Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in AFP, Yahoo News, The Daily Mail, The Japan Times and Manilla Times speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Puerto Rico Seeks Bankruptcy Protection: Governor

By: Staff

"'This bankruptcy process is vital so Puerto Rico can receive the debt relief it was promised,' said Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA, which promotes debt forgiveness for poor countries.

The 'process can bring the debt back to sustainable levels, protect vulnerable communities and promote transparency,' he added in a statement."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Agenzia Fides speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

AMERICA/PUERTO RICO - Hurricane Irma Hits the Island of Puerto Rico

By: Staff

"...'We are concerned with how the debt crisis ‎affects Puerto Rico's ability to deal with the impacts of Hurricane Irma. Before Hurricane Irma, we saw cuts to social and emergency services. We are praying for all in the path of this hurricane.'"

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured on speaking on Puerto Rico. Follow link to full audio clip. 

Puerto Rico Files For Bankruptcy

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Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Le Temps speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Porto Rico se déclare en situation de faillite

By: Staff

«Ce processus de faillite est vital pour que Porto Rico puisse recevoir l’allégement de sa dette qu’on lui a promis», a réagi Eric LeCompte, directeur exécutif de Jubilee USA Network, une organisation spécialisée sur la question de la dette des pays pauvres. Il pourra «ramener la dette à des niveaux soutenables, protéger les habitants les plus vulnérables et promouvoir la transparence», poursuit-il dans un communiqué.

"'This process of bankruptcy is vital for Puerto Rico to receive the debt relief it was promised,' said Eric LeCompte, executive director of the Jubilee USA Network, an organization specializing in the issue of countries' debt poor. It will 'bring debt back to sustainable levels, protect the most vulnerable people and promote transparency,' he said in a statement."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in The Guardian speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article. 

Puerto Rico Files for Bankruptcy in Last-Ditch Attempt to Sustain Public Services

By: Kate Hodal

“'If Puerto Rico were a country, it would be the 13th most indebted country in the world,' said Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA, an NGO that focuses on debt relief.

'But this shows there really is some light at the end of the tunnel. This [bankruptcy] process is the first to deal with 100% of the [public] debt. It’s unique in that it may set a precedent for how sovereign debt can be renegotiated in the world.'" 

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in National Catholic Reporter speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Puerto Rico Bankruptcy: Archbishop's Suggestion Becomes Forced Reality

By: Wallace J. de la Vega

"Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA, a faith-based organization that focuses on debt relief, called the filing a 'bankruptcy-like' step that was meant to protect Puerto Rico from creditors.

The action, while posing short-term difficulties for Puerto Ricans, will protect vital social services, health care spending and school funding, LeCompte said."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Normangee Star speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article. 

Assured, MBIA Sue Puerto Rico Board over Island Fiscal Plan

By: Madeline Patrick

“'This bankruptcy process is vital so Puerto Rico can receive the debt relief it was promised', said Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA, which promotes debt forgiveness for poor countries." 

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in The Tablet speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Bankruptcy Protection is a More Fair and Transparent Solution to Puerto Rican Debt Crisis 

By: Staff

"Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA, a faith-based organisation that focuses on debt relief, called the filing a 'bankruptcy-like' step that was meant to protect Puerto Rico from creditors. The action, while posing short-term difficulties for Puerto Ricans, will protect vital social services, health care spending and school funding, LeCompte said."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Telesur speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Puerto Rico Begins Bankruptcy Process in Face of Massive Debt

By: Staff

“'The government of Puerto Rico complied with PROMESA and put in place a fiscal plan that cuts monies to the University of Puerto Rico, further cuts healthcare access to vital services, cuts pensions and freezes and reduces public sector salaries' LeCompte continued.

Although LeCompte acknowledged that 'the problem will get worse before it gets better,' he was optimistic that the Title III procedures will provide needed debt relief and lead to economic recovery.

'In the coming years, Puerto Rico will still have a lot of obstacles to overcome but if this process is done right, Puerto Rico will have a clear path for recovery and economic growth,' LeCompte added"

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Financial Express Bangledesh speaking on the United Nations Financing for Development Forum. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

UN Forum Focuses on Financing for Development Goals

By: Staff

"...'Two years ago, world leaders made promises through the Addis Ababa Action Agenda to build a more responsible global financial system,' notes Eric LeCompte who helped negotiate the outcomes and gave remarks during the closing sessions.

He leads the religious development group Jubilee USA. According to him, 'We must follow through on the commitments we made together in Addis Ababa.'"

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in the Millennial Journal speaking on Jubilee USA's work. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Building an Economy that Serves and Uplifts the Vulnerable: An Interview with Eric LeCompte

By: Robert Christian

"What are some of the accomplishments that Jubilee USA has achieved?

