Sam Farr introduces bill to reauthorize the United States Peace Corps
Read and comment on Congressman Sam Farr's remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives on January 8 on the bill he is introducing to reauthorize the United States Peace Corps at:
A BILL TO REAUTHORIZE THE UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS -- HON. SAM FARR (Extensions of Remarks - January 08, 2003)
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HON. SAM FARR
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2003
Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I ask permission to revise and extend my remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure and the honor today of introducing a bill which will reauthorize the United States Peace Corps. I served in the Peace Corps for two years, from 1964-66, in Colombia and it inspired me to devote my life to public service. With this bill, over 14,000 Americans will be given the chance to have the same inspiration.
This bill is long in the making. We in Congress have been advocating the increase and strengthening of the Peace Corps for a long time. The goal of increasing the Peace Corps to 10,000 volunteers was announced by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. It was echoed by President Clinton in 1992. Finally, President George W. Bush announced in his State of Union address last year, his commitment to double the number of Peace Corps volunteers in five years.
Last year, following the President's statement, I introduced a bill, which would help fulfill this vision for the Peace Corps. The same bill was introduced in the Senate, where it was ultimately passed by unanimous consent.
The bill I am introducing today is essentially the same bill that was passed by the Senate:
It doubles the number of volunteers in five years;
It restates the independence of the Peace Corps;
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It asks for reports to Congress on new initiatives and security for Peace Corps volunteers;
It makes a commitment to recruit and place Peace Corps volunteers in countries where they could help promote mutual understanding, particularly in areas with substantial Muslim populations;
It develops training programs for Peace Corps volunteers in areas of education and prevention of AIDS;
It streamlines and empowers the Peace Corps Advisory Council and creates a fund to promote the work of returned Peace Corps volunteers in fulfilling the third goal of the Peace Corps--to educate other Americans about their experience overseas.
This is a crucial time to invest in the Peace Corps, a crucial time to invest in improving America's relations with peoples and countries across the globe. I believe that this bill represents an important symbol of the good will of the United States, and reflects our fundamental nature as a concerned and caring nation.
I would like to thank Congressman MARK UDALL, whose mother was a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, for helping to author the bill. I would also like to thank my fellow Congressman MIKE HONDA for also being an original cosponsor. I would also like to thank all of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have given invaluable input in creating this bill.
I encourage my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation.
END 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
