Catholics Lobby Congress to Care for our Common Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – May 1, 2017 – On Friday, April 31, 2017, Catholics participated in a lobby day on Capitol Hill co-sponsored by Catholic Climate Covenant and the Columban Center for Advocacy & Outreach.

The day began with a lobby training session facilitated by staff from both organizations. Jeremy Marcus, Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Congressman Matt Cartwright, also helped train participants. 

Following the training session, participants visited lawmakers’ offices and made several legislative asks:

• Bipartisan and Bicameral Dialogue on Climate Solutions
• House Representatives, please join the House Climate Solutions Caucus
• Senators, please create a Senate Climate Solutions Caucus
• For the Fiscal Year 2018 budget, please support federal agencies, offices and programs addressing climate change, clean energy and the environment, especially those that help our poor and vulnerable neighbors, at current funding levels. These offices and programs include:
• State Department, Global Climate Change Initiative and Green Climate Fund
• Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)
• Denali Commission and Alaska Native Villages and Rural Communities Water Grant
• Environmental Protection Agency, Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP)
• Department of Health and Human Services, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
• Department of Energy, Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons

Dan Misleh, Executive Director of Catholic Climate Covenant, said, “The Church asks Catholics to exercise faithful citizenship and advocate for public policies that will care for creation and care for the poor. In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis especially calls for policies that will address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas pollution and protecting the most vulnerable among us.”

Scott Wright, Director of the Columban Center, said, "Around the world, Columbans live and work with vulnerable communities affected by climate change. As people of faith, our politics must reflect a fundamental concern for the poor and vulnerable and our common home. As a result, we call for policies that reduce the negative impacts of climate change on the vulnerable and prioritize sustainable solutions."

For more information, please contact:
Jose Aguto, Catholic Climate Covenant jose@catholicclimatecovenant.org | 202-756-5515
Rebecca Eastwood, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach reastwood@columban.org | 202-635-5811

The Catholic Climate Covenant inspires and equips people and institutions to care for creation and care for the poor. Through our sixteen national partners, we guide the U.S. Church's response to climate change by educating, giving public witness, and offering resources. www.CatholicClimateCovenant.org

The Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach is the national advocacy office for the Missionary Society of St. Columban. Our mission is to work towards a more just, peaceful, and environmentally sustainable world by engaging in the political process guided by our faith and the Gospel. www.ColumbanCenter.org

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