Sen. Eric Schmidt (R-Missouri) and Senate Republicans on Friday demanded answers on the Biden administration’s proposed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rules for government contractors, Breitbart News learned exclusively. did.
Sens. Schmidt and John Thune (R-SD), Dan Sullivan (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tom Cotton (R-ARK), and Ted. Budd (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND)), Katie Britt (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Marcia Blackburn (R-FL) (R-TN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) sent a letter to the Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Lloyd Austin, General Services Administration (GSA) Secretary Robin Carnahan and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson called for answers on proposed ESG rules that would negatively impact DoD, GSA, and NASA contractors.
Senator Eric Schmidt: Contractor Regulation Letter to GSA, NASA, and Department of Defense by Breitbart News On Scribd
The senators said the proposed rule would require federal contractors and suppliers to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate-related financial risks, as well as set “science-based” emissions reduction targets. He said it would be mandatory.
ESG is the latest vector for governments, big business, and the Democratic Party to push left-wing policies such as anti-climate change policies, demands for diversity, and anti-racism policies.
Schmidt and Senate Republicans wrote:
The Federal Supplier Climate Risk and Resilience Rule (the “Contractor Climate Rule”) will be a disaster and will seriously distract your agency from its important mission of defending our nation from foreign adversaries and exploring space. Probably. Simply put, the current administration should not use procurement policy to achieve fundamental environmental justice goals.
Senate Republicans continued:
As you explained in your proposed rule, the federal government is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services and has the ability to “transform markets, drive innovation, and catalyze the adoption of new norms and global standards.” I have. 17 Public procurement goals require governments to have access to high-quality goods quickly and cheaply. Instead of worrying about bureaucratic rules and regulations, government agencies should focus on shooting missiles and shooting stars.
Senate Republicans demanded that the Department of Defense, GSA, and NASA answer the following questions:
- Has the Department of Defense conducted any analysis or research into whether this contractor climate rule would impact our ability to significantly expand our nation’s defense industrial base in the event of war?
- Has the Department of Defense ever considered the ability to override such onerous requirements imposed under this rule during wartime?
- Has NASA conducted any analysis or research into whether this rule will cause further delays to the Artemis mission?
- Has your agency determined how many contractors will be barred from future contracting opportunities due to this rule? If not, why has your agency not conducted such an analysis?
- Are any agencies continuing to argue that they have legal permission to continue this rule in light of recent legislative prohibitions?
Senate Republicans said they have long been concerned that the Biden administration is using the federal procurement process to effectuate “large-scale social change.”
We have long feared that the current administration is using federal procurement policy to literally enact massive social change. The current administration’s illegal efforts to force COVID-19 vaccination requirements on federal contractors have rightfully been halted by legal challenges, threatening billions of dollars in federal contracts. We will not sit idly by as this administration once again seeks to promote radical policies through procurement policy. This time it will directly damage the foundations of the defense and space industries.
They warned that if the rule was not stopped, Senate Republicans would move to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to override the law.
“If the agency continues to move forward with this contractor climate change regulation, Congress will have no choice but to introduce a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act and consider other legislative options to block this radical ESG policy.” no choice,” Senate Republicans concluded.
Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Sen. John Ernst (R-IA) has withdrawn his name from the letter.
Sean Moran is a policy reporter at Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.
