[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 107 (Thursday, June 22, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE SISTERS OF MERCY OF THE AMERICAS CONGREGATIONAL CHAPTER 
           MEETING IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK JUNE 19-JUNE 29, 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2017

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas as they have gathered in my hometown 
of Buffalo, New York for their Congregational Chapter meeting from June 
19-June 29. More than 300 Sisters of Mercy from various parts of the 
continental United States as well as from the Philippines, Guam and 
Latin America will elect an Institute president and leadership team, 
determine priorities, renew their vision and respond to the changing 
needs in their mission during this two-week summit.
   Inspired by the life of Jesus and its founder Catherine McAuley, the 
Sisters of Mercy are women of faith who have committed their lives to 
God and use their resources to serve, advocate and pray for those in 
need throughout the world. Arriving from Ireland at the invitation of 
the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1843, the women originally 
dedicated themselves to the service of people who were poor, sick, and 
uneducated. As membership grew throughout the United States, the 
organization's influence expanded to issues in education, health care, 
and social services.
   The work of the Sisters of Mercy is inherently woven into the 
historic fabric of the growth of Buffalo and Western New York as these 
devoted women taught in numerous Catholic schools. They opened, led and 
cared for others in our Catholic hospitals as well as being highly 
engaged in numerous charitable organizations. The Sisters' profound 
influence on those they taught, those they tended to who were suffering 
physically, mentally, spiritually, those they helped bring into this 
world, and those they comforted as the end drew near has deepened 
across generations.
   Today, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas operate under the core 
values of Spirituality, Community, Service, and Social Justice focusing 
on the critical concerns of the earth, immigration, nonviolence, anti-
racism, and women. They sponsor or co-sponsor 77 schools from early 
childhood education to the collegiate level and partnered with the 
Global Catholic Climate Movement to urge world leaders to commit to 
climate action.
   This commitment to action on climate change is one I strongly share 
and support. For decades, the United States set the world's public 
policy standard on critical environmental issues; a tradition that 
ended when this Administration backed away from the Paris Climate 
Accord--a pledge joined by more than 190 countries to reduce emissions 
toward the goal of cleaner air and a healthy planet. This reversal does 
not demonstrate the leadership that is characteristic of America, nor 
does it protect the health and safety of people today or those for 
generations to come.
   In solidarity with the communities in which they minister, the 
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas' commitment to everyone's right to 
clean water will take another strong, steady and significant step 
forward; actually many hundreds of steps forward, as the Sisters will 
participate in a Contemplative Walk down Main Street to Canalside, the 
center of Buffalo's resurgent waterfront, where the Buffalo River flows 
into Lake Erie. The ``Walk for Water'' on Friday, June 23 will be led 
by representatives from the Native American community who will add 
their voices and vital historical perspective to the urgent need to 
protect and preserve our natural environment.
   As the Congressional Representative who secured the funding for the 
infrastructure needed to make public access at our water's edge a 
reality, this ceremony is especially significant as we find ourselves, 
inexplicably, fighting to ensure the federal dollars used to restore 
our Great Lakes remains in place.
   The Great Lakes contain 95 percent of America's fresh surface water 
and drinking water supply to more than 40 million people in North 
America. Currently under threat of drastic cuts, the Great Lakes 
Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is a joint effort between the U.S. and 
Canada to restore the Great Lakes by cleaning up pollution, promoting 
shoreline health, combating invasive species and protecting fish and 
wildlife. Over the last decade the federal government has invested 
$32.38 million in Great Lakes funding in and around the Buffalo River 
Area of Concern and is credited with the ecological and economic 
turnaround of the Buffalo River.
   Now more than ever, we need to demonstrate the value both 
environmentally and economically of Great Lakes investments, and come 
together to fight for the continuation of this program and others that 
enhance the quality of life for this and future generations. And so, 
joined by the Interfaith Climate Justice Community, Climate Justice 
Coalition and like-minded public officials, the Sisters will add water 
from their regions to one container. This blended water will be 
sprinkled over the Sisters, over the land and then poured out into Lake 
Erie.
   Once again, with humility and humanity, these valiant women are 
leading by example. This symbolic mixing of waters from lands served by 
the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas represents active and unified 
engagement in this crucial crusade to protect, promote and preserve our 
natural assets for all people. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize 
the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas for adding another historic 
milestone to the legacy of the Buffalo waterfront. And to extend 
immeasurable gratitude for all they have sacrificed, shared and stood 
for in the past, and for all they will continue to stand up for today, 
tomorrow and for generations to come.

                          ____________________