The United States House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 16, approved a measure including 24 developing countries on the list of potential beneficiaries of a debt pardon by the American government and international financial institutions. The project, denominated the Jubilee Act, passed with 285 votes in favor and 132 against.

According to the news website VisaoNews, among the countries on the list are Cape Verde, Angola, Kenya, Lesotho and Nigeria, as well as a number of Asian countries.

One of the initiative's sponsors, Democratic California congresswoman Maxine Waters, said that the cancelling of the debt is aimed at allowing poor countries to use resources that would otherwise be channeled into debt payments to respond to the needs of their populations.

For House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the measure "is very important from the point of view of security and compassion."

The bill was supported by dozens of religious and civic organizations. The group Jubilee USA Network, made up of some 80 different organizations, praised the decision by the House of Representatives, saying that the initiative will help poor countries reach the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Democratic congressman Barney Frank, who recently visited Cape Verde, also supported the initiative.