ANTI-SCIENCE CLIMATE DENIER CAUCUS Climate change is happening, and humans are the cause. But a shocking number of congressional Republicans—more than 55 percent—refuse to accept it. One hundred and fifty-seven elected representatives from the 113th Congress have taken more than $51 million from the fossil-fuel industry, which is the driving force behind the carbon emissions that cause climate change. These representatives deny what more than 97 percent of climate scientists say is happening: Current human activity creates the greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat within the atmosphere and cause climate change. And their constituents are paying the price, with Americans across the nation suffering 368 climate-related national disaster declarations since 2011. There were 25 extreme weather events that each caused at least $1 billion in damage since 2011, including Superstorm Sandy and overwhelming drought that has covered almost the entire western half of the United States. Combined, these extreme weather events were responsible for 1,107 fatalities and up to $188 billion in economic damages. OHIO We have a moral obligation to act on climate change to protect our future generations. Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus and high costs to taxpayers, Ohio has seven resident deniers who have taken $2,875,953 in dirty energy contributions. In comparison, the remaining 11 members of the Ohio congressional delegation have only taken $564,679. The state has suffered four climate-related disaster declarations since 2011, including a “derecho” wind storm in the summer of 2012 that was the third-most-expensive natural disaster in Ohio in 38 years. The storm left a more- than-700-mile band of damage, which cut power to millions and killed 13 people. Below are quotes from six of Ohio’s resident climate deniers who refuse to believe there is a problem to address: Rep. John Boehner (R-OH-08): “George, the idea that carbon dioxide is a carcinogen that is harmful to our environment is almost comical. Every time we exhale, we exhale carbon dioxide. Every cow in the world, you know, when they do what they do, you’ve got more carbon dioxide.” [ABC News transcript, April 19, 2009] Rep. Steve ChABot (R-OH-01): According to Rep. Chabot, Climategate is “just another example of many in the press, and many in the academic/scientific community having bought into the whole global warming/climate change ‘religion,’ no matter what the facts are.” [Chabot for Congress, December 16, 2009] Rep. Bob GiBBs (R-OH-07): “It is clear that science has not been able to document what is happening and if human activity is causing a problem or not. Many scientists are on both sides of this issue and the proponents of climate change have not substantiated their findings based on sound science.” [League of Women Voters 2010 Voters Guide] Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH-06): “In another, more accurate, sense, Johnson is a man with a degree in computer science who is awash in oil and gas money and denies climate science, asserting in 2011, ‘I am not an alarmist that believes that greenhouse gas emissions coming from the coal industry are causing major problems.’” [ThinkProgress, June 6, 2013] Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH-12): “GOP Rep. Pat Tiberi of Genoa Township doesn’t think there is a consensus among scientists about whether global warming is proven.” [The Columbus Dispatch, December 20, 2009] Sen. RoB PortmAn (R-OH): “When you analyze all the data, there is a warming trend according to science. But the jury is out on the degree of how much is manmade.” [The Columbus Dispatch, July 25, 2010] .