The Rev. Chuck Currie

Ask The President To Address Poverty During The State Of The Union

A date has not yet been set but sometime in the coming weeks the President of the United States will appear before Congress to offer his State of the Union address.

This president inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, two wars and a global climate change crisis.  On all fronts, the president has made progress (though progressives often wish for quicker action and are frustrated at the slow legislative pace and the obstacles set in place by the GOP, the same folks who created much of the mess the president is trying to clean up).

One issue that I hope the president addresses during the State of the Union is growing poverty in America. "The official poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2 percent, up from 12.5 percent in 2007," reports the Census Bureau, but the number is likely higher.  More Americans are also going hungry today than in previous years.  People are suffering in great numbers because of economic policies adopted during the previous administration that cut taxes on the richest Americans, cut programs for those trying to escape poverty, and which offered no detailed proposals on how to reduce poverty as unemployment grew.  

President Obama came into office promising to reduce poverty in half over ten years,  That is a doable goal.  The Center for American Progress developed a list for proposals for doing just that in 2007 that the Obama campaign largely adopted.

Already the president has taken steps to reduce poverty that should be noted.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (that the President passed with little Republican support) included broad investments to alleviate the poverty made worse by the economic crisis.

• To fight hunger, the Act includes a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, as well as funding for food banks and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);
• The Act also provides for $2 billion in new Neighborhood Stabilization Funds to help maintain ailing neighborhoods and $1.5 billion in Homelessness Prevention Funds to keep people in their homes or rapidly rehouse them;
• The Act increases funding for the Community Services Block Grant by $1 billion;
• The Act increases the Weatherization Assistance Program by $5 billion to help low income families save on their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient;
• The Act increases job training funds for those who need them most, with $3.95 billion in additional funding for the Workforce Investment system, which will support green job training, summer jobs for young people, and other opportunities;
• The Act provides increased income support, including an increase of $25 per week for Unemployment Insurance recipients and incentives for states to expand unemployment insurance eligibility, as well as an extra $250 payment to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries and new resources for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; and,
• The Act provides tax breaks to working families through the Make Work Pay and Child Tax Credits. These changes will reduce the marriage penalty and provide a larger credit for families with three or more children.

The State of the Union address gives the president a perfect opportunity to re-affirm his commitment to cut poverty in half.  His words along with additional concrete proposals would offer hope to millions of Americans now suffering from despair and heartache.

That's the message I wrote to the president today:

Download Letter to President Obama Re Poverty and the State of the Union Address     

I uncourage you to write the president as well and ask him to use the State of the Union address as an opportunity to outline his plans for reducing poverty in the coming years.

Oregon Religious Leaders To Wyden, Merkley: Help Homeless Kids In School

December 20, 2009

 

The Honorable Ron Wyden

The Honorable Jeff Merkley

 

Dear Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley: 

As leaders of faith communities in Oregon deeply concerned with the needs of homeless children, we are writing to ask you both to sign-on as co-sponsors of S. 2800 and S. 2801.  These two pieces of legislation would provide critically needed educational opportunities for homeless youth and children in foster care.

As you know, on Sept. 18th, 2009, State Superintendent of Schools, Susan Castillo, announced that the number of homeless students in Oregon public schools during the 2008-2009 school year had risen 14% from the previous year, and totaled 18,059 students who were homeless for some or all of the school year.  The first academic year that Oregon conducted a statewide count of homeless students in the public schools was 2003-04, and in that year the count identified 8,143 homeless students.  The number has increased every year since, and currently stands 122% above the 2003-04 levels. 

On Thursday, November 19, US Senators Patty Murray and Al Franken introduced the "Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2009," S. 2800, and the "Fostering Success in Education Act of 2009," S. 2801. 

The "Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2009," S. 2800, amends the McKinney-Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and other related titles of the ESEA. S. 2800 makes a strong law even stronger by reinforcing and expanding its key provisions, including school stability, enrollment, and support for academic achievement. S. 2800 also expands authorized funding to meet transportation needs.

