Friends,

217 - thats the number of the largest religious bodies in the United States and Africa joined by the biggest labor unions, human rights, environmental and anti-poverty groups who signed our Jubilee USA letter to the G20. 

Our G20 letter calls for debt cancellation for developing countries, more aid for countries, new processes to prevent financial crisis and measures that confront tax evasion and corruption.

Yesterday - ahead of this weekend's G20 Finance Minister Meeting, we delivered those Jubilee USA letters, signed by groups representing hundreds of millions of people, to the G20, IMF and White House.

Tonight we will be delivering petitions to the G20, ahead of their meeting, signed by thousands of individuals, religious leaders, economists and advocates. You have until 9:00 PM tonight to sign the petition before our delivery. Please add your name now.

Ahead of tomorrow's meetings, Jubilee USA Executive Director Eric LeCompte shares our views and coronavirus crisis campaign efforts in thousands of global news outlets, including Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance and Economia.

The letters we sent yesterday are the latest stage of our coronavirus crisis campaign efforts we launched in February. You can read more about those efforts in Eric's e-mail below.

Counting their membership in the millions, labor unions including the United Steelworkers (USW), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) joined faith groups in the G20 letter. Other signers include human rights organizations like Amnesty International USA and Pax Christi and also environmental advocates ranging from Amazon Watch to Friends of the Earth. Development groups were represented on the Jubilee USA letter such as Islamic Relief, American Jewish World Service, American Friends Service Committee, Bread for the World, Action Aid, Oxfam, RESULTS and Health Gap.

Major religious institutions led the Jubilee USA G20 letter including: The All Africa Conference of Churches, National Council of Churches, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist and United Church of Christ Churches. The Unitarian Universalist Association and the largest representations of Quaker communities and Buddhist consortiums are on the letter. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a separate joint letter with Jubilee USA and Pope Francis continues to push for measures outlined in the statement to the G20. You can read the full list of letter signers here.

The majority of signers on the letter were churches, synagogues, dioceses and religious congregations representing small towns and urban centers.

To be counted in our G20 petitions signed by individuals, economists and religious leaders - you must sign tonight.

The United Nations estimates that 265 million more people are facing famine due to the coronavirus crisis. The International Labor Organization says 400 million jobs will be wiped out and the IMF asserts the current economic crisis rivals the Great Depression.

Jubilee USA began meeting with world leaders and generating tens of thousands of messages on the crisis in February. In March, the leadership of Jubilee USA outlined a coronavirus response plan for the IMF and G20.

In April, the IMF and G20 agreed to cancel 6 months of debt payments for the 25 poorest countries and create a plan for 73 countries to suspend debt payments for 2020.

This weekend the G20 considers increasing more debt relief for countries already benefiting and other developing countries who've been left out so far. The private sector has resisted participating and that's on the G20 agenda too. Finally they'll discuss accessing trillions of dollars in global reserve funds or the Special Drawing Rights. These are resources we need immediately.

Please join us and sign our petition before we send it to the G20 tonight.

Gratefully,

Zachary Conti
Director of Policy and Advocacy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Eric LeCompte, Jubilee USA Network <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Jul 14, 2020, 1:24 PM
Subject: G20 COVID: Aid, Debt, Transparency Decisions

Friends,

Eric LeCompte
Executive Director

Twitter: @Eric_LeCompte
www.jubileeusa.org/support-us

Friends,

This week the G20 considers our Jubilee USA recommendations to protect all of us from financial crisis and deal with the global health and economic impacts of the coronavirus.

Since February we won a lot because you generated thousands of messages to the G20, IMF and the White House. This means that aid is being delivered to some of the world's poorest countries who have between zero and 50 critical care units to address the coronavirus.

We won 6 months of debt cancellation for the 25 poorest countries and 73 countries can stop debt payments for 2020.

Because of your petitions and our advocacy meetings with the White House and Finance Ministers we know that this week's G20 meeting will focus on expanding debt relief beyond 2020, including more developing countries, compelling the private sector to be involved and accessing trillions of dollars in global reserve funds (Special Drawing Rights).

