Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement on the papal encyclical on climate change:

"Pope Francis has taken a courageous stand by framing the issue of reducing carbon pollution as a moral imperative. By publishing a document of this prominence, more people will be educated about the international threat of climate change, and perhaps more people will be moved to take action to address that threat."

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