January 9, 2003 - The Californian: Rep. Sam Farr considers Peace Corps legislation a top priority for this session of Congress
Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: 01 January 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: January 9, 2003 - The Californian: Rep. Sam Farr considers Peace Corps legislation a top priority for this session of Congress
By Admin1 (admin) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 1:57 pm: Edit Post

Rep. Sam Farr considers Peace Corps legislation a top priority for this session of Congress




Read and comment on this story from the Californian on Congressman Sam Farr's 2003 legislative priorities. Rep. Farr, a RPCV who served in Colombia from 1964 to 1966, introduced "The Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill (HR4979) in the House of Representatives last year and secured 21 co-sponsors. Although a similar bill passed in the Senate, the House did not take up the Peace Corps bill before the close of their legislative session and the bill died. Rep. Farr's priorities include:
"Doubling the size of the Peace Corps. Farr, a former Peace Corps volunteer, said the bill would codify what President Bush proposed in his 2002 State of the Union speech. It would also establish a needed "firewall" between the Peace Corps and U.S. intelligence agencies. "The need for the Peace Corps is at an all-time high," he said.
Informed sources within Congress tell us that Rep. Farr will re-introduce his Peace Corps bill early this session. Farr emphasized that the legislation would establish a needed "firewall" between the Peace Corps and U.S. intelligence agencies. The recent events in Russia certainly bear out the requirement for such language. Read the story at:

Farr reveals priorities*

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


Farr reveals priorities

Lawmaker Shares Issues on His 2003 To-Do List; Central Coast transportation money among key items

By Larry Parsons

The Californian

Fundamental issues of war, peace and the economy will dominate Congress this year, U.S. Rep. Sam Farr says.

And the tenor of debate might not be a picture of smooth, bipartisan teamwork.

"We've already broken down in partisan bickering," Farr, D-Carmel, said Wednesday, just a day after the new 108th Congress opened for business. At issue were stop-gap funding measures, called continuing resolutions, to keep the federal government operating until Congress resolves major appropriation bills hanging fire from last year.

The debate promises to be even fiercer over competing plans to shake the U.S. economy out of its doldrums. A day after President Bush unveiled his tax-cut proposal, Farr said, "We think his economic plan bankrupts the country and our children's country."

"There is going to be a major battle over the president's priorities," he said.

Until the smoke clears on economic policy, Congress won't resolve many other issues, Farr said, adding, "It's all about money."

Still, he announced his own 2003 priorities, which include continuing opposition to the rapid lead-up to war with Iraq and securing money for Central Coast projects in the new federal transportation bill.

"There's a lot of work to be done by this president to gain true support for this war," Farr said. All peaceful alternatives must be exhausted, and the United States must have international backing before resorting to military action, he said.

On transportation, Farr said he hopes to secure funding for a new Airport Boulevard-Highway 101 interchange in Salinas and other projects needed to get "tourists in and produce out" of Monterey County. He also wants to keep federal funds flowing for more links in the long-planned Santa Cruz-to-Pacific-Grove shoreline trail.

"The trail exists on paper, but it doesn't exist as a person could walk it," Farr said.

To help commercial fishermen who've been hit by tighter rules to protect fish species, Farr said he would push to use commercial vessels for federally funded marine research. And he hopes to increase emergency aid to Pacific Coast fishermen.

Farr's 2003 legislative priorities also include:

Doubling the size of the Peace Corps. Farr, a former Peace Corps volunteer, said the bill would codify what President Bush proposed in his 2002 State of the Union speech. It would also establish a needed "firewall" between the Peace Corps and U.S. intelligence agencies. "The need for the Peace Corps is at an all-time high," he said.

Bringing financial relief to doctors being forced from the Central Coast because of rising insurance costs and low Medicare reimbursement rates.

"The price tag for prescription drugs and Medicare reimbursement is astronomical," Farr said. "The priority of funding war over medicine is one of the fundamental issues ... of the debate this year."

Continuing efforts to develop more affordable housing in Monterey County, especially on former Fort Ord land.

Supporting Colombian coffee growers to deter continued violence and drug production in the South American nation.
More on Sam Farr and the new Peace Corps legislation



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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Peace Corps - Legislation; COS - Colombia

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By bankass.com on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 9:38 pm: Edit Post

Top Priority should be two volunteers at every site for Safety of Volunteers. Thanks for your time Sam

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