Please join me and sign our G20 petition asking they cancel debt so developing countries can bolster healthcare, deliver more resources so people can survive the crisis and put in place crucial financial crisis, transparency and market protections - so we can prevent the next crisis.

Your petitions will accompany a letter we organized with nearly 150 organizations including religious, anti-poverty, labor and Muslim, Christian and Jewish organizations and faith communities.

Signers include: The All Africa Conference of Churches, The Episcopal Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The National Council of Churches, The Presbyterian Church, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, The Unitarian Universalist Association, The United Church of Christ and The United Methodist Church. Pope Francis declared he supports our efforts and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a separate joint statement with Jubilee USA. The AFL-CIO and Oxfam joined our urgent letter. Our letter received press coverage in thousands of global news outlets like Fox News and the New York Times.

This week the International Trade Union Confederation and International Chamber of Congress pressed the G20 on our Jubilee USA proposals as well.

More than 100 world leaders and former heads of state endorsed our recommendations. Will you join the thousands who already signed our G20 petition?

Since February, our Jubilee USA team worked around the clock to move forward solutions to the coronavirus crisis - a crisis the IMF says rivals the Great Depression. 

After our victories in April and May - Her Excellency Mona Juul, the United Nations Economic and Social Council President, asked that Jubilee USA present coronavirus crisis solutions at a special June United Nations session for world leaders. Our UN speech was covered in more then 10,000 newspapers and television shows from CNN to the Associated Press. These are the recommendations that the G20 considers this weekend.

Please join the thousands who already signed our coronavirus petition to the G20.

Thanks for your partnership,

Eric LeCompte
Executive Director

Twitter: @Eric_LeCompte
www.jubileeusa.org/support-us

My organization, Jubilee USA Network, coordinated 100 faith communities and organizations to urge Congress to pass strong transparency measures that reveal the true ownership of these anonymous companies. In the attached anti-money laundering support letter, please see a listing of these groups that include some of the largest religious institutions and groups in the United States, including: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), The Episcopal Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The National Council of Churches, The Presbyterian Church (USA), The United Church of Christ, The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society, Catholic religious orders and Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities.

As you know, this amendment is sponsored by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Doug Jones (D-AL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Kennedy (R-LA).

While we believe the adoption of this measure is a positive step forward to protect the vulnerable and improve transparency, we look forward to continuing to work with you to further strengthen this and related transparency initiatives.

I am grateful for your public service. Please know that I and our member institutions continue to hold you in prayer as you make critical decisions for our country and on behalf of those who are most vulnerable.

Gratefully,

Eric LeCompte
Executive Director
Jubilee USA Network

CC: US Senate Members
Enc: Attached Letter


June 29, 2020

Dear Senator,

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” --- Proverbs 29:2

As communities of faith, we are grateful for your public service and we pray for your efforts daily. We are grateful for the efforts you've supported of Jubilee USA Network to build a more accountable and transparent economic system.

We write to urge you to support legislative actions in line with our faith - Jubilee legislation that promotes transparency, fights corruption and protects the vulnerable.

In particular, we invite you to cosponsor the Corporate Transparency Act and the ILLICIT Cash Act, which reveal the true owners of anonymous shell corporations to law enforcement.

This legislation is essential as it:

• stops ways that human traffickers hide and make profits
• prevents the exploitation of vulnerable communities in the United States through Medicaid and Medicare fraud
• curbs the theft of development and debt relief aid
• reveals theft from corrupt foreign governments of public monies
• can help raise revenue in the developing world

We are thankful for your support of these vital pieces of Jubilee legislation that protect and lift the vulnerable.

