Call on Congress to support the Jubilee Act
The following alert is circulated by Jubilee USA, of which the Maryknoll Global Concerns office is an active member.


Use your “extra” day this Leap Year to call your member of Congress about the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 2634/S2166). You can reach the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
 
Right now, Congress is considering the most important piece of legislation on the international debt crisis of the past seven years.

Since the days of Jubilee 2000, we have seen 23 countries receive near 100 percent cancellation of their debts to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.  In countries like Zambia and Tanzania, debt relief has produced results – eliminating fees that had blocked access to primary education and rural health clinics for the poorest, helping millions of children return to school and providing access to basic medical care.

Yet, despite the remarkable track record of debt cancellation, more than 40 poor countries, such as Haiti and Lesotho, are still waiting to see their debts canceled. Every day over $100 million flows out of impoverished countries in the form of debt payments. This is money that could be invested in health care, clean water and education.

The Jubilee Act (HR 2634 / S 2166) builds on past debt cancellation successes, by calling for expanded debt cancellation to all countries that need it to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015.

We are asking you to Leap Into Action TODAY! Call your representative and senators and ask them to support the Jubilee Act.

The Jubilee Act is one of the most widely supported anti-poverty bills in Congress, but it is up to us to make sure it passes.  We have an historic opportunity to address the debt crisis in impoverished countries around the world and make huge step forward in the fight against poverty.
 
There are only 55 working days on Congress’ calendar this year (most of them before June) and Congress is going to vote on the Jubilee Act soon!
 
PLEASE CALL TODAY – Click here for phone number and call script

To learn more about the Jubilee Act and its progress through Congress and to order postcards to send to your representative and senators, visit the Jubilee USA website.