Washington, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi will travel to Brest, France this week for a meeting of the G7 Speakers’ Conference, which begins Thursday, September 5. The theme of this year’s G7 Speakers’ Meeting is “Parliaments Committed for the Oceans.” In addition to formal sessions, bilateral meetings and marine research site visits, Speaker Pelosi will lay a wreath at the Memorial to the Fallen Sailors, honoring French soldiers, and pay her respects to the courageous American heroes of World War I at the U.S. Naval Monument at Brest.

“It is a privilege to join my G7 colleagues in France to discuss one of the gravest challenges of our time: the climate crisis, and its devastating impacts on our oceans,” said Speaker Pelosi. “I extend my gratitude to French National Assembly President Richard Ferrand for hosting this critical meeting, and for elevating the priority of the oceans to forefront of the international conversation. As representatives of the G7 nations, which have contributed the most to the climate crisis, we have a special responsibility and opportunity to take action.”

“The threats to the ocean are threats to humanity itself,” continued Speaker Pelosi. “Taking action to protect the oceans is a public health decision for clean air, clean water and combating the climate crisis, an economic decision for creating the green, good-paying jobs of the future, a national security decision to address resource competition and climate migration and also a moral decision to be good stewards of God’s creation and pass a sustainable, healthy planet to the next generation. On behalf of the U.S. Congress, I am proud to travel to Brest to reaffirm the commitment of the American people to combating the climate crisis. It is also a great honor to pay my respects at the U.S. Naval Monument at Brest, which is a shining symbol of the heroism of so many brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep the world safe for democracy.”

At this year’s G7 Speakers’ Conference, Speaker Pelosi will also preview the 2020 Speakers’ Conference, which will be hosted by the Speaker in the United States.