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For Immediate Release
March 20, 2008 |
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Former Peace Corps
Volunteers Advocate for Increased Funding
Shays, Farr, Walsh,
Honda and Petri spearhead letter requesting $400 million in
funding for FY 09
Washington, D.C. – Representatives Christopher Shays
(CT-4), Sam Farr (CA-17), James Walsh (NY-25), Mike Honda
(CA-15) and Thomas Petri (WI-6), all former Peace Corps Volunteers,
sent a bipartisan letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee
on State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies to request
$400 million in funding is provided for the Peace Corps in
the Fiscal Year 2009 budget. The current funding level is
$333.5 million. The letter was supported by a bipartisan group
of 73 Members of Congress.
“The Peace Corps' efforts to help train people in the
developing world and build cross-cultural relationships are
critically important in this day and age,” stated Shays.
“The Peace Corps is helping to change the world one
person and one community at a time.”
“My two years in Colombia showed me that person-to-person
contact is the best tool we have to build good will abroad,”
said Farr. “With our global image in the cellar, there
is no better time to recommit ourselves to the Peace Corps
mission. With the demand for volunteers soaring and a president
who has called for doubling the size of Peace Corps, it’s
time we put our money where our mouth is.”
"What makes the Peace Corps successful is that's one-on-one
diplomacy, with the U.S. benefiting from the effort as much
as the nations being helped," said Walsh. "During
my experience, I saw firsthand that people are motivated by
the same things -- they want to improve their condition and
make life where they live better for their families."
“My service in the Peace Corps in El Salvador was one
of my life’s most fulfilling experiences and one that
gave me an opportunity to show the world the true face of
America: A country that is generous, multi-faceted and industrious,”
said Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15). “The Peace Corps continues
to be one of the most effective forms of American diplomacy.
Sufficient funding for the Peace Corps is a critical investment
for the United States.”
Petri commented: "We have no choice but to be involved
with the rest of the world in order to learn about others,
to help solve problems, and to make friends with those who
otherwise might be tempted to believe the worst of what others
tell them. The Peace Corps is essential in our efforts to
build a more prosperous and free international community,
which will benefit everyone of good will."
Representatives Shays, Farr, Walsh, Honda, Petri and Betty
McCollum (MN-4) recently introduced H.R. 5535, the Peace Corps
Reauthorization Act, which authorizes $400 million for fiscal
year 2009, $500 million for fiscal year 2010, $600 million
for fiscal year 2011, and $700 million for fiscal year 2012
-- a total of $2.1 billion over four years. It also increases
the readjustment allowance for Peace Corps Volunteers from
a minimum of $125 per month to a minimum of $225 per month.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
Contact: Dave Natonski , 202/225-5541
Contact:
Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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