The "Fostering Success in Education Act of 2009," S. 2801, establishes a new education program to ensure that all children and youth in foster care have school stability, immediate school access, and support for academic success. S. 2801 encourages collaboration across education and child welfare agencies to cover the cost of transportation to enable foster youth to continue in their school of origin when it is in their best interest, with ultimate responsibility for the cost of transportation on child welfare agencies when necessary. S. 2801 requires school districts to collaborate with child welfare agencies to facilitate transportation in a cost-effective manner.

Oregon children would greatly benefit from both these pieces of legislation.  As Oregon’s faith community works to alleviate homelessness through faith-based shelters, support services, fund raising, and advocacy we need the immediate assistance of our two senators as co-sponsors of S. 2800 and S. 2801.  

Please contact Rev. Chuck Currie at 971-322-7920 or rev@chuckcurrie.com with any additional questions.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Chuck Currie

United Church of Christ Minister

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. Dr. Arvin Luchs

Senior Minister

First United Methodist Church

Portland, Oregon

 

Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin

Temple Beth Israel

Eugene, Oregon 

 

The Rev. Dr. Ian Doescher

Pastor

Calvary Presbyterian Church

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. Dr. David L. Wheeler

First Baptist Church

Portland, Oregon

 

Wajdi Said

President and Co-Founder

Muslim Educational Trust

Portland, Oregon

 

Rania Ayoub

Director of Public Relations

Muslim Educational Trust

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. Thomas English

St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Jail and Prison Ministry)

Eugene, Oregon

 

Dr. Rex Hagans

Member, Public Policy Committee

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

 

The Rev. Cecil Charles Prescod, OCC

Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries

Ainsworth United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

The Reverend Stephen Schafroth, Deacon

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

The Dalles, Oregon

Council, Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon

Deputy, General Convention of The Episcopal Church

 

The Rev. Ryan J. Lambert

Associate Pastor

First Congregational

United Church of Christ

Corvallis, Oregon

 

Eric Cannon

Chair

Interfaith Committee on Homelessness

Washington County, Oregon

 

Sister Mary Kay Lampert

Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Portland, Oregon

 

Sister Rosemary Anne Parker

Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Portland, Oregon

 

Jan Elfers

Director of Member Relations

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

 

The Rev. Dr. Daniel E. H. Bryant

Senior Minister

First Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)

Eugene, Oregon

 

The Rev. Mary Sue Evers

Minister

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Beaverton, Oregon

 

The Rev. Kate Lore

Social Justice Minister

First Unitarian Church

Portland, Oregon

 

Mira Conklin

Hispanic/Latino Ministry Developer,

Western Washington County Hispanic/Latino Ministries

The United Methodist Church

 

The Rev. Eugene Ross

Retired Conference Minister,

Central Pacific Conference

United Church of Christ

 

The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross

Retired Senior Minister

First Congregational

United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. John  Boonstra

Pastor

Bethel United Church of Christ

White Salmon

 

The Rev. Dr. Dennis Johnson

Eugene, Oregon

 

Linda Ebert

Co-Chair Social Justice Committee

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Beaverton, Oregon

 

Pastor Matthew Eagan

Calvary Lutheran Church

Hillsboro, Oregon

 

The Rev. Vicky Stifter

Riverside Community Church (United Church of Christ)

Hood River, Oregon

 

The Rev. Charlie Ross

Pastor Emeritus

Parkrose Community

United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. John Reutter-Harrah

Prince of Life Lutheran Church

Oregon City, Oregon

 

Judy Boncaro

Office Manager

Meridian United Church of Christ

Wilsonville, Oregon

 

The Rev. Patricia Berger

Pastor

Covenant Presbyterian Church

Gresham, Oregon

 

Dr. Russ Dondero

Member, United Church of Christ, Forest Grove

Member, Interfaith Committee on Homelessness

Professor Emeritus, Pacific University

Forest Grove, Oregon

 

Bruce R. Poinsette

Moderator-Elect

Central Pacific Conference United Church of Christ

 

Brenda Kame'enui

Justice and Witness Committee

First Congregational United Church of Christ

Eugene, Oregon

 

Elaine Nelson

Social and Environmental Action Committee of the

Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County

 

Deborah G. Knudson

Member

First Congregational United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

Evelyn Lamon

Member

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Beaverton, Oregon

 

Don Johnson

Member, Social Action Team

Zion United Church of Christ

Gresham, Oregon

 

Blair Loudat

Member

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

Heidi Evans

Member

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

Corliss Marsh

Layperson

First Congregational United Church of Christ

The Dalles, Oregon

Annie Heart

Family Bridge Shelter 

Washington County, Oregon

 

*Organizational affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.  

