The Jubilee Blog

House Build Back Better Act Supports Puerto Rico

By Olivia Engling

The House of Representatives voted to increase Medicaid funding and incentives to support manufacturing jobs in Puerto Rico as part of the Build Back Better Act.

“This legislation means that Puerto Rico can access more resources that the island desperately needs,” said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA Network, which worked on debt and disaster relief for the island since 2015. "Faced with high poverty rates, debt crisis and natural disasters, Puerto Rico can really use the aid."

The Build Back Better Act provides Supplemental Security Income disability payments to Puerto Rico, benefiting 300,000 Puerto Rico residents. The bill includes the territory in child tax relief increases for the states. The legislation now heads to the Senate and if passed could be enacted into law this year.

In February, 20 major religious leaders representing Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, United Church of Christ and Evangelical Churches wrote to President Biden to support Puerto Rico. Leaders of the National and Puerto Rico Council of Churches, Catholic Charities and the General Bible Society also signed the letter to Biden.

New Senate Bill Combats Shell Companies United Nations Debates Tax Havens

Washington DC - A bipartisan group of Senators introduced the "Improving Laundering Laws and Increasing Comprehensive Information Tracking of Criminal Activity in Shell Holdings (ILLICIT CASH) Act" to stop the creation of shell corporations in the United States. The announcement came within hours of world leaders raising concerns about tax havens and shell companies during the UN General Assembly High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development. 

"Shell companies support human trafficking and drain billions from developing countries," said Eric LeCompte, UN finance expert and Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network. “This bipartisan legislation can help stop US States from being used as tax havens.”

Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Doug Jones (D-AL), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), John Kennedy (R-LA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) sponsored the legislation, which would require shell companies to disclose their true owners to the US Department of Treasury.

"Anonymous shell companies have exploited vulnerable communities through Medicaid fraud and stolen development aid in the developing world,” noted LeCompte.

Puerto Rico Struggles to Rebuild from Hurricanes Say Religious Leaders

By Kate Zeller

Hurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico last September 20th. According to the Associated Press, nearly 60,000 thousand people still reside in homes with blue-tarp-covered or inadequate roofs that could not survive a Category 1 hurricane. Tens of thousands of people across the island still lack access to housing or reliable electricity. After the hurricanes more than 130,000 people migrated to US States away from the island.      

"The hurricane anniversaries urge us to renew our commitment to assist the poorest among our people to rebuild their lives with dignity," noted San Juan's Catholic Archbishop Roberto González. "We all belong to one human family and need to care for one another."

Before Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico saw a loss of emergency response and medical personnel due to austerity cuts imposed on the island wrestling with a $72 billion debt crisis. As hurricane recovery continues, Puerto Rico lumbers through a bankruptcy process designed by Congress.

"Our people feel in a state of uncertainty a year after Hurricane Maria and we are suffering from austerity measures from the debt crisis," stated Reverend Heriberto Martinez, the General Secretary of Puerto Rico's Bible Society and leader of a coalition to relieve the island's debt. "The impact of the hurricanes is that our people are leaving the island looking for employment and opportunities to improve the quality of life of their families." ‎

Rebuilding and recovery estimates for Puerto Rico range between $95 billion and $140 billion. The Governor and the island's congressionally mandated fiscal oversight board are requesting a rebuilding package of $125 billion. Over the last year, Congress and the federal government approved about $35 billion of aid for the island.

"Congress and the White House need to come through with the remaining aid so Puerto Rico can rebuild to withstand the next hurricane," shared Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA. LeCompte testified to Congress and Puerto Rico's oversight board on Puerto Rico's financial crisis. "If a minor hurricane hit the island today, we'd see great suffering that could have been prevented. The clock is ticking." ‎

Religious Leaders Letter on NAFTA highlighted by CNS and Crux

By Lydia Andrews 

Catholic News Service and Crux featured articles on the statement issued this week by Jubilee USA and religious leaders on NAFTA and access to medicines in trade agreements.

Read excerpt below and follow link to the full Crux and Catholic News Service articles. 

Religious leaders say new NAFTA shouldn't restrict access to medicines 

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services was one of seven U.S. religious leaders asking that any new North American Free Trade Agreement “avoid enhanced and extended monopolies on life-essential medicines.”

The May 18 letter, sent to President Donald Trump, administration officials and members of Congress, added: “Our faith traditions call us to care for the sick and respond to the needs of the poor in our societies. Trade agreements can have enormous impacts on the ability of the sick and the poor to access the medicines they need for healing and even survival.”

