CRS May/June Legislative Update
Legislative Update
Climate Change
in a recent letter to the committee. CRS and USCCB are advocating for a minimum of $3.5 billion in the first year and a ramp up of funding levels at a faster pace after that. The legislation currently only provides about $1 billion.
CRS is already witnessing the tragic consequences of climate change in the lives of people living in poverty. CRS, through its work in over 100 countries, is helping communities adapt to the consequences of climate change and mitigate its effects through health, agriculture, water and emergency preparedness programs.
The bill is expected to be brought to the full House for a vote in early summer. We will let you know when you will have the next opportunity to weigh in on this bill and improve its international adaptation provisions.
Funding for Global Emergencies This Fiscal Year
The FY 2009 Supplemental Appropriation bill has passed both the House and Senate and contains urgently needed funding for global humanitarian emergencies. There are some differences between the Senate and House bills, which will have to be reconciled by a House-Senate conference committee before the President can consider signing it.
CRS and USCCB are urging that the following foreign assistance priorities receive the highest level of funding:
- Support for the Palestinian People
- International Disaster Assistance
- Migration and Refugee Assistance
- Food Aid
- International Peacekeeping and Peacekeeping Operations
- Assistance in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq
- Global Financial Crisis
- Development Assistance
Global Poverty
Get Creative—Everyone Can Play a Role in the Work to End Global Poverty!
There are a multitude of ways people of all ages in Catholic parishes, schools, and religious communities can help end poverty at home and overseas. The first step is awareness. Spread the word. Help people know why it’s important to be one in a million Catholics Confronting Global Poverty today!
Here are the resources to get you started or help you build momentum.
Pope Benedict XVI in the Holy Land
Healing Words from our Holy Father
Pope Benedict XVI surprised many commentators when, just minutes after stepping off his plane in Tel Aviv, he called for a homeland for both Israelis and Palestinians. Many expected, and applauded, his strong denunciation of anti-Semitism. But few expected him to bring up the issue of Palestinian statehood so quickly. Keep reading.
Taking Action for Peace in the Middle East
Visit the CRS Action Center now to ask your members of Congress to sign a bipartisan letter to President Obama supporting his efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Send a message now!
Upcoming Events – Resources
New Webcast Recording Available – Listen at Any Time
Reforming U.S. International Assistance: What is the Church’s Position?
Presenters: Steve Colecchi, Director, International Justice and Peace, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Emily Burrows, Strategic Issues Advisor, Catholic Relief Services
The United States’ international assistance program is based on overlapping objectives, encompasses no unifying strategy and is poorly coordinated. The poorest countries in the world receive as little as one fourth of U.S. international assistance. Many assistance programs are designed with little input from the people who are supposed to benefit from them. Today, the more than 20 federal agencies that implement these programs have almost 50 different objectives, including some that are duplicative and others that are contradictory. There is a better way.
Find out more about the USCCB/CRS position on reforming U.S. International Assistance through our webcast recording.
SAVE THE DATE – Next webcast on Peace in the Holy Land is on June 10, 2009.
