Friends,

As part of the coronavirus stimulus package, Congress passed an additional $600 million in food benefits for Puerto Rico.

This is exciting progress that impacts more than 1.5 million people who rely on Nutrition Assistance Program aid on the island.

This progress is possible because of the calls we all made to Congress and because of the powerful stimulus advocacy of Puerto Rico's religious leaders and our national faith partners during stimulus negotiations. 

Thank you.

As Congress faces more votes on Puerto Rico, please take action and call your Senators. If you already called, please call again and leave another message for your Senator.

Since the pandemic hit, Puerto Rico religious leaders, US national faith groups and Jubilee USA pressed Congress to include Puerto Rico in stimulus package plans. Representing more than 95% of Puerto Rico’s population, island religious leaders wrote Congress to include Puerto Rico job creation, disaster relief and $1.2 billion in Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. 

The new food assistance in the stimulus bill will help the many people in Puerto Rico who suffered cuts to food benefits.

Before the New Year, please leave a message for your Senators. You can leave a message 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The new stimulus funding is progress and Congress must do more. Before the pandemic, Puerto Rico wrestled with debt crisis, natural disasters and 60% of kids living in poverty.

In the fall, your actions meant the White House announced a FEMA award of $13 billion in Puerto Rico disaster aid to rebuild the power grid and schools. A few days later, Congress included pandemic-related food aid for schoolchildren in Puerto Rico as part of the continuing resolution extending government funding. President Trump also expressed support for our Jubilee call to return manufacturing jobs to the island.

This progress is only possible because of your partnership and actions.

Thank you,

Aldo

Aldo Caliari
Senior Director of Policy and Campaigns
Jubilee USA Network
[email protected]
www.jubileeusa.org/support-us