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RESOLUTION URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS TO PASS THE JUBILEE ACT FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING AND EXPANDED DEBT CANCELLATION FOR THE WORLD'S MOST IMPOVERISHED COUNTRIES, INCLUDING HAITI

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WHEREAS, the world's most impoverished countries, where most people live on less than $1.00 per day, spend over $100 million daily serving debt to wealthy governments and institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, money desperately needed to provide people food, clean water, basic health care, and education; and
WHEREAS, in 2000 and again in 2005 leaders cancelled billions in debt for dozens of impoverished countries, freeing up money that has since been used to enroll children in school, provide clean water, fight AIDS, improve rural infrastructure, and more; and
WHEREAS, dozens of countries await debt relief, including Haiti, which is the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere; and
WHEREAS, Haiti�s stability is important to all residents of Miami-Dade County and to the protection of our families and borders; and
WHEREAS, recent riots in Haiti due to the global phenomenon of exorbitant food price increases have caused the ouster of Haiti�s Prime Minister and threatens the stability of its democratic government, which enjoys good relations with Washington; and
WHEREAS, on April 16, H.R. 2634, the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (�Jubilee Act�), which includes Haiti, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 285 � 132 with the support of the entire Miami-Dade Congressional delegation; and
WHEREAS, in so doing the House adopted an amendment introduced by Congressman Alcee Hastings incorporating his Haiti Debt Cancellation Resolution, H. Res. 241, providing more favorable language for Haiti; and
WHEREAS, debt service is an extreme burden for countries such as Haiti which in 2008 is scheduled to pay over $48 million, nearly $1 million each week, in interest payments on a $1.3 billion debt; and
WHEREAS, debt cancellation for Haiti and other similarly situated countries is the right thing to do for reasons of justice, decency, recovery, and common sense; and
WHEREAS, evidence shows that debt cancellation works: developing countries relieved of debt have increased their own domestic spending on reducing poverty by 75 percent; and
WHEREAS, the Jubilee Act will expand access to debt cancellation to all the countries that need it to fight extreme poverty; and
WHEREAS, the Jubilee Act requires that debt cancellation be provided without harmful economic policy conditions attached, and also calls for the initiation of a responsible lending framework, and requires a debt audit in countries like South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo which have a heavy burden of odious debt,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Jubilee Act, S. 2166, H.R. 2634 or similar legislation, that provides debt relief to impoverished countries, including Haiti.
Section 2. Further urges the U.S. Senate to include in the legislation language related to debt cancellation for Haiti similar to what was successfully introduced in the House by Rep. Alcee Hastings.
Section 3. Urges both of Florida's Senators to co-sponsor and champion the Jubilee Act and to do all in their power to secure its prompt passage.
Section 4. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this resolution to Florida�s two U.S. Senators and the other members of the Florida Congressional Delegation.
Section 5. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the actions set forth in Sections 1, 2 and 3, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2008 Federal Legislative Package.