“We agree with the provisions of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, currently in effect in all NAFTA countries. The TRIPS agreement calls for respect of intellectual property rights, including those for medicines,” the letter said.

“Crucially, as was underscored by the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, it also recognizes each nation’s right to take necessary steps to ensure that medicines are available to all of their residents.”

“This ‘May 10th Agreement’ recognizes the flexibility in intellectual property rights provisions with regard to pharmaceuticals that developing countries sometimes need in order to serve the public health needs of their people,” the letter said. “We hope our political leaders can come together once again on these principles in support of the most vulnerable.”

“We ask that a renegotiated NAFTA reaffirm the TRIPS public health protections that enable the United States and other countries to promote the human right to health and access to medicines for all,” it added.

NAFTA/Trade Medicine Access, Interfaith Statement

By Lydia Andrews 

The below statement was sent to President Trump, Members of Congress and Administration officials on May 18^th, 2018. 

NAFTA and International Public Health: An Interfaith Call for Access to Medicines 

Recognizing the inherent dignity of the human person, our faith traditions call us to care for the sick and respond to the needs of the poor in our societies. Trade agreements can have enormous impacts on the ability of the sick and the poor to access the medicines they need for healing and even survival.

Therefore, we agree with the provisions of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), currently in effect in all NAFTA countries. The TRIPS agreement calls for respect of intellectual property rights, including those for medicines. Crucially, as was underscored by the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, it also recognizes each nation’s right to take necessary steps to ensure that medicines are available to all of their residents. 

We would also like to take this opportunity to commend the Administration’s defense of sovereignty on the issue of investor-state arbitration; each state has not only the right but the obligation to safeguard the common good within their nations.

At this time, we recall the Bipartisan Agreement on Trade Policy espoused by President George W. Bush and leaders of both parties in Congress in May 2007. This “May 10^th Agreement” recognizes the flexibility in intellectual property rights provisions with regard to pharmaceuticals that developing countries sometimes need in order to serve the public health needs of their people. We hope our political leaders can come together once again on these principles in support of the most vulnerable.

We call on you to ensure that no terms of a renegotiated NAFTA go beyond the TRIPS agreement mandates, and avoid enhanced and extended monopolies on life-essential medicines. Instead, we ask that a renegotiated NAFTA reaffirm the TRIPS public health protections that enable the United States and other countries to promote the human right to health and access to medicines for all.

Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio
Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Most Reverend Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church

Reverend Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe
General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, The United Methodist Church

Reverend Dr. John C. Dorhauer
General Minister and President, The United Church of Christ

Reverend Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Eric LeCompte
Executive Director, Jubilee USA Network

Six Months After Maria, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Wait for Relief

By Lydia Andrews

Six months after Hurricane Maria, blue tarps still cover homes and buildings across Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The number of people who lack power can be counted in the hundreds of thousands. 

"The suffering continues on the islands and our fellow citizens need help," said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA. "It's important that Congress voted for relief aid for the islands. Now we need Congress to increase the aid so that the islands can rebuild to withstand the next storms."

Efforts made by the interfaith group, Jubilee USA Network, moved Congress to pass more than $11 billion in recovery funds and secure "better building" provisions to strengthen infrastructure on the islands. Moody's rating agency estimates that Puerto Rico needs more than $90 billion in funds. In Puerto Rico, the majority of applications for FEMA claims are denied.

"Relief monies need to be expedited for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands," stated LeCompte. "The situation is desperate and too many hurricane victims are still waiting for relief."

New US Bills Introduced to Tackle Global Tax Avoidance and Corruption

By Lydia Andrews

This week a series of legislation was introduced in the House and Senate that takes aim at corporate tax avoidance and foreign corruption. The bipartisan Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Act (HR 5101), introduced by Representatives Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Keith Rothfus (R-PA), encourages "whistleblowers" to disclose knowledge of foreign corruption facilitated in the US financial system. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act as companion Senate and House legislation to reduce corporate tax avoidance.

"More than a trillion dollars leaves the developing world annually because of tax evasion, avoidance and corruption," stated Eric LeCompte Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA. "Congress can play an important role in stopping behavior that drains resources from vulnerable communities."

The No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act ensures corporations managed in the US are treated as US corporations instead of foreign entities. This addresses the problem of US corporations "hiding" in tax havens like the Cayman Islands. The legislation also strips large oil corporations of special tax breaks that some lawmakers call excessive.

