JPIC Office Blog

July 18, 2008

BY ANN PIASECKI
JPIC COORDINATOR

PEPFAR passes with bipartisan support in U.S. Senate

WHEATON—After months of hand wringing, the bill know as PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (S 2731), cleared the U.S. Senate July 16 by a vote of 80-16. The bill reauthorizes a global health initiative for another five years, from 2009-2013. It gained approval for a $48 million commitment for poor countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The bill now heads back to the U.S. House, which approved a $30 million commitment in April 2008. It is expected to clear the House and gain the president’s signature. President Bush has a history of support for PEPFAR and took an opportunity last spring to highlight his continued advocacy during a trip to Ghana, Africa. While there, he saw firsthand the health benefits from programs administered under the previous PEPFAR agreement. 

PEPFAR proponents managed to head off an amendment proposed July 15 by Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, who sought to restrict PEPFAR operations to countries currently receiving assistance. His July 15 amendment proposal was soundly defeated by a vote of 70-24.

Tom Hart, legislative director for the ONE Campaign, lauded the bill’s sponsors, Senators Joseph Biden of Delaware, Richard Lugar of Indiana and Harry Reid of Nevada for their persistence.

Immediately following the victory vote, Hart shared his perspective about the overall intent and effect of the bill. “Even as Americans face serious concerns at home, the Senate has proved America’s commitment to providing lifesaving medicines to the world’s most vulnerable people. PEPFAR is an investment in people around the world; but is also an example of America’s generosity and a critical piece of American diplomacy. By treating and preventing disease and saving lives, we can help to create more stable communities and a more secure future for Americans.”  

Campaign to reduce global poverty gets a nod of approval from G8

WHEATON—While the G8 leaders met July 7-9 in Hokkaido, Japan, they were reminded by social justice advocates that they had not fulfilled their promise to support the Millennium Development Goals. 
 
The goals, which were set at their last meeting in 2005, obliged the G8—the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Canada, the United States and Russia—to share in a commitment to provide $25 billion in additional assistance to Africa by 2010. According to information featured on the Web site of the ONE Campaign (a nonprofit social justice lobby organization) only $3 billion has been delivered so far.  

What dominated the discussion at the G8 summit was the impact of rising oil prices, efforts to improve energy efficiency and the competing interest for a consistent supply of oil. The G8 established 2050 as the target date for substantial reductions—50 percent—in greenhouse gases, which are largely blamed for contributing significantly to climate change.

However, the topic of food security pledges was reiterated, according the ONE Campaign Web site.  Summit members agreed to an outline of measures to be taken to encourage investment in agriculture and food production, according to a July 8 story in Bridges, a weekly trade news digest.  For more information, visit http://www.one.org/.

Global Poverty Act languishes in Congress

WHEATON—The proposed Global Poverty Act urges support for a $39.8 million plan to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to strengthen a United States foreign policy objective so that is promotes the reduction of global poverty. It also advocates for authentic action when it comes to the elimination of extreme global poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Specifically, the proposed bill seeks to act on a strategy already outlined to reduce by one-half the number of people worldwide who live on less than $1 a day. For more information, visit Bread for the World at http://www.bread.org/take-action-2008-ol.htmland also visit http://www.one.org/.

Jubilee Act awaits Senate approval

WHEATON—Bipartisan support and advocacy in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in late June worked to gain support within the Jubilee Act for the inclusion of the Haiti Amendment. This move calls the Secretary of the Treasury to work for immediate debt cancellation on behalf of the island nation. The committee further supported the addition of stronger language on the issue of vulture funds.

“Vulture fund is a name given to a company that seeks to make profit by buying up debt in default on the secondary market for pennies on the dollar, then trying to recover up to ten times the purchase price, often by suing impoverished countries in U.S. or European courts. Some vulture funds target failing companies, but our coalition is focused on those that target the sovereign debts of impoverished countries,” according to the Web site of information provided by the nonprofit Jubilee USA organization.

In essence, the Jubilee Act (HR 2634/S 2166) seeks to provide for greater responsibility in lending and expanded cancellation of debts owed to the United States and the international financial institutions by low-income countries.

The proposed Jubilee Act is still awaiting a hearing by the full Senate. For more information, visit http://www.jubileeusa.org/. Despite progress with the bill, proponents are urging voters to continue the political momentum by calling the senators from their state region to voice support for the Jubilee Act. Danielle Palls, advocacy fellow for Jubilee USA, encourages voters from states already on board with the legislation to thank them for taking a responsible position for social justice.

