Media CenterCRS Applauds Congressional Passage of Federal Spending Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Nikki Gamer
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
(978) 884-0003

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, Dec. 27, 2022 – Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president of Mission, Mobilization and Advocacy at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), issued the following statement in response to the passage of the FY23 federal spending bill.

“We want to thank Congress for passing a federal spending bill at a time when needs far outpace resources in many of the countries where we work, especially in the Horn of Africa where a historic drought has left millions on the brink of starvation. The increases in development and global health assistance will save lives and support countless families living in places that lack a social safety net.

We also appreciate the supplemental humanitarian funding provided for Ukraine and other emergencies. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are at the precipice of a hunger catastrophe, with the impacts of climate change, conflict and inflation likely to make matters worse. The fact that Congressional lawmakers recognize these threats proves that U.S. global leadership continues to act as a beacon of light amid considerable darkness.

However, there is undoubtedly room for stronger leadership. Congress did not deliver must needed funding increases for climate finance as part of the bill’s passage – a shortsighted move that will disproportionately impact the communities we serve, as vulnerable countries descend further into crisis as a result of more frequent and intense extreme weather events.

As we look ahead to the new year, we are excited to work with the incoming Congress on this issue and others to make sure that alleviating hunger and poverty around the world remains top of mind.” 

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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, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org and follow Catholic Relief Services on social media in English at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; and in Spanish at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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