I spoke to Congressman Elijah Cummings office and told them that I support $27M budget increase for the Peace Corps and oppose the elimination of the Perkins loans program.

The staffer transferred me to the voice mail of the Congressman's legislative assistant and said repeat my message along with my name and address for her voice mail, and that I would receive a letter from the Congressman acknowlednging the call with information on where the Congressman stands on the issues.

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 Monday, February 28, 2005 - 12:04 pm: Edit Post

I placed three calls this morning and timed myself just to see how long it would take. I started my calls at 11:45 and am completing writing up this note at 12:03, so including writing these notes and taking the poll, it took 18 minutes for all three calls or an average of 6 minutes per call.

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-123-27.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.123.27) on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 1:23 pm: Edit Post

I spoke to Congressman Cummings' office this morning and they told me they had received a number of calls last week regarding the expansion of the Peace Corps.

I asked her if she would ask the Congressman if he would sign onto the letter coming out of Sam Farr's office asking for an expanded budget for the Peace Corps and she told me she would pass it on to him and it was entirely possible that he would agree to sign on.

She said I could check back with her early next week and she will let me know if the Congressman has signed on to the letter.

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