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Congress and Climate ChangeEric Garduño
Senior Policy and Legislative Specialist Catholic Relief Services
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Poor Countries Have the Most to Lose
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (Vulnerability):
Worst-off on Index:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Central African Republic
- Eritrea
- Burundi
- Chad
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What is Catholic Relief Services Doing?
• Programs
• Guides
• Studies
• Advocacy
Http://www.crs.org/public-policy/climate-change.cfmHttp://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org/
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Main Policy Objectives
• Fund U.S. contributions to the Green Climate Fund
• Support strong U.S. leadership in securing a global commitment to curb global greenhouse gas emissions in the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.
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Green Climate Fund
• Created through ongoing UN Climate Negotiations
• Capitalized by donations from developed countries
• Funding split between mitigation and adaption activities
• Half of adaption funding directed to African, Least Developed, and Small Island Developing Countries
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Paris Negotiations
• Commitment realized through Regulations
• US Commitment in form of Political Promise, not a binding treaty
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Legislative Basics
Legislative ProcessIntroduction Subcommittee Mark upCommittee Mark up Pass out of ChamberConferenceFinal PassageSigned/Vetoed by President
Appropriations vs. AuthorizationState and Foreign Operations Appropriations
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Legislative Landscape – Green Climate Fund
House Appropriations
• SFOPs Appropriations passed out of Appropriations Committee with:
“no funds may be made available for the Green Climate Fund in this Act or prior Acts”
Senate Appropriations
• SFOPs bill introduced at Subcommittee with provision requiring authorization of GCF
• In a 16-14 Full Appropriations Committee vote, authorization requirement was removed (Kirk, Collins deciding votes)
Other Bills
• H.R.383 - No Tax Dollars for the United Nations' Climate Agenda Act
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Legislative Landscape – Paris Negotiations
Bills aimed at US Participation in Paris
• H.R.383 - No Tax Dollars for the United Nations' Climate Agenda Act
• H.RES.218 – No agreement unless developing countries take on an equal amount of carbon reducing commitments
• S. Res 290 – Any agreement in Paris is a treaty, requiring Advice and Consent of Senate
Other Legislation and Actions
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Legislative Landscape – Other Bills
• S.2076 – Super Pollutants Act of 2015
• H. Res. 424 – Conservative Environmental Stewardship
• S. Res. 244 – Laudato Si
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HR 383 - Luetkemeyer [R-MO-3], Babin [R-TX-36], Black [R-TN-6], Blackburn [R-TN-7], Bridenstine [R-OK-1], Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3], Duncan, John [R-TN-2], Gibbs [R-OH-7], Gosar [R-AZ-4], Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Hartzler [R-MO-4], Hudson [R-NC-8], Huelskamp [R-KS-1], Kelly [R-PA-3], Latta [R-OH-5], Long [R-MO-7], McKinley [R-WV-1], Nugent [R-FL-11], Sensenbrenner [R-WI-5]
HRes 218 - Sensenbrenner [R-WI-5], Babin [R-TX-36], Ribble [R-WI-8], Ryan, Paul [R-WI-1], Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21], Yoho [R-FL-3]
SRes 290 – Paul [R-KY], Roberts [R-KS]
S 2076 – Murphy [D-CT], Collins [R-ME]
HRes 424 - Gibson [R-NY-19], Costello [R-PA-6], Curbelo [R-FL-26], Dold [R-IL-10], Fitzpatrick [R-PA-8], Hanna [R-NY-22], LoBiondo [R-NJ-2], Meehan [R-PA-7], Reichert [R-WA-8], Ros-Lehtinen [R-FL-27], Stefanik [R-NY-21].
SRes 244 – Franken [D-MN], Baldwin [D-WI], Leahy [D-VT], Merkley [D-OR], Sanders [I-VT], Udall [D-NM]
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Next Steps
• Send Congress the message that addressing climate change is important to you
• Support/share upcoming USCCB/CRS letters to Congress and the Administration
• Encourage Members of Congress to write and join Congressional Support Letters for the Green Climate Fund and Paris Leadership in Paris
