To: Economic Justice, Africa and Latin America Advocates
From: Theo Sitther, MCC Washington Office
Date: April 21, 2008
Re: Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 2634 & S.2166)

Good News!

The House of Representatives passed the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation by a vote of 285-132. The Jubilee Act would expand debt cancellation to more poor countries that need it to combat poverty and provide adequate social services.

Thank you to all who contacted your representative on behalf of jubilee justice. See how your representative voted. If your representative voted for the Jubilee Act, be sure to send a thank-you note.

What's Next?

The Jubilee Act (S.2166) will be taken up in the Senate. A hearing on international debt is scheduled for April 24 in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. After the hearing, the committee will schedule S.2166 for markup in committee and then for a vote in the full Senate.

To see a list of Senate co-sponsors go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN02166:@@@N. If your senators are not on the list, get in touch with them and urge them to co-sponsor S.2166.

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