Contact Congress about S. 170: BIG OIL from the Cabinet Act
People with recent top fossil fuel ties could not serve in certain senior federal jobs. The ban would last 10 years and would cover both permanent and acting officials.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
BIG OIL from the Cabinet Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Latest action on S. 170: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people being considered for senior federal jobs. It also affects presidents who choose Cabinet members, senior White House staff, and agency leaders. Fossil fuel companies and trade groups could see fewer former leaders or lobbyists move into these government roles.
Why this matters: This bill could change who gets to make major federal decisions on energy, the environment, science, and national policy. Today, a president may choose senior officials who recently worked at high levels in the fossil fuel industry. This bill would block some of those choices for 10 years. Its real effect would depend on how many candidates fall under the rule and how officials apply the bill’s definitions.
Key provisions in S. 170
- The bill covers many powerful federal jobs. These include key White House staff, the Secretaries of Energy, Transportation, Agriculture, Interior, Defense, and State, and heads of agencies such as EPA, NASA, NOAA, FERC, and others.
- The bill also covers political appointees in named offices and agencies. These include Interior, Energy, State, EPA, NOAA, FERC, the Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
- A person could not serve if they had certain fossil fuel ties in the last 10 years. That includes being a top officer at a fossil fuel company or trade group, or working as a fossil fuel lobbyist.
- The rule covers more than regular appointments. It also applies when someone serves temporarily in an acting role.
- A fossil fuel entity means a business that extracts or produces fossil fuels. The bill lists fuels such as oil, natural gas, coal, gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 170
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about S. 170
- What is S. 170?
- People with recent top fossil fuel ties could not serve in certain senior federal jobs. The ban would last 10 years and would cover both permanent and acting officials.
- How do I support or oppose S. 170?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about S. 170?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain S. 170 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
