[stop-imf] URGENT ALERT: Congress to vote on IMF/Debt

[Robert Weissman]

From=2050 Years is Enough:

THURSDAY may be our best opportunity this year to get Congress to act to
limit the power of the IMF and delink debt relief programs from structural
adjustment.  This vote in the House Appropriations Committee has come up
rather suddenly.  With all the work we are doing preparing for the April
mobilization, we are grateful to our close allies at Results for sharing
the alert below.  WE URGE ALL 50 YEARS IS ENOUGH ACTIVISTS IN THE U.S. TO
ACT ON THIS ALERT BEFORE 1 P.M. EASTERN TIME THURSDAY -- if your
Representative is on the Appropriations Committee (see list at end of
alert).  Particularly important is for those in the Bay Area to call Rep.
Nancy Pelosi.  Her direct line is 202/225-4965.  All Representatives may
be reached by calling the Capitol Switchboard, 202/224-3121.

THANK YOU!

 URGENT ACTION ON IMF AND DEBT IN SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR HOUS=
E
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The House Appropriations Committee is now expected to consider the
supplemental appropriations (funding) bill for 2000 on Thursday,
March 9th at 1PM.  The supplemental did not include funding for debt
relief as of Wednesday morning, but may very likely include funding for
debt relief either through negotiations or via an amendment to the bill by
the time the bill is considered in the Committee. [BUT this debt relief
would still be linked to the policies of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF)].

We urge that any debt relief provided in the FY 2000 supplemental
appropriations bill be delinked from countries first having to undergo
harsh and failed IMF policies, but instead be focused on ensuring that
monies freed up by debt relief are invested into basic health and
education.

Assuming debt relief is included in the supplemental, it is expected that
an amendment will be offered by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) in the
Appropriations Committee to delink debt relief from IMF (or joint
IMF/World Bank) structural adjustment conditions.

We therefore need to build support for a possible amendment.

REQUEST: If your Rep is on Appropriations, please call your Reps. office
and urge the following:

1) That any debt relief provided in the FY 2000 supplemental
appropriations bill be delinked from countries first having to undergo
harsh and failed IMF policies.  [Delinking debt relief from IMF/World Bank
conditions would reflect the action by the House Banking Committee last
year.  An amendment to debt legislation (HR 1095), which called for
delinking debt relief from IMF/World Bank conditions, was passed by a
21-14 vote in the House Banking Committee last fall.]

2) That if debt relief funding is included in the supplemental, that they
support an amendment expected to be offered by Maurice Hinchey to delink
debt relief from IMF programs.  [We want effective debt relief and not
failed IMF conditions].

Background: For over 20 years, the IMF has been involved in development
and debt relief in many countries, and the result of its structural
adjustment programs has too often been a worsening of these countries=92
economic and social conditions.  According to the IMF=92s own internal and
external reviews, poor countries under IMF programs saw a doubling of
their debts from 1986 to 1996, and an average 0% GDP growth rate. =20
Sub-Saharan Africa saw an annual decline in per capita incomes and in
education spending under the IMF.

House Appropriations Committee--

Alabama: Cramer, Alderholt, Callahan

Arizona: Pastor, Kolbe

Arkansas: Dickey

California: Pelosi, Dixon, Roybal-Allard, Farr, J. Lewis, Packard,
Cunningham

Connecticut: DeLauro

Florida: Boyd, Meek, D. Miller, B. Young

Georgia: Kingston

Illinois: Jackson, Porter

Indiana: Visclosky

Iowa: Latham

Kansas: Tiahrt

Kentucky: Northrup, Rogers

Maryland: Hoyer

Massachusetts: Olver

Michigan: Kilpatrick, Knollenberg

Minnesota: Sabo

Mississippi: Wicker

Missouri: Emerson

New Hampshire: Sununu

New Jersey: Frelinghuysen

New Mexico: Skeen

New York: Lowey, Serrano, Hinchey (not necessary to call), Forbes, Walsh

North Carolina: Price, C. Taylor

Ohio: Kaptur, Hobson, Regula

Oklahoma: Istook

Pennsylvania: Murtha, Peterson

South Carolina: Clyburn

Tennessee: Wamp

Texas: Edwards, Granger, Bonilla, DeLay

Virginia: Wolf

Washington: Dicks, Nethercutt

West Virginia: Mollohan

Wisconsin: Obey