By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-115-42.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.115.42) on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 5:14 pm: Edit Post |
Senator Norm Coleman says "as chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, it is my objective to help the Peace Corps become not only bigger, but also better and safer."
Senator Norm Coleman says "as chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, it is my objective to help the Peace Corps become not only bigger, but also better and safer."
NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK
March 2004 - Madam President, this week is National Peace Corps Week. It is with great pleasure that I send my congratulations to the Peace Corps volunteers serving throughout the world as we celebrate the Peace Corps' 43 years of service.
Forty-three years ago, President John F. Kennedy mobilized a generation to work in emerging nations around the world in education, community development, agriculture, health care, and public works.
Since 1961, over 170,000 Americans have volunteered their expertise, time, and energy to foster development and progress in 136 countries. There is no greater symbol of America's generosity than American volunteers living and working in partnership with the people of developing nations to encourage education and opportunity.
Currently, over 7,500 volunteers are serving in 71 countries around the world--the highest number of volunteers in the field in 28 years--and applications have risen by 10 percent. Last year, Peace Corps entered or re-entered Albania, Azerbaijan, Chad, and Fiji, and many other countries have expressed interest in establishing a partnership with Peace Corps. I strongly support Peace Corps entry into Mexico for the first time.
It is my deepest hope that we continue to recognize and support the Peace Corps' important work. By honoring the Peace Corps, we reaffirm our Nation's commitment to strengthen freedom and create opportunities around the world.
President Bush has announced a goal of doubling the number of Peace Corps volunteers over 5 years. I support this effort and the President's budget request for the Peace Corps. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, it is my objective to help the Peace Corps become not only bigger, but also better and safer. The well-being of the volunteer must remain the top priority of the Corps. I believe the Peace Corps must have the resources it needs to ensure volunteer safety. I also believe the Peace Corps should continue efforts to diversify its volunteers. We need to bring into the Corps more older volunteers, and more minorities. Only then can be the Peace Corps truly represent the face of America's melting pot.
The Peace Corps is part of Minnesota's heritage--over 5,000 Minnesotans have served as volunteers. And while the Peace Corps has been rightly associated with John F. Kennedy, it was Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey who proposed the idea in the 1950s.
I am very happy to join with Peace Corps volunteers, past and present, to celebrate National Peace Corps Week--March 1-7, 2004.
By Anonymous (static-3m-b2-174.highspeed.eol.ca - 64.56.232.174) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 1:54 pm: Edit Post |
Senator Coleman must be for the expansion of Peace Corps at the UN level. Rather than 10-15 volunteers a year, we could expand to at least 1000 to 1500.