fuels the house committee complained inquiries risk stirling free speech scientific inquiry state officials coordinating special interest groups the house committee demanded second time since may state officials hand records communications offices outside groups congress responsibility investigate whether investigations chilling effect free flow scientific inquiry debate regarding climate change letter said people troubled attempt members congress silence undercut basic investigator authority state attorney general office said hindi roy gonzalez spokeswoman massachusetts attorney general mara healed our office intimidated oil members house exon part said acknowledged reality climate change years communicated investors on wednesday exon asked federal court throw subpoena would force hand decades documents climate change healed office politicsnews