News & Analysis
November 9, 2026
Hundreds of elected officials across the country are calling on Congress to strongly oppose any attempts to shield fossil fuel companies from legal accountability for their role in the climate crisis. In a sign-on letter addressed to Democratic members of the U.S. House and Senate, the officials emphasized the risk of Big Oil’s allies in Congress trying to push through immunity legislation during the lame duck session before the majority power changes hands.
“There are many ongoing fights to protect justice, democracy, and fundamental rights that demand your attention — and we thank you for fighting to keep our communities’ rights intact,” the letter, which is the latest effort of the “No Immunity for Big Oil” campaign, states. “If we do not also protect Americans’ right to hold bad actors accountable in court, we will be handing Big Oil a get-out-of-jail-free card.”
After months of Big Oil lobbying, House and Senate Republicans introduced legislation in April that aims to give oil and gas companies sweeping legal immunity from any laws or lawsuits targeting their role in the climate crisis. The legislation came as Big Oil is facing a growing number of climate accountability lawsuits from communities across the country aiming to hold the industry accountable for lying about the harms of its products. One of those cases — Boulder, Colorado’s case against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy — was recently heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, after which fossil fuel front groups called for the “swift passage” of Big Oil immunity legislation.
Now, Republicans in Congress are planning to push a “Last Supper” bill of right-wing priorities before their party loses control of Congress.
The most recent letter, signed by 392 state and local elected officials from 30 states and Washington, D.C., echoed the calls of a “No Immunity for Big Oil” petition with more than 135,000 signatures and a similar letter signed by over 500 organizations, both delivered to Congressional leaders in June. A letter signed by 10 U.S. governors urging Congress to reject Big Oil’s push for immunity was also delivered during the summer.
Members of Congress also continue to voice their opposition to giving the fossil fuel industry sweeping legal immunity. U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda from Hawaiʻi spoke at a rally opposing the legislation recently, calling the move “an insult” to anyone paying for the rising costs of climate change. U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas from Oregon also released a statement saying she will “strongly oppose any effort to shield fossil fuel companies from accountability for their role in the climate crisis.” A full list of the members of Congress who have made a statement against any attempts to give Big Oil immunity is available here.
A majority of voters oppose putting Big Oil above the law, with a recent poll finding that 75% of likely voters oppose legal immunity for the oil and gas industry.
“As the costs worsen and extreme weather events become more commonplace,” elected officials wrote, “governments, businesses, community members, and others must retain access to legal and legislative tools to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the damage they knowingly caused.”
