To: Economic Justice , Africa and Latin America Advocates
From: Theo Sitther, MCC Washington Office
Date: April 7, 2008
Re: Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 2634)

Issue:

The House of Representatives is set to vote on the Jubilee Act. The Jubilee Act would expand debt cancellation to more poor countries that need it to combat poverty and provide adequate social services.

Background:

Today, the world’s most impoverished countries spend more than $100 million each day in debt payments to wealthy governments and financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF. In countries where the majority of the population lives on less than $1 per day, this money should be spent on clean water, basic health care, and education, not sent to the world’s wealthiest financial institutions.

In 2000 and again in 2005 world leaders came together to cancel billions of dollars of debt in dozens of impoverished countries around the world. The money freed by debt cancellation so far has been used to fight AIDS, enroll children in school, provide clean water, improve rural infrastructure and more. But there is still much more that needs to be done – dozens of impoverished countries around the world are still waiting for debt justice!

The most important and prophetic debt legislation in seven years, the Jubilee Act will expand access to debt cancellation to all the countries that need it to fight extreme poverty. Without debt cancellation, it will be nearly impossible for many countries to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015.

The Jubilee Act also requires that debt cancellation be provided without harmful economic policy conditions attached, calls for the initiation of a responsible lending framework, and requires a debt audit in countries like South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo which have a heavy burden of odious debt.

Faith Reflection:

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus began his ministry by proclaiming the year of Jubilee. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners… to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” God’s justice mandates that the chains of oppression be broken. Let us proclaim Jubilee by helping to cancel the debt for countries that suffer this unjust burden. Let us be part of God’s justice in a broken world.

Action:

Please take the simple steps below -- and help change the lives of millions:

1. Find your Representative’s information at www3.capwiz.com/c-span/dbq/officials.
2. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
3. Ask to be connected to your Representative's office. The receptionist will answer. Introduce yourself as (your name), a constituent from (city, state).
4. I am calling today to urge Representative________ to vote yes on the Jubilee Act (HR2634), which will be considered on the House floor in early April. This bill would expand eligibility for debt cancellation to 67 impoverished countries. Without debt cancellation these 67 countries will not be able to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). (If you’d like, add an additional sentence about why this issue is important to you). Do you know how Representative _________ plans to vote on the Jubilee Act?
5. Be sure to thank the receptionist when you are finished.
6. Email or call Theo Sitther at MCC with the results of your call – or 202-544-6564.
7. Thank you for taking action – forward this message on to 10 friends & urge them to make the call too.

Go to www3.capwiz.com/c-span/dbq/officials for your member’s contact information.

Visits, e-mails, phone calls, faxes and letters are all good ways to contact your legislators. E-mails, phone calls and faxes are good for time-sensitive issues. Postal mail travels slowly in the Capitol, but letters have long-term impact. Be sure to include your mailing address in all correspondence to confirm your residency in a particular district and state.

We would be grateful for copies of your correspondence and any responses you receive! Please send them to