Ask Earl Blumenauer To Co-Sponsor H.R. 2139

Action Alert from Bread for the World

Your calls and letters are making a difference on H.R. 2139, the Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009. However, we need your help since we only have a brief window of opportunity to gather cosponsors for this important bill.

Next Wednesday, May 20, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will take up H.R. 2139.  We need your representative, Earl Blumenauer, to cosponsor this bill before that time.  Additional cosponsors will demonstrate that there is broad support in Congress for foreign assistance reform to make it more effective in reducing poverty.  The next eight days are critical.

Please call your representative right now using our special hotline, 1-800-826-3688. This is a direct line to the Capitol switchboard where you will ask to be connected to Rep. Blumenauer's office.  Once you are connected to that office, tell them, "I urge Rep. Blumenauer to cosponsor H.R. 2139 to reform foreign aid and make it more effective in reducing poverty."  That's all you need to do to make a huge difference for poor and hungry people today. 

Thank you for taking action. 
Grace and peace,

Rev. David Beckmann
President, Bread for the World

"Protecting The Least Of These"

The Oregonian has published an op-ed that I wrote - Protecting The Least Of These - concerning deliberations over Portland's budget.  Check it out.

Mayor Adam's First 100 Days: Poverty Missing From Agenda

Letter sent 01/09/08 via e-mail

Dear Mr. Mayor:

Congratulations on your recent swearing in.

This evening I had the opportunity to read your ambitious First 100 Days Agenda.  I personally support many of the goals but was concerned to not read about any concentrated effort to combat poverty.   

First, the emphasis you place on public education is particularly important.  As you know, education is the key to a better future for Portland's children.  The United Church of Christ has been a long-time advocate of public education.

Portland Public Schools receive no funding from the city of Portland or Multnomah County to assist Project Return, the nationally award winning program to help homeless children succeed in school (Multnomah County, however, does support a failed model of educating children that is so inadequate that it is illegal to use federal dollars to fund such programs). 

Likewise, your emphasis on economic development is important.  We need to focus our public resources on neighborhoods that were left behind during the 1990s.  Portland is more than the Pearl District.  The decision to hold your swearing-in at Parkrose High School sent a clear message that you intend to be the mayor of all of Portland.   

Your proposed local economic stimulus plan is the only area where you mention the needs of low-income workers.  But what we need from your office is bold leadership on this issue that focuses on the goal of poverty reduction.

I would urge you to amend your First 100 Days Agenda to include a section on poverty reduction.  You list perhaps two dozen or more specific tasks you hope to undertake to support the arts in Portland.  Do the same for the issue of poverty.  Name a committee of leaders representing a broad section of Portland to help you develop such a plan.  Poverty is a growing problem locally and nationally and it will take both federal and local efforts to address growing human needs. 

My offer for Parkrose Community United Church of Christ to host a meeting of religious leaders willing to meet with you to discuss your plans still stands.

Please let me know if I can provide you with any assistance.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Chuck Currie

My Challenge To Sam Adams And Sho Dozono

Dear Sam and Sho:

Races for elected office should be focused on the issues we face and not the personalities involved. I deeply appreciate the willingness you have both shown to engage in the political process and to debate the issues you care deeply about.

However, I’ve been frustrated to see that neither of your campaigns has developed comprehensive plans for addressing poverty and homelessness in Portland. As the national poverty level has grown and Oregon’s economy becomes further strained the need for comprehensive plans and commitments for substantive action in this area have never been greater.

We should be talking about ways to reduce poverty, ways to build up the economy so that everyone benefits, and about ways to provide a safety net so no one is ever forced to live in the streets or crowded shelters.

