Sherry Darling
New Yorker
Way to GO Angels!
Weakened Amendment for Debt Relief Only Amendment
to Pass Senate AIDS Bill Vote
Washington, DC (May 16) - In an exceptionally late night vote on the
Senate's legislation for global AIDS, last night Republican
Senators voted down every amendment offered to perfect the
legislation, except one: an amendment for deeper debt relief for
impoverished nations, especially those burdened by high levels of
HIV/AIDS.
The amendment championed by Senators Biden (D-DE) and Santorum (R-PA)
passed the Senate in a voice vote to be included as a part of the
final Senate AIDS bill. However, the language was considerably
weakened in a last minute deal with the White House in order to gain
support for its passage. The Senators agreed to change the amendment
to a recommendation for the White House to take action ("should") for
deeper debt relief, instead of a mandate for action ("shall").
"We applaud Senators Santorum and Biden for their courageous
leadership to fight for deeper debt relief for impoverished nations
impacted by AIDS," said Marie Clarke, Executive Director of
Jubilee USA Network. "However, the children and orphans of Africa
will still carry the debt on their backs, unless President Bush
responds to the Senate's request with strong action for debt
cancellation at the G8 meetings in Evian."
The problem of severe indebtedness hinders poor countries'
abilities to address their own health crises or provide basic
services for their people. The 14 countries identified by the
President in the AIDS initiative spent $9.1 billion in 2001 servicing
debt - many times than what is expected to be delivered to them for
the fight against AIDS.
Debt relief has proven to be one of the most important components on
an effective fight against HIV/AIDS. Almost every single country
that has qualified for debt relief so far, has used the savings for
their nation HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment plans.
"Literally hundreds of people from around the country have called
or faxed their Senators in support of this amendment in the last 24
hours alone. Without the support of average Americans this amendment
would not have passed," said Mara Vanderslice, Program Director
for Jubilee USA.
Jubilee USA Network is made up of 70 faith based, labor and citizen
activist organizations dedicated to lifting the burden of unpayable
and unjust debt from the world's poorest countries.
###
BACKGROUND
Santorum/Biden debt relief proposal will:
-- Nearly DOUBLE current debt relief for the world's poorest nations
by cutting an additional $1 Billion in both bilateral and
multilateral debt service annually
-- Add to the current criteria for "debt sustainability" by saying no
country that currently qualifies for HIPC debt relief should pay
more than 5% of its budget on debt service annually (10% if the
country has no health emergency)
-- Allow the poorest countries to redirect more of their scarce
revenues into increased spending on education, health and the crucial
fight against HIV/AIDS
Examples of how debt relief has been used for the fight against
HIV/AIDS:
-- Uganda, the first country to receive debt relief used $1.3 million
of its debt savings specifically for their national HIV/AIDS plan.
This investment played a key role in the government's success in
reducing HIV infection rates by 40%
-- Cameroon received a $114 million cut in debt service. With help
from debt savings, a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategic plan
was launched. The plan included promoting behavior change among young
people, making voluntary testing and counseling widely available and
preventing HIV transmission from pregnant women to their babies.
-- Malawi received a cut in debt service of 30%, or $28 million.
These funds financed the purchase of critical drugs for hospitals and
health centers, hiring extra staff and support in primary health
centers, and training new nurses.
Weakened Amendment for Debt Relief Only Amendment
to Pass Senate AIDS Bill Vote
Washington, DC (May 16) - In an exceptionally late night vote on the
Senate's legislation for global AIDS, last night Republican
Senators voted down every amendment offered to perfect the
legislation, except one: an amendment for deeper debt relief for
impoverished nations, especially those burdened by high levels of
HIV/AIDS.
The amendment championed by Senators Biden (D-DE) and Santorum (R-PA)
passed the Senate in a voice vote to be included as a part of the
final Senate AIDS bill. However, the language was considerably
weakened in a last minute deal with the White House in order to gain
support for its passage. The Senators agreed to change the amendment
to a recommendation for the White House to take action ("should") for
deeper debt relief, instead of a mandate for action ("shall").
"We applaud Senators Santorum and Biden for their courageous
leadership to fight for deeper debt relief for impoverished nations
impacted by AIDS," said Marie Clarke, Executive Director of
Jubilee USA Network. "However, the children and orphans of Africa
will still carry the debt on their backs, unless President Bush
responds to the Senate's request with strong action for debt
cancellation at the G8 meetings in Evian."
The problem of severe indebtedness hinders poor countries'
abilities to address their own health crises or provide basic
services for their people. The 14 countries identified by the
President in the AIDS initiative spent $9.1 billion in 2001 servicing
debt - many times than what is expected to be delivered to them for
the fight against AIDS.
Debt relief has proven to be one of the most important components on
an effective fight against HIV/AIDS. Almost every single country
that has qualified for debt relief so far, has used the savings for
their nation HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment plans.
"Literally hundreds of people from around the country have called
or faxed their Senators in support of this amendment in the last 24
hours alone. Without the support of average Americans this amendment
would not have passed," said Mara Vanderslice, Program Director
for Jubilee USA.
Jubilee USA Network is made up of 70 faith based, labor and citizen
activist organizations dedicated to lifting the burden of unpayable
and unjust debt from the world's poorest countries.
###
BACKGROUND
Santorum/Biden debt relief proposal will:
-- Nearly DOUBLE current debt relief for the world's poorest nations
by cutting an additional $1 Billion in both bilateral and
multilateral debt service annually
-- Add to the current criteria for "debt sustainability" by saying no
country that currently qualifies for HIPC debt relief should pay
more than 5% of its budget on debt service annually (10% if the
country has no health emergency)
-- Allow the poorest countries to redirect more of their scarce
revenues into increased spending on education, health and the crucial
fight against HIV/AIDS
Examples of how debt relief has been used for the fight against
HIV/AIDS:
-- Uganda, the first country to receive debt relief used $1.3 million
of its debt savings specifically for their national HIV/AIDS plan.
This investment played a key role in the government's success in
reducing HIV infection rates by 40%
-- Cameroon received a $114 million cut in debt service. With help
from debt savings, a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategic plan
was launched. The plan included promoting behavior change among young
people, making voluntary testing and counseling widely available and
preventing HIV transmission from pregnant women to their babies.
-- Malawi received a cut in debt service of 30%, or $28 million.
These funds financed the purchase of critical drugs for hospitals and
health centers, hiring extra staff and support in primary health
centers, and training new nurses.