Clean water/climate protection legislation await action

In her role as Leader of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of creation (JPIC) Office of the Wheaton Franciscans, Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF, joined with several supporters from throughout the Diocese of Joliet (DOJ) to discuss the need to redefine “fill material” to mean any pollutant that settles or causes to dry out water bottoms. The proposed bill further outlaws practices that change the bottom elevation of a body of water for any purpose and excludes the discharge of waste material.

According to Sr. Sheila, the representative was interested in learning more about the bill, which awaits action by the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
  
The proposed bill was born out of a growing practice in West Virginia in which coal mining conglomerates have been collecting coal by removing the tops of mountains. The process, referred to as Mountain Top Removal (MTR), literally shaves off the top of the mountain to gain easy access to precious coal resources. As a result, millions of tons of topsoil and rock are dumped into nearby valleys. Over 1,200 miles of headwater streams—a critical element in the ecological network of streams—have been filled in with debris. The ecological stability of the region has been significantly impacted. Mountain habitats, fish and other forms of life are being destroyed, according to an array of researchers, including the West Virginia Geological Survey organization and the Sierra Club.

A July 2008 commentary in Mother Earth, Sister Peace magazine, author and Covenant Member Mary Ellen Durbin drew attention to the adverse affects on the population in West Virginia. “The reckless nature that profit-driven coal industry giants have revealed has damaged a way of life for those who make that region their home. Appalachia is home to a unique culture that places a high value on family.

To discover how residents around the United States unwittingly complicate the issue as an energy consumer, visit a Web site posted by an environmental organization called I Love Mountains at http://www.ilovemountains.org/, where a reader could insert his or her zip code into a designated spot for pertinent local information. 

Durbin and husband Ron along with Leo LeClair and Ed Hatfield, all of whom are members of the JustFaith Ministry at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Lisle, and Maribeth Meaux, head of the Environmental Committee for the DOJ Office of Peace and Social Justice, along with Sr. Sheila presented Biggert with information about the deadly outcome of MTR practices. Meaux is scheduled as the featured speaker at the Aug. 11 Dinner & Dialogue series on the campus of the Wheaton Franciscans. To register for the event, call (630) 909-6635. For more information about the Clean Water Protection Act, visit the Franciscan Action Network at http://www.franciscanaction.org/ and the Sierra Club Web site at http://www.sierraclub.org/mtr/

At the close of the legislative session in Springfield, Jonathan Goldman, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC), reported little progress was made toward gaining support for the Global Warming Response Act, SB 2220, to establish policies that would reduce global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. For more information about environmental legislation in Illinois, check the IEC Web site at http://www.ilenviro.org/.

Housing issues get attention at federal and state levels

WHEATON—The U.S. Senate continues to debate the proposed American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (HR 3221). No decision has yet been made.

However, leaders from the House Financial Services and the Senate Banking Committee are working to iron out differences over the inclusion of funding for the purpose of allowing local municipalities to rehabilitate foreclosed properties. Another involves establishing a process to provide for certain tax provisions in the bill.

Karen Wong, policy associate at Catholic Charities USA, explained in a report that the bill would “expand the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan program to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, overhaul Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and create a national Affordable Housing Trust Fund.” The trust fund is aimed at assisting low-income families.   

In Illinois, the Illinois Housing Trust Fund faces cuts despite a $91.6 million appropriation approved by the General Assembly. Bob Palmer, policy director for Housing Action Illinois, explained that the revenue stream for the trust fund is “likely to be about half of what was appropriated” due to complications blamed on the mortgage crisis. Housing sales have slowed dramatically, reducing state real estate transfer tax revenue by about 50 percent. The result is a decrease in funds available for new housing projects and cuts in existing programs.

In DuPage County, members of the DuPage Housing Action Coalition (DHAC) cheered over a $1 million award over a three year period from the Illinois Housing Development Agency to provide 29 units of state-subsidized housing for very low income individuals and families in DuPage County.

Meanwhile, the Homeless Youth Services Act was authorized by the General Assembly. As such, it receives $7 million from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of providing shelter, transitional housing and employment assistance for homeless youth around the state.

As always thank you for reading our blog, for your prayerful support and for your part to make this world a better place.

Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF
JPIC Leader
Wheaton Franciscans

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