House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

Posted:	March 22, 2019 10:28 AM
From:	Representative Maria P. Donatucci
To:	All House members
Subject:	Rainforest Awareness Month in Pennsylvania – May 2019

Due to the important role that rainforests play in sustaining life on Earth, I believe it is imperative that we bring attention to the alarming rate at which rainforests are disappearing. For example, more than 25 percent of the medicines in use today can trace their origins back to a rainforest. Rainforests are also home to nearly half of all living things on Earth, including 50 million Indigenous peoples. Rainforests also contribute about 20 percent of the Earth’s oxygen while storing huge amounts of carbon. When rainforest vegetation is cut down, that carbon is released in the form of carbon dioxide, which is a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. While rainforests once covered approximately 12 percent of the Earth’s surface, they now cover only 6 or 7 percent, meaning half of the world’s rainforests have been destroyed. Rainforest Foundation US annually recognizes May as “Rainforest Awareness Month.” In an effort to join this organization in bringing awareness to this issue, I plan to introduce a resolution designating May 2019 as “Rainforest Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. Please join me in supporting this resolution to help bring awareness to an issue that affects Pennsylvania as well as the entire globe.
View Attachment

Introduced as HR213