For Immediate Release: August 2, 2021
Contact: Hillary John, hjohn@skdknick.com

Groups Urge Congress to Support Rep. Jayapal Amendment to Authorize More Economic Relief to Fight Deadly Pandemic 

Washington, DC — After the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board of Governors approved a plan to issue $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), more than 30 prominent humanitarian, international development, human rights, faith-based, and policy organizations are calling for additional economic relief to help lower- and middle-income countries stop the worldwide spread of COVID-19. 

At no cost to the United States, SDRs are reserve assets the IMF can use to help countries facing economic downturns. As the threat from the COVID-19 Delta variant rises, US and world leaders are warning the IMF that especially vulnerable countries will need additional assistance to bolster the infrastructure needed to scale up vaccine distribution programs. 

In a sign of growing momentum to stop the worldwide spread of COVID-19, last week the House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill that includes nearly $1 trillion in direct economic support for low-income and developing countries confronting a deadly pandemic that is only getting worse.

US Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) said, “I am proud to have partnered with a grassroots coalition of organized labor, faith groups, humanitarian organizations, and many others, to secure this vital provision. By voting to advance a new issuance of Special Drawing Rights, we are demonstrating our commitment to tackling the global pandemic and ensuring that the developing world receives the resources it urgently needs to save millions of lives.”  

In the following statement, prominent groups representing tens of millions of Americans are calling on US leaders to approve the legislation and work in a bipartisan fashion:

“Countries that lack widespread access to vaccines and PPE are experiencing a tragic surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths from the Delta variant. The vote by the IMF’s board of governors to approve $650 billion in reserve funds to help with pandemic response is a major step in the right direction, but we can do more to meet the needs of the global community.

On behalf of the tens of millions of Americans our groups represent, we are calling for an increased expansion of Special Drawing Rights to save countless lives. These additional reserve funds would help countries combat COVID-19 and boost the international economy at no cost to US taxpayers.

We are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Rosa DeLauro, and Chuy Garcia in advancing a lifesaving expansion of Special Drawing Rights and we call on federal policymakers to work in a bipartisan fashion to address this crisis with the urgency it requires.” 

The following groups signed the joint statement: 

• Action Corps

• Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA)

• Africa Faith and Justice Network

• American Friends Service Committee

• Amnesty International of the USA, Inc.

• Avaaz

• Baltimore Nonviolence Center

• Brooklyn for Peace

• Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)

• Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN)

• Church World Service

• CODEPINK

• Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach

• Demand Progress

• Faiths for Safe Water

• Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

• Jobs with Justice

• Just Foreign Policy

• Justice Is Global

• Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

• Mennonite Central Committee, U.S.

• Peace Action Bay Ridge

• Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Justice Team

• Sojourners

• The Hunger Project

• The United Methodist Church—General Board of Church and Society

• Union for Reform Judaism

• United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

• Watch Democracy Grow

• Win Without War

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