Just before the holidays, Congressional leaders put aside partisan differences to stand together in support of the world’s poorest. After months of anticipation, the Jubilee Act (HR 4405) was reintroduced by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), along with Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA), Ranking Member Spencer Bachus (R-AL), and seven more Republican and Democratic members of Congress. This encouraging bi-partisan effort by powerful leaders in Congress is a tremendous holiday gift for our sisters and brothers in the Global South.
It is time to take action in support of this critical effort.
The global Jubilee movement has succeeded in achieving 100% debt cancellation for 26 countries – allowing them to redirect resources toward health care, education and clean water. The Jubilee Act will expand life-giving debt cancellation to 22 additional impoverished countries left out of previous debt relief deals and it calls for an end to harmful economic conditions and an audit of past odious and illegitimate debts.
Last year was tough for many people here at home and around the globe. The economic crisis pushed 100 million more people into extreme poverty in 2009 and dozens of impoverished countries now face a new debt crisis.
The reintroduction of the Jubilee Act represents a beacon of hope for 2010 despite these challenges. To learn more about the Jubilee Act, visit www.jubileeusa.org.
We passed the Jubilee Act in the House last Congress but failed to get a vote in the Senate. In this new Congress with powerful leaders from both sides of the aisle as original cosponsors, we are poised for victory once again, but we’ll need your help.
Please ask your Representative to cosponsor the Jubilee Act today.
We’ve reached this tremendous milestone thanks to the dedication and support of people and faith and conscience around the country. Now is the time for a big push to gain cosponsors and pass the Jubilee Act!
