October 25, 2002 - PCOL Exclusive: White House Considers Passage of Peace Corps Legislation a "High Priority"
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October 25, 2002 - PCOL Exclusive: White House Considers Passage of Peace Corps Legislation a "High Priority"
White House Considers Passage of Peace Corps Legislation a "High Priority"
Read and comment on this exclusive from Peace Corps Online where for the first time a top Republican aide in the House of Representative gives us an inside look at how the passage of the Peace Corps Bill may play out at the end of this session in Congress. Read the story at:
White House Considers Passage of Peace Corps Legislation a "High Priority"*
* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.
White House Considers Passage of Peace Corps Legislation a "High Priority"
Washington (October 24) - In Peace Corps Online exclusive, a top Republican Congressional Aide said today that the White House considers passage of Peace Corps legislation a "high priority." Speaking on background, the aide continued by saying that "The President wants to sign a Peace Corps bill."
The President has called for a doubling of the Peace Corps by 2007. Of the three pending bills, Senator Dodd's Amended S2667, Congressman Farr's HR 4979, and Congressman's Kirk's HR 5255, all three would meet the President's requirement to authorize and fund his request.
The Senate has already passed an amended version of Senator Dodd’s Peace Corps Charter for the 21st Century Act (S 2667) but the House of Representatives recessed without voting on it. Members will be back after the November 5th election. They will have the choice of three bills; the amended Dodd bill; the original Farr HR 4979 or a streamlined version introduced by Congressman Kirk - or not considering or passing any Peace Corps bill at all.
The Republican aide went on to say that "there are no sure things with Congress," but if he had to guess, it would be that "the Dodd compromise is going to pass," probably in its current form.
Both existing bills by RPCVs - Senator Dodd's (Dominion Republic 66-68) and Congressman Farr's (Colombia 64-66) contain funding for RPCV activities in pursuit of the Third Goal. This would be the first time that Congress has authorized such funding.
While the possibility of third goal funding has mobilized the RPCV community, it could still be a sticking point for some Republican House members. The concern with some Republicans is with the structure of the funding. RPCV corporations would be funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service. Some in Congress have reservations about carving out a specific grant program for a specific group of people within the National Service Corporation.
Speculation within the RPCV community has centered on the possibility of Congressional hearings which might have explored in depth the current operation of Peace Corps; the consequence of rapid expansion; security concerns as well as the role of the Returned Volunteer. But it would appear that the Administration's priority is quick Congressional approval of the President's request for Peace Corps expansion.
RPCVs have wondered what they should do to get the bill through Congress. It is Henry Hyde, Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, who will decide whether this bill gets on the fast track for passage during the House's "lame duck session."
Advocacy leaders suggest if RPCVs want to see this bill passed this year, they need to write or call Henry Hyde's office and let him know that they want it passed. RPCV's who live in districts whose Congressman sit on the House International Relations Committee should do the same by calling their representatives and telling them they want this bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. If it isn't voted on now, it may take 8 or 9 months to get back to where we are now for a vote on the floor in the new session.
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Breaking News; Peace Corps - Congress
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The administration should know that this legislation is not perfect. Both Farr and Dodd neglected our proposals for having two volunteers at every site or village for safety prevention. It would not take away from the program and it ensures communication between American citizens who would be serving this country in a foreign setting. If this bill does pass, 4,000 more volunteers would go into service. Approximatley, twenty five percent of volunteers will serve alone. Many of these volunteers will be sent to Arabic nations as intended by the bill. Just think of your sister, mother, brother, dad, son or daughter being placed in one of these countries alone. 21 Volunteers have been killed, died or are missing since 1996 and 16 since 1998. That number is way too high. These facts coupled with the new report done by the GAO report on Safety and Security in July which states a very high number of volunteer fall victim to attacks while serving gives us in the Peace Corps world reason for pause and reflection. How sensible is it to ask a young person or older American to go out and volunteer their time when our diplomatic relations aren't the best. The Best diplomats are Peace Corps Volunteers. Tell the Administration to encourage the leadership at Peace Corps that two volunteers at in every village is common sense and prudent policy. Since it will not be in this legislation, discuss these facts at the signing, so our President becomes aware of our concerns and the Peace Corps Director starts to see our real concerns for the future of Peace Corps and "all" the Volunteers that serve this country.
