DuPont: Request for Report on Lobbying Disclosure
Whereas: We believe in full disclosure of our company’s direct and indirect lobbying activities and expenditures to assess whether our company’s lobbying is consistent with DuPont’s expressed goals and in the best interests of shareowners.
Resolved: The shareowners of DuPont request the preparation of a report, updated annually, disclosing:
Company policy and procedures governing lobbying, both direct and indirect, and grassroots lobbying communications.
Payments by DuPont used for (a) direct or indirect lobbying or (b) grassroots lobbying communications, in each case including the amount of the payment and the recipient.
DuPont’s membership in and payments to any tax-exempt organization that writes and endorses model legislation.
Description of the decision making process and oversight by management and the Board for making payments described in sections 2 and 3 above.
For purposes of this proposal, a “grassroots lobbying communication” is a communication directed to the general public that (a) refers to specific legislation or regulation, (b) reflects a view on the legislation or regulation and (c) encourages the recipient of the communication to take action with respect to the legislation or regulation. “Indirect lobbying” is lobbying engaged in by a trade association or other organization of which DuPont is a member.
Both “direct and indirect lobbying” and “grassroots lobbying communications” include efforts at the local, state and federal levels. The report shall be presented to the Audit Committee or other relevant oversight committees and posted on DuPont’s website.
Supporting Statement: As shareowners, we encourage transparency and accountability in the use of corporate funds to influence legislation and regulation, both directly and indirectly. Absent a system of accountability, company assets could be used for objectives contrary to DuPont’s long-term interests.
DuPont is a member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), which spent $11.4 million lobbying in 2014. DuPont’s lobbying through the ACC is controversial (“The Cancer Lobby,” New York Times, 10/6/12; “Toxic Influence: How a Chemical Industry Trade Group You've Never Heard of Threatens Your Health,” Huffington Post, 10/19/15). DuPont does not comprehensively disclose its trade association memberships, or payments, on its website.
DuPont spent $9.2 million in 2014 on direct federal lobbying activities (opensecrets.org). DuPont's lobbying around genetically modified organism labeling has drawn scrutiny (“U.S. GMO Labeling Foes Triple Spending in First Half of This Year over 2013,” Reuters, 9/3/14). The federal lobbying figure does not include lobbying expenditures to influence legislation in states where DuPont also lobbies, but disclosure is uneven or absent. For example, in 2014 DuPont spent $164,000 lobbying in New Jersey, where disclosure is required (www.elec.state.nj.us), but disclosure of expenditures in other states may not be required. In addition, DuPont does not disclose membership in tax-exempt organizations that write and endorse model legislation, such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
We encourage our Board to require comprehensive disclosure related to direct, indirect and grassroots lobbying.
Resolution Details
Company:
DuPont
Lead Filer:
As You Sow
Year: 2016
Filing Date:
November 2015
Initiative(s): GMOs and Pesticides
Status: Withdrawn; Company will address