Support the Jubilee Act

Ask Your Representative to Co-Sponsor the Jubilee Act Today
 
The Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 4405) cancels impoverished country debt, prohibits harmful economic and policy conditions on debt cancellation, mandates transparency and responsibility in lending from governments and international financial institutions, and calls for a U.S. audit of debts resulting from odious and illegitimate lending.
 
The bill was introduced on December 17, 2009 with strong bi-partisan support. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), the bill's lead sponsor, was joined by original co-sponsors Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), the committee's Ranking member. Other original co-sponsors include Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR).
 
Send a message to your Member of Congress today to urge him/her to be an early co-sponsor!
 
The passage of the Jubilee Act in Congress will urge the Obama Administration to make a new beginning on debt in which poor countries have a chance to fight poverty instead of paying off huge debts. 
 
To help ensure passage of the Act, join Jubilee USA's Change Not Chains Campaign.
 
General Assembly Guidance:
 
The 211th General Assembly (1999) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted to:
 
2. Endorse and support the Jubilee 2000 campaign, which calls for the definitive cancellation of international debt in situations where countries with high levels of human need and environmental distress are unable to meet the needs of their people in a way that benefits ordinary people and facilitates their participation in the processes of debt relief and setting priorities in ways that do not perpetuate or deepen poverty, which acknowledges the responsibility of all parties, and which is transparent and participatory in order to prevent recurring cycles of indebtedness.
 
3. Call upon presbyteries and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to support the goals of the Jubilee 2000 efforts by sending statements of support to key policy makers in the U.S. government and multilateral lending agencies.
 
4. Direct appropriate program areas (Hunger Program, Peace Program, Women's and Men's ministries, Worldwide Ministries Division, etc.) to give leadership for education and mobilization to promote awareness and action concerning the need for debt relief for impoverished countries, including the preparation of a study guide for congregational use by the 211th General Assembly (1999).