Media CenterCRS Applauds Global Vision of Incoming Administration's COVID-19 Stimulus Package

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, Jan. 15, 2020 – Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president for Mission, Mobilization and Advocacy at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), issued the following statement in response to the incoming administration’s COVID-19 stimulus package.

“By including $11 billion for international assistance in the proposed stimulus package, the incoming administration recognizes the urgent and interconnected threat COVID-19 poses here and abroad. As Pope Francis reminds us, 'This is not a time for indifference, because the whole world is suffering and needs to be united in facing the pandemic.'

In addition to claiming the lives of 2 million people worldwide and causing countless suffering, the pandemic threatens jobs, food systems, and the social safety net in nearly every corner of the globe. The World Bank estimates extreme poverty will rise for the first time in 20 years. What's more, the threat of famine looms in several countries in crisis.

The breath-taking speed of the spread of the virus's new variant underscores our message that you can't end this pandemic anywhere if you don't end it everywhere.

We look forward to working with Congress and the new administration to provide at least $20 billion to address the impacts of COVID-19 overseas. Doing so will better protect vulnerable communities in the short term, speed an eventual end to the pandemic, and support a more sustainable recovery.”

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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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