reporter: for decades, democrats say oil execs have denied or downplayed a climate change link, despite their own internal research showing the fossil fuel connection. but today every oil company executive acknowledged the industry does indeed contribute to climate change climate change is real and the use of fossil fuels contributes to it. this is a defining challenge for our generation, absolutely. reporter: but the executives deny engaging in disinformation to fight climate change policy meanwhile, demand for oil and gas is surging. unleaded now averaging $3.39 a gallon up from $2.14 a year ago $2.81 in 2019. natural gas jumping 30% this winter. this hearing is simply a distraction from the crisis that the biden s administration policies have caused for the american people reporter: democrats want oil companies to cut production and emissions even further, even as president biden urged opex to increase production to bring gas prices down.