June 20, 2002 - Senator Dodd's Press Release: Dodd, Farr, Udall announce legislation to expand Peace Corps, affirms its independence

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Peace Corps Library: Special Reports: New PC Legislation introduced in Congress [4/3/02]: June 20, 2002 - Senator Dodd's Press Release: Dodd, Farr, Udall announce legislation to expand Peace Corps, affirms its independence

By Admin1 (admin) on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 7:56 pm: Edit Post

Dodd, Farr, Udall announce legislation to expand Peace Corps, affirms its independence





Read and comment on this Press Release from Senator Dodd's office on the bill he introduced in the Senate to expand Peace Corps at:

DODD, FARR, UDALL ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND PEACE CORPS, AFFIRM ITS INDEPENCENCE *

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



DODD, FARR, UDALL ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND PEACE CORPS, AFFIRM ITS INDEPENCENCE

Bill strengthens agency's work in promoting grassroots development, global understanding

June 20, 2002

Washington, D.C. — Acknowledging the extraordinary achievements of the Peace Corps over its forty-year history as well as its critical, ongoing role in encouraging mutual understanding and nonviolent coexistence among peoples of diverse cultures, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Congressmen Sam Farr (D-Calif. 17th) and Mark Udall (D-Colo. 2nd) today announced that they are introducing legislation that charts a course for the Peace Corps for the 21st century while maintaining its status as an independent, nonpartisan agency.

"The terrorist attacks of September 11th, more than anything, have shown us that the world has become a much, much smaller place," said Dodd, who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1966 to 1968. "The United States can no longer afford to neglect certain countries, or certain parts of the world - we need to help developing countries meet the basic needs of their people; we need to better understand other cultures; and we need to do a better job promoting an understanding of American values abroad. In 40-plus years, the Peace Corps has grown and expanded considerably. We must ensure that we are keeping pace with the new responsibilities of the Peace Corps, and the changing needs of Peace Corps volunteers."

"The Peace Corps has always helped people in developing nations to meet basic needs, promoted understanding of America's values and ideals abroad, and encouraged Americans to better understand their neighbors around the world," Rep. Sam Farr said. "I believe our legislation is essential to ensuring that the Peace Corps remains viable," Rep. Farr added.

"Colorado has one of the highest levels of recruitment of Peace Corps volunteers nationwide," said Udall, whose district is home to over 500 returned volunteers, including his mother who served in Nepal. "After more than 40 years, the Peace Corps remains one of the most admired and successful initiatives ever put in place. We need an expanded and refocused Peace Corps that can take on the challenges that September 11th has presented us, and a Peace Corps that can be a strong symbol of our nation's commitment to peace."

Since its establishment by President Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps has operated in 135 countries with 165,000 volunteers. The Peace Corps seeks to fulfill its mission of promoting world peace and friendship through the service of American volunteers abroad by helping people in developing countries meet basic needs, to promote understanding of America's values and ideals abroad, and to promote an understanding of other peoples by Americans.

The Peace Corps Charter for the 21st Century Act of 2002 (S. 2667) would amend the Peace Corps Act to increase the number of Peace Corps volunteers to 15,000; encourage the Peace Corps to increase its presence in countries whose governments are seeking to foster a greater understanding by and about their citizens (particularly those with a substantial Muslim population); train all Peace Corps volunteers in the education, prevention, and treatment of infections diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria; create a fund to provide seed money to returned volunteers for community projects; and reiterate the importance of the continued independence of the Peace Corps.



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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Special Reports; Peace Corps Legislation

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