'We’ve won more than $130 billion in debt relief for the world’s poorest economies. Because of the US and global agreements we’ve won, that $130 billion is invested in schools, hospitals, and other social infrastructure. In Sub Saharan Africa alone, 54 million kids have gone to‎ school who never would have seen the inside of a classroom. Recently, Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank President, cited Jubilee’s efforts as the reason for economic growth in parts of Africa.'"

Read more here. 

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Public Finance Internation speaking on tax avoidance. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Over 70 Nations Join Landmark Anti-Tax Avoidance Pact

By: Emma Rumney

"Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA, which campaigns for a fairer financial system for the world’s poorest countries, said the agreement signed yesterday is also a 'critical step forward' for transparency and tackling corporate tax avoidance.

'The tax pact acknowledges that we are dealing with a problem that transcends borders and we need solutions that can cross borders,' he noted."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Agenzia Fides speaking on NAFTA. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

AMERICA/ UNITED STATES - “Promote Development and Protect Vulnerable Citizens” NAFTA Agreement for Revision

By: Staff

"Eric LeCompte, of the Jubilee USA Network, and Jennifer Hojaiban, sent a letter to Lighthizer stressing the need in these trade negotiations to promote development, to discuss problems and protect vulnerable citizens."

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Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in The Financial Express speaking on trade. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Jubilee USA Director Hails Inclusion of Dispute Settlement Mechanisms

By: Staff

"Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA, in a statement hailed the inclusion of dispute settlement mechanisms in the new trade negotiation goals.

'Trade agreements can be powerful tools for reducing global poverty and the new negotiating objectives recognise the need for trade to promote global development,' the statement said."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Crux speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Puerto Rico’s archbishop asks Congress for relief over debt crisis

By: Staff

"According to the Jubilee USA Network, which promotes debt relief around the world, a higher proportion of Puerto Rico’s population relies on Medicaid than in the 50 U.S. States.

'Disparity in coverage drives doctors and residents to move from the island to one of the states,' wrote Eric LeCompte, the Jubilee USA Network’s executive director, in a July 26 letter to Congress."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in the International Bar Association speaking on Latin America. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

Latin America and the Money Men

By: Yola Verbruggen

"Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the Jubilee USA Network, a non-profit financial reform organisation based in Washington, DC, sees the law as a victory for defaulting countries. ‘The Puerto Rico case is very significant as it shows a legal framework for a comprehensive bankruptcy process is possible. More importantly, the Puerto Rico legislation retroactively binds all creditors and prior bond contracts into one process. The Puerto Rico case shows that a framework for sovereign bankruptcy is possible. The case also shows that it is possible to prevent holdout and predatory behaviour. The Puerto Rico process is a model for future bankruptcy processes,’ he says."

Read more here

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Public Finance International speaking on Puerto Rico. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

US lawmakers urged to extended federal health access to Puerto Rico

By: Mark Smulian

"'...Puerto Rico needs equitable access to federal healthcare programs and tax credits,' the letter from Jubilee USA executive director Eric LeCompte said.

'These recommendations are essential for reducing poverty for nearly 60% of kids who live in poverty on the island.'"

Read more here.

In the 1990s, many of the poorest countries in the world were paying more on debt payments than they were paying for education and healthcare in their countries. Children were dying of starvation and malnutrition while developing world governments paid the principal of loans multiple times over.

Inspired by scripture and universal faith traditions, Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious groups called for tackling the structural causes of poverty and canceling the debt of poor countries around the world. They formed the group that would ultimately become Jubilee USA. Instead of paying debt, resources should go to reducing poverty and providing healthcare and education for those most in need, they argued.

Pope John Paul ll encouraged all people of faith to reflect on the true scriptural meaning of Jubilee during the Church’s Jubilee 2000 celebration. Religious groups believe the Jubilee themes in scriptures are at their core designed to prevent poverty and inequality.

Jubilee USA as a coalition of religious, development and advocacy groups has won more than $130 billion in debt relief for the world’s poorest economies. Because of the global agreements Jubilee won, that $130 billion is invested in schools, hospitals and other social infrastructure. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 54 million kids have gone to‎ school who never would have seen the inside of a classroom.

In recent years, Jubilee USA won debt relief in Haiti and the three Ebola-impacted West African countries, ‎super bankruptcy legislation for Puerto Rico‎, three international agreements to promote responsible lending and stop predatory lending, two victories to keep student loan interest rates low, G7 and G20 agreements to curb tax evasion and corruption and promoted trade agreements‎ that help end poverty. 

To this day, across the United States and around our world, Jubilee USA works on debt, tax, trade and transparency policies that help end poverty. When we address these issues, we impact millions of people living in poverty in the United States and across our world. From resolving Puerto Rico’s financial crisis to corporate transparency to student debt, Jubilee USA wins solutions that impact our lives and our global community. Jubilee USA builds an economy that serves, protects and promotes participation of the most vulnerable.

Jubilee USA is committed to keeping you informed so you can act when needed. Sign-up to receive immediate alerts on pressing issues.