Media CenterCRS Welcomes Introduction of Climate Resolution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Tom Price
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
(443) 951-7245

WASHINGTON, DC, March 15, 2017 – Catholic Relief Services (CRS) extends its appreciation to the 17 Republican Members of Congress who have joined together to co-sponsor H. Res. 195, a House Resolution on climate change that ‘calls for using American innovation to improve environmental stewardship.’ H. Res. 195 is significant because it recognizes the challenges of climate change both in the United States and abroad. H. Res. 195 also reaffirms a commitment by the House of Representatives to act to address these challenges. 

“We know from our work that climate change affects all of us, but it is particularly impactful on the poor who are least able to cope,” said Sean Callahan, President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services.  This sentiment is echoed in the Resolution as it states “If left unaddressed, the consequences of a changing climate have the potential to adversely impact all Americans, hitting vulnerable populations hardest . . .”

H. Res. 195, led by Representative Elise Stefanik, maintains the same language of a climate resolution introduced in the 114th Congress, but includes seven new co-sponsors.  In addition to Representative Stefanik, resolution co-sponsors include Representatives Amodei, Costello, Curbelo, Fitzpatrick, Love, Mast, Meehan, Ros-Lehtnen, Sanford, Bacon, Comstock, Faso, Katko, LoBiondo, Reed, and Reichert.

“This resolution is a statement rooted in the principles of conservation and it shows the kind of leadership needed if we are going to move forward on this critical issue,” Callahan continued.  

CRS has also signed a letter by several Catholic groups in support of the climate change resolution.  In addition to showing support for the sponsors of the Resolution, the joint letter calls on Members of the House of Representatives to support the Climate Solutions Caucus, a bi-partisan effort to develop solutions to climate change challenges. 

“As Pope Francis made clear in his encyclical Laudato Si, the time is long past for climate change to be a partisan issue, and actions like the introduction of this climate resolution and growing numbers joining the Climate Solutions Caucus are welcome signs that policymakers are heeding his call,” Callahan said. “We all need to work together if we are going to solve this.”

Read the full text of H. Res. 195.

Read the signed letter from National Catholic organizations.

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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, please visit crs.org or crsespanol.org and follow CRS on social media: Facebook, @CatholicRelief, @CRSnews, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.