Jubilee Act Passes U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee

On June 24, 2008, the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 2634/ S 2166) passed the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Revisions to the bill led to the inclusion of the same Haiti Amendment that was included in the U.S. House of Representatives, which calls for the Secretary of the Treasury to work for immediate debt cancellation for Haiti. The revised bill also includes stronger language on vulture funds, and a Sense of the Congress that the U.S. should fully fund its prior commitments to the international financial institutions (IFIs). The bill must now be considered and passed by the full U.S. Senate before it can go to the President and be signed into law.

Take Action: Jubilee Act Passes House. On to Senate!

     SENATE CALL-IN: S2166

1. Find out who your Senator is by selecting your state from the drop down menu at www.senate.gov (upper right corner).

2. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

3. Ask to be connected to your Senator’s office. The receptionist will answer. Introduce yourself as (your name), a constituent from (city, state).

4. You will be connected with the staff person (or their voicemail). Say: 
“I am calling to urge Senator ________ to support the Jubilee Act (S. 2166), which was passed by the House and passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, June 24. The Jubilee Act has bipartisan support and would expand debt cancellation for 24 additional impoverished countries, provided they meet criteria to ensure that the money is used for poverty reduction. Do you know Senator  _________’s position on the Jubilee Act?”

(You can stop there, or add an additional sentence about why this issue is important to you).

5. Be sure to thank the receptionist when you are finished.