Media CenterCRS Applauds Inclusion of International Assistance in American Rescue Plan Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, March 11, 2020 – Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president for Mission, Mobilization and Advocacy at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), issued the following statement in response to Congressional passage of the American Rescue Plan Act.

“We applaud Congress for including $10.8 billion in the America Rescue Plan Act to address the impacts of COVID-19 overseas. We see this as a significant step forward in protecting the global poor while accelerating an end to the pandemic. The funds included in this bill will provide lifesaving overseas health and humanitarian programming. Importantly, this funding will support the millions of families struggling to put food on the table amid an alarming spike in food insecurity we see across many of the countries where we work. To be sure, the shadow pandemics – such as rising hunger, an increase in gender-based violence and significant disruptions to education – will require further support as the COVID-19 crisis drags on. As such, we urge Congress and the administration to continue to prioritize these issues in future legislation.” 

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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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