1. Congress and Climate Change Eric Garduño Senior Policy and Legislative Specialist Catholic Relief Services

2. 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 2

3. What is Catholic Relief Services Doing? Programs Guides Studies Advocacy Http://www.crs.org/public-policy/climate-change.cfm Http://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org/ 3

4. 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. 4

5. 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 5

6. Paris Negotiations Commitment realized through Regulations US Commitment in form of Political Promise, not a binding treaty 6

7. Legislative Basics Legislative Process Introduction Subcommittee Mark up Committee Mark up Pass out of Chamber Conference Final Passage Signed/Vetoed by President Appropriations vs. Authorization State and Foreign Operations Appropriations 7

8. 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 8

9. 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 9

10. Legislative Landscape – Other Bills S.2076 – Super Pollutants Act of 2015 H. Res. 424 – Conservative Environmental Stewardship S. Res. 244 – Laudato Si 10

11. 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] 11

12. 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 12

13. Thank you Eric Garduño eric.garduno@crs.org 13