December 1, 2008 - President Elect Obama and his new economic team, including Treasury Secretary-designate Timonthy Geithner, have a huge job ahead of him. They will be facing down a growing economic crisis and recession in the United States from day one.

But while we must work for economic justice at home, we must also not forget our brothers and sisters across the globe in this time of need.  That’s why Jubilee USA has launched a new campaign – the What’s On Your Heart? Campaign.

As the book of Matthew tells us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…”  As the Torah reminds us, "Do not close your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother".

In this new campaign we will welcome new Treasury Secretary Geithner to his position by telling him what’s on our hearts as Jubilee people in these difficult times.

From now until January 20, we will be collecting hand-written notes on hearts, postcards, and online letters from you to Treasury Secretary-designate Geithner telling him which Jubilee issues are on your heart in this time of crisis. We will deliver all of these messages to him when we welcome him to his new position sometime just before Valetines’ Day.

Learn more about this campaign and take action with your congregation or community today!

• VISIT What's on Your Heart Main Page
• TAKE ACTION Order postcards to use in your communities
• TAKE ACTION Sign Online Postcard
• DOWNLOAD What's on Your Heart Campaign One Pager

 Jubilee Act Update

October 2008 | Thanks to your tireless work over the past year and a half, the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 2634/ S 2166) has made tremendous progress this year. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a 285-132 vote on April 16 and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 24th. 

As of this writing, the Jubilee Act is under consideration by the full Senate, but it is being blocked by one Senator - Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). We are working with partners and allies in Oklahoma to encourage Sen. Coburn to release his hold on the bill. Time is running out - but there may be a Congressional session after the election giving us one more chance to pass the bill.  Even if we don't pass the Jubilee Act this year, the incredible bi-partisan support created by your advocacy will help to convince the new administration and Congress to

implement the Jubilee Act agenda next year.

This legislation would expand debt cancellation to impoverished countries that need it to fight poverty, promote responsible lending and require an audit of odious, illegal and onerous loans. 

• PRESS RELEASE Jubilee Act Passes Senate Committee; House Committee Reauthorizes World Bank Funding, Calls for Reform
• LEARN MORE Resources & Background Materials on the Jubilee Act
• OP-ED "Debt is Modern-Day Apartheid" by Desmond Tutu (in The Baltimore Sun, May 7, 2008)