Jubilee Act Passes the House and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee!
The Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (H.R. 2634 / S. 2166) is the single most important piece of debt legislation in the past seven years and it is one of the most widely supported anti-poverty bills in Congress. Thanks to popular support, the Jubilee Act passed the House of Representatives by a 285-132 vote on April 16. It also passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 24. The legislation must now be considered and passed by the full Senate before it can go to the President and be signed into law.
Passage of this historic legislation that can break the chains of debt and change the lives of millions of our brothers and sisters for the better is within reach! Please help by taking a few minutes to call your Senators and urge them to co-sponsor S. 2166.
Here’s How to Help
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 (Name) 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 (Name’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.
6. Email Policy Fellow Danielle Pals at danielle(at)jubileeusa.org with the results of your call. This will enable Jubilee USA to register your Senator’s support/opposition and follow up with the office if necessary.
For more information, please visit Jubilee USA’s website. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jubilee’s Advocacy Fellow Danielle Pals at danielle(at)jubileeusa.org or 202-783-0214.
