• March 4, 2005: Headlines: Congress: Legislation: Appropriations: Budget: Government Executive: Senator Sarbanes on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday votes to approve a two-year, $4.5 billion authorization bill for the State Department's diplomatic programs that includes $345 million for the Peace Corps  Friday, March 04, 2005 - 3:42 pm [1]

• Maryland RPCVs - Make a call for the Peace Corps Friday, March 04, 2005 - 1:17 pm [1]

• It's so easy! Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 9:13 am [1]

I spoke to Senator Sarbanes office of Maryland and told them that I support the budget increase for the Peace Corps and opposed the elimination of Perkins loans.

The staffer said the Senator had not yet taken a position on either issue but that they would pass along my views.

Hugh Pickens
President, Maryland Returned Volunteers
Peru, 1970 - 73

By jay grotke (1cust238.tnt1.dca5.da.uu.net - 67.249.194.238) on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 11:29 am: Edit Post

left message with staffer

By Karen Lange (mouth.ngs.org - 207.24.91.5) on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 11:43 am: Edit Post

Again, told a staffer I supported increasing the budget and opposed eliminating Perkins loans.
Karen Lange
Liberia 84-86

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-123-27.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.123.27) on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 1:16 pm: Edit Post

I checked in with Senator Sarbanes' office and reiterated my support for the Peace Corps budget increase and opposition to the elimination of Perkins Loans. They asked for my name and address this time and said the Senator would be sending me a letter on the subject.

I asked if they had been receiving a lot of these calls this week and the staffer told me that yes, they had been receiving many calls asking for support of the Peace Corps' budget increase and opposing Perkins Loans elimination.

Thanks you Maryland RPCVs for making your calls. Your contribution has been seen and has been noticed.

I am posting a copy of the original email that we sent out to our membership earlier this week.

Best Regards and thanks again,


Hugh Pickens
President, Maryland Returned Volunteers
Peru, 1970 - 73

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-123-27.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.123.27) on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 3:48 pm: Edit Post

I just posted the story above that on March 3 Senator Sarbanes, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voted in favor of a two-year, $4.5 billion authorization bill for the State Department's diplomatic programs that includes $345 million for the Peace Corps.

I'm sure he was going to vote in favor the bill anyway but I'm also sure that his office appreciated hearing from a constituency that supported his position.

Best Regards,


Hugh Pickens
President, Maryland Returned Volunteers
Peru, 1970 - 73