New Law Provides Disaster Relief and Medicaid Funds for Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

By Lydia Andrews

As the Sun rose over the Capitol, Congress voted for a bipartisan spending package to end a brief government shutdown. The Senate and House approved nearly $90 billion dollars in recovery aid for Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Florida, Texas and California. The final legislation also includes nearly $5 billion dollars to increase Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico. Shortly after Congress passed the measure, the bill was signed into law by President Trump.

"‎The human suffering in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands continues, so I'm happy Republican and Democratic leadership could agree on disaster relief and healthcare funding for the poor," noted Jubilee USA Director, Eric LeCompte whose organization generated thousands of e-mails and phone calls to Congress ahead of the vote. "‎The work of Congress is not over yet. The aid package falls short of what the islands need and Congress will need to approve more disaster relief in the months ahead."

The spending bill includes more than $11 billion in recovery aid for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. More than $2 billion will be available to rebuild Puerto Rico's power grid. Moody's rating agency and the US Territory Governments estimate that more than $100 billion is needed to fully fund recovery and rebuilding efforts.

The law also includes money for Puerto Rico's Medicaid program that serves poor populations. Until Congress acted, Puerto Rico's Medicaid funding was weeks away from running out.

"We applaud Congress for moving forward the Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico," said LeCompte. "This program is critical for anti-poverty efforts and will generate billions of dollars for Puerto Rico's economy."

Religious leaders in Puerto Rico and across the United States have advocated for Medicaid financing with Congress and the White House for more than two years.

Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Disaster Relief Hangs on Senate ‎Negotiations

By Lydia Andrews

Senate leaders say they are close to a budget deal to avert a government shutdown. On Tuesday night the House of Representatives voted on a spending pact. The Senate is still deliberating on a number of issues including disaster relief and Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

"The Senate must vote for disaster relief and rebuilding aid for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands," noted Jubilee USA Director Eric LeCompte who met with leaders in Congress on aid for the US Territories. "While I'm grateful that Republican and Democratic leadership want to deliver disaster relief, it is unbelievable that it has taken so long for the Senate to act given the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of American citizens."

The House voted for an $81 billion disaster relief package in December‎ for Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, California and the US Virgin Islands.

"It's important that the House of Representatives supported initial disaster relief," said LeCompte. "But what the House has authorized so far falls short of what disaster victims need. We still have a lot of work to do to ensure that sufficient aid gets to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to rebuild to withstand the next storm."

Jubilee USA Statement on Government Shutdown and Puerto Rico Disaster Relief Package

By Lydia Andrews

The Senate voted in favor of a plan to keep the US Government funded through February 8th, ending the "shutdown." Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on a number issues including immigration and disaster relief but agreed to have open debate on those issues in the weeks ahead.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development organization, Jubilee USA, releases the following statement:

"Disaster victims from Texas to Puerto Rico are still waiting for Congress to pass ‎relief and recovery aid legislation. 

"In Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, human lives are shut down. Many people have gone without electricity for over a hundred days.

"The House passed a relief package and now it's the Senate's turn to pass a relief package. 

"Congress and the White House must be sure that Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have sufficient aid to rebuild to withstand the next storm."

Archbishop and Religious Groups Hold Puerto Rico Prayer Vigil at US Capitol

By Lydia Andrews

As Congress considers recovery and relief packages for hurricane-hit Puerto Rico, the island's Archbishop and national religious groups are holding a vigil in a Congressional office building on Wednesday.

"Puerto Rico needs a Congress that is sensitive to the pain of the people of Puerto Rico," noted the Most Reverend Roberto Octavio González Nieves, O.F.M. Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico. Gonzalez will be the primary presider at the service. "It needs a Congress that respects Puerto Rico's right to reconstruct with dignity."

San Juan's Archbishop will be joined at the prayer vigil by a number of major religious groups including: the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the United Church of Christ, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, Catholic Charities USA, the Franciscan Action Network, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and Jubilee USA Network.

The various groups will be praying and calling for adequate rebuilding aid, debt relief and financing for healthcare and child benefits on par with what US States receive.

"Puerto Rico desperately needs adequate rebuilding aid so its power grid and infrastucture is strong enough to withstand the next storm," noted Eric LeCompte of the religious development group that is organizing the event, Jubilee USA Network. "Puerto Rico needs debt relief and equal access to Medicare, Medicaid and child tax benefit funding."

The event will be held at noon on December 20th from noon-1 pm in room 121 of Congress' Cannon House Office Building.