I challenge you both to develop such comprehensive plans before ballots are mailed out so that voters can assess your personal commitment to fighting poverty in Portland. If you like, I would be willing to publish your plans once written on my personal blog (www.chuckcurrie.com). The site is read by many Portlanders concerned about these issues. It will not be my intention to critique your plans (though I may do that eventually) but simply to showcase your proposals unedited and without comment.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Chuck Currie

Steve Novick Offers Comprehensive Anti-Poverty Plan

Elections should be about real people and the issues they face.  One issue that nearly always gets left off the agenda is poverty.   But since Gordon Smith voted to approve George W. Bush's economic agenda the number of Americans living in poverty has risen (after years of declining poverty rates).  That means growing numbers of children are homeless right here in Oregon, that people are struggling with the rising cost of food, and are losing their homes and living in their cars or in shelters.

Two months ago I asked Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick, the two leading democrat candidates for U.S. Senate, to outline their plans for fighting poverty.  As I reported this week, both campaigns responded.  Steve Novick invited me out for coffee with him and his campaign manager to discuss poverty and Jeff Merkley's net outreach coordinator did the same.

Now Steve Novick has issued a comprehensive anti-poverty plan:

Today nearly 39 million Americans, including 480,000 Oregonians live below the federal poverty line. That is a staggering disgrace. We are the richest nation in the world, yet the number of people in poverty has been actually been rising in recent years. It is a central commitment of mine in this campaign to help rebuild this nation’s middle class and that means providing opportunities for every American to make a better life for themselves. And I mean everyone. Too often those living in real poverty are overlooked in our discussions of the economy. I simply cannot accept a society where people are left out the effort to create shared prosperity. Therefore, I have outlined a “Poverty Agenda” to help those living in poverty join the middle class.

His plan addresses affordable housing, national health care reform, the minimum wage, affordable child care, assistance for those needing food, better investments in public transportation, and public advocacy.

Aside from policy prescriptions and proposals, we must do more to ensure that the poor in America are never overlooked or forgotten. I was proud to support John Edwards’ campaign, in part for his commitment to addressing poverty and economic inequality in America. As Oregon’s next U.S. Senator, I’d be an outspoken advocate on poverty issues – demanding real action in Congress to ensure that everyone in our nation can get ahead, not just the richest one percent. In addition, I’d use the bully pulpit to put the issue squarely in the public’s eye, holding town halls, visiting communities to talk about their challenges in fighting poverty and pushing the media to cover the issue.

All of this - on top of Novick's already announced health care reform plans - offer us a good look at how he would address the issue of poverty in America.  I'm proud of him for being the first candidate in the race for the U.S. Senate to make this issue a top priority.  His plan is solid and he has chosen many of the right issues to address.  Take the time to read the full plan.

I look forward to Speaker Merkley following Novick's lead soon and issuing a comprehensive plan of his own.  He already has experience with this issue and a clear interest in it.  But voters deserve specifics.  We need to know that our next United States Senator will be an advocate for the poorest of the poor in America.  Steve Novick has already gone a long way toward demonstrating that he would be a senator for all Oregonians.          

A Podcast Sermon On Matthew 2:1-12: Being Transformed By Jesus

This morning at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon our Scripture readings during worship included Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12.

My sermon reflected largely on the experiences I had last night while taking part in a sleep out to draw attention to the issue of homelessness.  Use the below link to download the podcast of the sermon for your iPod or personal  computer. 

Download ParkroseBeingTransformedByJesus.m4a

(click with the RIGHT mouse button on the hyperlink and choose “Save Target As” and save to your desktop or other folder – once downloaded click on the file to listen).

Now On ITunes

You can now subscribe to my podcasts on ITunes.  Just open the ITunes application and use the search function to find

"Chuck Currie"

then click on the "Subscribe" button.

Why I'm Sleeping Outside Tonight

This post has been updated

With a low temperature expected tonight near freezing I'll be sleeping in my car outside Cedar Hills United Church of Christ:

Please join out "Out in the Cold" Camp Out on Jan 5th at 7PM at Cedar Hills UCC. Most of us can "choose" to be out in the cold for a night. People dealing with homelessness are not so lucky. Experience what it's like. Spend the night out in the cold to dramatize the plight of our neighbors who are out in the cold. Call Eric for details at (503) 357-3282.

