Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) sent a follow-up letter to Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, seeking information regarding the selection of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) as the entity charged with validating and approving emission reduction targets for federal contractors. In part, the members wrote:

"The House Committee on Natural Resources is continuing to investigate the process of selecting an international organization, the Science Based Target Initiative, as the sole arbitrator of emission reduction targets for federal contractors. Specifically, the Committee continues to seek information from the Council on Environmental Quality on the selection of SBTi and the outsourcing of government authority to SBTi. 

"As you are aware, on September 6, 2023, the Committee transmitted a letter requesting more information, documents, and records critical to its investigation. On September 8, 2023, CEQ staff acknowledged receipt of the Committee Letter. The deadline for the requested information, documents, and records expired on September 27, 2023. As of this writing, the Committee has yet to receive any documents or communications responsive to our requests...

"Your non-responsiveness suggests that CEQ is deliberately engaging in obstruction to frustrate the oversight power of Congress. This is unacceptable. The American public deserves transparency, and the Committee will use every tool at its disposal to administer effective oversight and fulfill the Committee’s responsibility to the American people."

Read the full letter here, and the committee's first letter on this issue here.