THE DALLES, Ore., June 4 (UPI) -- As the U.S. Senate continues a political tug-of-war over comprehensive climate change legislation, a number of religious groups are rallying behind the bill's poverty provisions.

The Climate Security Act attempts to decrease the nation's greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system. Starting in 2012, the program caps emissions at a certain level, which decreases incrementally until 2050.

Businesses and other carbon-emitting facilities would be allowed to emit only a certain amount, depending on the number of allowances allocated to them and bought through an annual auction. However, they could emit more by buying allowances from other entities that had decreased their emissions below their allotted share.

As policymakers engage in a heated debate this week over the economic impacts of the bill, a number of religious leaders and groups have openly supported it, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Evangelical Environment Network.

"We have seen the faith community come out in very strong support of this bill," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., sponsor of the bill, along with Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and John Warner, R-Va. "It's God's creation that's at stake. … They feel very moved to respond."