The event is being coordinated by the Interfaith Committee on Homeless of Washington County to draw attention to the growing numbers of people who are homeless in the suburbs and other areas outside the urban core of the Portland-Metro area.  The Interfaith Committee was started by members of Forest Grove United Church of Christ and has grown over nearly two years to include many different faith groups. 

I want to be there to show support for the idea that our urban and suburban neighborhoods face a common problem - a lack of affordable housing for those Jesus would have called the "least of these in society - and it will take local, state and national efforts to end homelessness in America.

Related Post: Remarks at Washington County Homeless Forum

Related Link:  National Coalition for the Homeless

Update:  Watch the coverage of this event from KGW-TV.

Update:  Watch the coverage of this event from KATU-TV.

Where Are Merkley and Novick On Poverty?

Check out the campaign websites of Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick and you’ll find at least one prominent issue missing from the debate as these two duke it out for the democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Gordon Smith: poverty.

In part because of economic policies championed by Gordon Smith and President Bush, poverty levels have risen in America since 2001. In Oregon, as the Oregon Center on Budget and Policy Priorities pointed out on August 28, 2007, that means more Oregonians are suffering:

While the typical Oregon household’s income rose in 2005-06 by $1,667 over 2004-05, Oregon was unable to reduce poverty or the percentage of Oregonians lacking health insurance, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau and analyzed by the Silverton-based Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP), a nonpartisan research institute.

“The typical Oregon household has seen their income improve somewhat,” said Michael Leachman, a policy analyst with the public policy research institute, “but has not recovered from the recession after several years of economic growth.” Leachman noted that Oregon’s median household income in 2005-06 was $46,349, down $3,100 in inflation-adjusted dollars from the pre-recession level of $49,449 in 1999-00.

“We’ve been on the upside of an economic cycle, but it has not been strong enough to heal the pain caused by the last recession or to improve the plight of the poor,” Leachman added. “As the Governor and lawmakers prepare for the inevitable next recession, today’s news should focus their attention on protecting and helping low- and middle-income families,” said Leachman.

“Oregon needs a plan and a commitment to reduce poverty,” said Charles Sheketoff, executive director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy. The Census data shows that poverty overall remains the same as in last year’s report. According to the Center, households with two or more related people living together saw their poverty rate decline, while the poverty rate among children and seniors did not improve.

Oregon does need a plan for reducing – even ending poverty – and there are people across the country working on such strategies. Neither Gordon Smith or Ron Wyden has never shown any leadership on the issue. I challenge Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick to make fighting poverty a centerpiece of their campaigns.

The Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry Calls For Living Wage As Minimum Wage Gets Bumped Up

Last week low-income working Americans finally got a raise when the federal minimum wage was increased after years of growing poverty levels. Pehaps no one was more responsible for this than The Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry, the founder of Let Justice Roll, a project of the National Council of Churches, and the former general minister and president of the United Church of Christ.  At a press conference held this week with Congressional leaders he said: 

This is a good day, isn't it? After ten long years, America's low wage workers and families are getting a break. It's about time -- and Let Justice Roll is very glad to be part of it. Let Justice Roll is a nonpartisan coalition of over 90 faith-based, community-based, labor and business organizations united around one single goal -- working together to establish a living wage for all of our country's working people.

We have worked alongside many others to raise the minimum wage in a growing number of states -- Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia. We have worked in support of city and county-wide living wage ordinances. And we have worked in support of the federal legislation we celebrate today. All with one purpose: reaching a living wage for all of America's working people -- a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

We believe that a job should keep you out of poverty, not keep you in it.

With Martin Luther King, we believe, "There is nothing but a lack of social vision to prevent us from paying an adequate wage to every American (worker) whether he (or she) is a hospital worker, laundry worker, maid, or day laborer."

And with the prophet Amos, we envision a renewed society wherein "justice rolls down like living waters and righteousness like an everflowing stream." That is the very definition of a good and decent society.

Yes, today is a good day. But, even as we celebrate, we know that we have a long way to go if justice is to be done for America's low wage working people.

Even at $7.25 an hour in 2009, the minimum wage, in inflation adjusted dollars, will be more than $2 below what it was in the year 1968 -- four decades ago. We do have a long way to go.

In the meantime, low wage working families will continue to struggle mightily with the ever increasing costs of health care, housing, education, and so much else.

