-----Original Message----- From: Will Cusack [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, July 14, 2000 7:35 AM To: Will Cusack Subject: House Increases Funding For Debt Relief And AIDS Good morning State Chairs, The House of Representatives initiated a major reversal in support of debt relief and the battle against aids. Twenty-Six republicans crossed party lines to join a majority of democrats and one independent in approving the debt relief measure by a vote of 216-211. The measure more than tripled the loan forgiveness from $69 million to around $225 million. After passing the debt relief bill, the House overwhelmingly increased federal funding for AIDS by $42 million to $244 million. The measure passed by a vote of 267-156. As reported in the Washington Post, Rep Spencer Bacchus (AL) stated that "never before in history has one country had so much progress, wealth and luxury. Now, with the start of the new millennium, we can do so much for a billion of the poorest citizens of the world." Rep Steve Largent (OK) said that "we have a moral responsibility to address the AIDS epidemic in Africa. It's reached such proportions, it's just out of control." Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) said that the unified support of the bill strengthened the chances of passing the bill through the White House. She stated that the House of Representatives "sent [President Clinton] a strong message he needs to demand debt relief." Thank you everyone who contacted their congressional representatives in support of debt relief and AIDS funding. With your untiring energy and persistent call for action, you have shown Congress and the nation that Africa Matters. For more information on the votes, please follow the links listed below. If you have trouble opening the links, copy them and paste them in the address bar of your web browser: Washington Post Article: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39981-2000Jul13.html Maxine Waters (CA) Debt Relief Amendment: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d106:3:./temp/~bdhTmg:: Barbara Lee (CA) AIDS Amendment: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d106:4:./temp/~bdhTmg:: Brad Sherman (CA) AIDS Amendment: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d106:6:./temp/~bdhTmg:: If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact me. Please let me know if we can do anything to assist you. Will Cusack Legislative Advocacy and National Outreach National Summit on Africa 1819 H Street, NW, Suite 810 Washington, DC 20006 (800) 934-3418 phone (202) 861-8645 fax [log in to unmask] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! 1. Fill in the brief application 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR http://click.egroups.com/1/6628/12/_/23029/_/963589101/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Next meeting Wed., July 26, 7 PM, Douglas-Truth Library, 23 and E Yesler, Seattle, see web site for details. To post a message: [log in to unmask] To subscribe sending a blank message to [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe send a blank message to [log in to unmask] For complete information on the Washington State Africa Network visit: www.ibike.org/africamatters ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------