NYC REPS SUPPORT TB APPROPRIATIONS!

Thanks to NYC Results members and their fantastic Representatives for signing on to the appropriations letter in support of TB appropriations. FY11 Request: $1.75 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. The multilateral Global Fund is one the most effective tools to fight AIDS, TB and malaria. Since its creation in 2001, the Global Fund has provided over 2.5 million people with treatment for AIDS, 6 million people treatment for tuberculosis, and helped distribute 104 million mosquito bed nets to prevent malaria. It has save an estimated 4 million lives. The U.S. contribution to the Global Fund is particularly critical this year because it will influence the amount that other donor commit. In November 2010 international donors will meet for a replenishment conference and make multi-year funding commitments. If the U.S. — the Global Fund’s biggest contributor — does not substantially increase its contribution, there will be little pressure on other countries to give more.

Supporters:
Carolyn Maloney, District 11	Yvette Clarke, District 11	Elliot Engel, District 17
Ed Towns, District 10	Jerrold Nadler, District 8	Charles Rangel, District 15

11 (of 14) NYC Reps Support Debt Cancellation for Haiti!

Thanks to NYC Results members and their fantastic Representatives for supporting the successful letter to Treasury Secretary Geithner. On receipt of the bi-partisan letter the Secretary released a press release voicing the U.S. support of debt cancellation! This was a great effort and thanks again to the signing members: Ackerman, Clarke, Crowley, Engel, Maloney, Meeks, Nadler, Rangel, Serrano, Towns and Velázquez. The U.S. message is now clear: Grants, not Loans, for Haiti.
Signed the letter:
Gary Ackerman, District 5	Yvette Clarke, District 11	James Crowley, District 7	Elliot Engel, District 17	Carolyn Maloney, District 14
Edward Meeks, District 6	Jerrold Nadler,  District 8	Charles Rangel, District 15	Jose Serrano,  District 16	Ed Towns, District 10
Nydia Velazquez, District 12
Didn't get around to signing:
Carolyn McCarthy, District 4	Michael McMahon, District 13	Anthony Weiner, District 9
There will, however, be an even more important opportunity to show support by co-sponsoring the anticipated legislation which will allow the U.S. to lead the international community on this issue. Stay tuned.

Success! Haiti debt cancellation moving forward.

Here's a report from the D.C. Office's intrepid legislative director John Fawcett:

(image: Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner)

Hi Folks – so often it can take months, years and even decades to see the results of our advocacy… and sometimes it takes a couple of days.

Following the receipt of the Waters/Ros-Lehtinen letter with 94 signatures – including Financial Services Chair Barney Frank and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer – Secretary Geithner announced today that he will work to eliminate all of Haiti’s debt and provide any further assistance in the form of grants.  We were hearing nothing from the White House on its intentions, so this is a huge shift.  Most of Haiti’s remaining debt is owed to multilateral institutions like the IMF and IDB, so this doesn’t guarantee that the debt will be cancelled, but having the full support of the U.S. is absolutely critical and a real turning point.

Thanks again for you work on this letter. In thanking your members for signing, you can let them know this had a real impact. The press release from Treasury is pasted below. 

Thanks,

John

U.S. Treasury Department
Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2010

CONTACT:  Natalie Wyeth, Treasury Public Affairs (202) 622-2960

SECRETARY GEITHNER VOICES SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEBT RELIEF FOR HAITI, FINANCING OF RECOVERY THROUGH GRANTS

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the United States will work with its partners around the world to relieve all debts owed by Haiti to international institutions and to ensure grant financing to support Haiti’s reconstruction and recovery from the devastating earthquake in January.

“The earthquake in Haiti was a catastrophic setback to the Haitian people who are now facing tremendous emergency humanitarian and reconstruction needs, and meeting Haiti’s financing needs will require a massive multilateral effort,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “Today, we are voicing our support for what Haiti needs and deserves – comprehensive multilateral debt relief.”

Secretary Geithner also welcomed International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn's call to provide full relief for Haiti's outstanding IMF debt, including the $102 million emergency loan approved on January 27, 2010.

“We are committed to working quickly and closely with these institutions in a way that provides immediate grant assistance to help the Haitian people recover and rebuild,” Secretary Geithnercontinued. “I very much welcome the initiative taken on this issue by leaders in Congress, the IMF, and the MDBs and look forward to working with them to provide the critical support Haiti needs for recovery as well as to discussing this issue with my G-7 colleagues this weekend.”

Treasury announced that the U.S. intends to seek a commitment with other donors for the relief of Haiti’s debt to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Development Association (IDA) in a manner that provides direct and immediate grant support to Haiti.

In September 2009, the U.S. concluded an agreement with Haiti that eliminated 100 percent of the Haitian Government’s outstanding debt to the U.S. This action was taken following Haiti’s successful completion of the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative process in June 2009.

Tell the IMF to Keep Its Promise to Haiti!

Call on Congress to Send the Message: Grants, not Loans, for Haiti

New York City has the largest percentage of Haitians of any city in the U.S. -- nearly 400,000 of us are Haitian.

Many of us have already, as individuals and groups, donated much needed cash to Haiti.

We now need to take the next step, and take a few minutes to donate our incredibly powerful political voices.

It is appalling that the IMF announced a plan to issue an additional $100 million in loans to Haiti. Unsustainable and unjust debt repayments are an integral part of Haiti's impoverished history, and additional loans (rather than grants) are an unacceptable response to this humanitarian disaster.

After a strong backlash, the IMF director quickly clarified that the IMF would work to cancel all of Haiti's debt to the Fund -- the emergency $100 million loan as well as $165 million in existing debt. This was followed by an announcement that the World Bank was immediately suspending Haiti's loan repayments, and would work to cancel it's remaining $38 million in debt.

Naomi Klein, who has written extensively on how disasters have been exploited to push pro-corporate and anti-poor polices, wrote on her blog: "This is unprecedented in my experience and shows that public pressure in moments of disaster can seriously subvert shock doctrine tactics."

We are not taking this progress for granted, and members of Congress are stepping up to ensure there is proper follow through. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) in the House, and Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Lugar (R-IL) in the Senate have announced their intention to introduce legislation requiring the U.S. to use its considerable influence to ensure all of Haiti's debt is canceled.

You can help this effort today. Insert your zip code here to get talking points and phone numbers to call your member of Congress and ask them to support these bills.   Please email dave nycresults.org with any questions and to update us on your work. We'll be tracking the data to ensure all our reps are accountable.

January 2010 Global Conference Call: Rep Nita Lowey on Education

On our first call for 2010 we had a tremendous guest in Representative Nita Lowey (NY-18). She talked about how assuring that all children around the globe have a basic education is both a moral imperative and critical to US security. She also announced that she will be re-introducing the Education for All Act, but this time with a call to create a Global Fund for Education. She took questions from our activists.

Also on the call, Joanne Carter talked about the opportunities we have in 2010, we got a 2010 campaign overview from Ken Patterson, and Nick Arena gave us an exciting fundraising update. Grassroots activist and Regional Coordinator Kara Stewart told us what she is excited about in 2010 and Teresa Rugg, activist and Regional Coordinator, told us how the Snohomish, WA group creates and leverages broad community support on our global health issues. Activists Linda and Ken Schatz lead the laser talk section with a dialogue on how to make a call to our scheduler.

January 2010 Global Conference Call on Education and 2010 Campaigns