When the Fair Labor Standards Act was established, way back in 1938, the Act was designed "to eliminate labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for the health, efficiency and general well-being of workers." The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at which Dr. King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, called for a national minimum wage act that will give all Americans a decent standard of living. How far we are from those noble and visionary goals. We do have a long way to go.

A just minimum wage is not only ethically right; it is also economically right. A just minimum wage is good for workers. A just minimum wage is good for business and the economy. Speaking of business, nearly 800 business owners and executives representing every state in the nation have signed a statement endorsing a minimum wage increase at www.businessforafairminimumwage.org.

A just minimum wage is good for our common future. So, we dare not and we will not cease our efforts until all working people receive a living wage.

Let Justice Roll will work, along with many others, in support of future federal legislation to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. We will work in support of minimum wage legislation at the state level and for living wage ordinances at the local and state level -- places like Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma and Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

We will continue to make the case that raising the minimum wage is a central moral and economic issue of our time. Morality demands that a job should keep you out of poverty, not keep you in it.

Yes this is a good day, a day to celebrate. On this day, even as we celebrate, let us look forward to an even better day. A day when all working people will receive a truly living wage -- a wage that will give all of America's families a decent standard of living. On that day, justice will roll down like living waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Let's do it!

Congratulations to all who worked hard for this victory.  Now let's all get back to work.  My friend Rev. Sherry is right that we still have along way to go. 

Today On People Of Faith For Barack

Together We Can Address Poverty in America

The Cancel Debt Fast

I'll be joining in this fast for a day in solidarity with my colleague in ministry David Duncombe.

The central event of the 2007 Sabbath year will be the 40-day Cancel Debt Fast calling for debt cancellation and an end to global poverty.

Individuals, congregations, and local organizations can participate in the Cancel Debt Fast by committing to fast for a day or more and on the same day to contact or meet with their Member of Congress, asking the congressperson to support the JUBILEE Act as well as just trade and poverty-focused development assistance to fight global poverty. On any given day during the 40-day Cancel Debt Fast, debt cancellation advocates across the United States and around the world will be engaging in this powerful act of solidarity with those who are bound by the chains of unjust and oppressive debts.

You may contact Jubilee USA or visit our website to receive talking points, helpful advice, and assistance about talking to your member of Congress about the JUBILEE Act.

The fast will take place from September 6 to October 15 and will be organized in tandem with a public ministry of prayer and fasting led by the Rev. David Duncombe in support of the debt cancellation that is necessary to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

The Rev. Duncombe’s ministry will involve an open-ended fast, beginning on September 6, 2007. As he fasts, Rev. Duncombe will visit House and Senate offices key to the passage of debt cancellation legislation, talking specifically to the office staff and to the office holder whenever possible about how their faith relates to the objectives of debt cancellation and an end to global poverty and hunger.

Jubilee supporters are welcome to join with Rev. Duncombe in Washington, DC for part or all of the 40-day fast, but they can also offer support in their communities by registering to participate in the worldwide cancel debt fast and by spreading the word to others in their community.

Please visit www.canceldebtfast.org to learn more.

The Jubilee Act

Action Alert from Jubilee USA

New Bill Urges Bush Administration to Keep Its Promises to Impoverished Countries and Raises the Bar on Responsible Lending Practices

Thursday, June 7, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL)  re-introduced the Jubilee Act. 

The Jubilee Act addresses the unfinished agenda on debt, and is introduced as the G8 meet in Germany, ignoring this unfinished agenda. With the re-introduction of this bill, we show the rest of the world that people in the US still care and will continue to work for an end to the debt crisis.

The Jubilee Act is the centerpiece of Jubilee’s 2007 Sabbath Year campaign.  The Jubilee Act:

• Calls on the Bush Administration, the IMF, and the World Bank to keep their promises on debt cancellation;
• Calls for expanded debt cancellation for impoverished countries that will use the freed resources well and require debt cancellation to meet the Millennium Development Goals;
• Calls for new standards for responsible lending and creditor transparency,  by calling for measures to address the problem of vulture funds as well as audits of odious and illegal debts from the past.

Send Congress a message now to support the Jubilee Act.