Signatories below as of 6/29/20

Denominations and Denominational Representations
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Episcopal Church
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The National Council of Churches
The Presbyterian Church (USA)
The United Church of Christ
The United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society

Religious Institutions, Faith Organizations and Denomination Offices
Africa Faith and Justice Network
Africa Women and Youth Initiative
United Methodist Women
Daughters of Charity USA
Franciscan Action Network
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
American Friends Service Committee
Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy
Disciples Center for Public Witness
Disciples Home Missions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Jubilee USA Network
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Pax Christi USA
Sojourners
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

Congregations, Faith Communities and Religious Groups
All Saints Episcopal Church -- Salt Lake City, UT
Ascension Lutheran Church -- Thousand Oaks, CA
Athens Catholic Community Peace and Justice Committee -- Athens, OH
Bernardine Franciscan Sisters -- Reading, PA
Bethel Lutheran Church -- Los Angeles, CA
B'nai Harim -- Pocono Pines, PA
California Lutheran University
Central Pacific Conference United Church of Christ -- OR
Congregation Gates of Heaven -- Schenectady, NY
Crossroads United Church of Christ -- Indianola, IA
Dominicans of Sinsinawa -- Sinsinawa, WI
First Congregational Church of Alameda, CA
First Congregational Church of Chicago UCC
First Presbyterian Church -- Portland, OR
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart -- Philadelphia, PA
Harbor House -- Thousand Oaks, CA
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, USA JPIC -- Waukegan, IL
IHM Sisters - Justice, Peace and Sustainability Office -- Monroe, MI
Immanuel Lutheran Church of Los Altos, California -- Los Altos, CA
Interfaith Worker Justice, New Mexico
InterReligious Task Force On Central America and Colombia -- Cleveland, OH
Iowa City Pax Christi -- IA
Jubilee Albany Capitol Region, NY
Jubilee Massachusetts
Jubilee Northwest -- Seattle, WA
Jubilee San Diego
Jubilee Southern California
Jubilee Ventura County -- CA
Jubilee Vermont
Lutheran Office of Public Policy -- California
Mary House Inc -- New Providence, NJ
Messiah Lutheran Church -- Schenectady, NY
Middlebury Friends Meeting -- Middlebury, VT
Mission Committee of the First Trinitarian Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) -- Concord, MA
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Mount Tabor Lutheran Church -- Salt Lake City, UT
Muslims for Economic Justice
Nicaragua Center for Community Action -- Berkley, CA
Pax Christi Dallas -- TX
Pax Christi Florida
Pax Christi Hazel Crest -- IL
Pax Christi Hilton Head -- SC
Pax Christi Illinois
Pax Christi Metro New York
Pax Christi San Antonio -- TX
Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement -- Garrison, NY
Global Justice Institute, Metropolitan Community Churches -- New York, NY
St. John's Episcopal Church -- Chicago, IL
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church -- Philadelphia, PA
Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of IHM -- Scranton, PA
St. Pius X Catholic Church -- Portland, OR
La Vista Ecological Learning Center -- Godfrey, IL
Pax Christi Pacific Northwest -- Seattle, WA
Pax Christi Seed Planters -- Crete, IL
Pax Christi St. Maurice/Broward Florida
Pax Christi Western NY
Peace Lutheran Church -- Danville, CA
Pilgrim United Church Of Christ -- Carlsbad, CA
Provincial Council Clerics of St. Viator -- Las Vegas, NV
Roswell Presbyterian Church -- Roswell, GA
Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral -- Seattle, WA
San Dieguito United Methodist Church -- Encinitas, CA
Sinsinawa Dominican Peace and Justice Office -- WI
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth JPIC Office, KS
Sisters of Charity of New York
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia -- Aston, PA
Society of the Holy Child Jesus -- Philadelphia, PA
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Institute Justice Team -- Silver Spring, MD
Glenmary Home Missioners -- Cincinnati, OH
Sisters of Providence Office of Peace, Justice, and Sustainability -- St Mary-of-the-Woods, IN
South Coast Interfaith Council -- Long Beach, CA
South East Area Mission and Justice Committee of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ -- Framingham, MA
St. Alban's Episcopal Church -- Albany, CA
St. Mary's Episcopal Church -- New York, NY
Temple Beth El of South Orange County -- Aliso Viejo, CA
The River Church South -- Quincy, MA
University Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)/United Church of Christ -- San Diego, CA
Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland -- Cleveland, OH

You can download a PDF version of the letter here