Senators DeWine, Feinstein, Santorum, and Durbin are asking their colleagues to join them in signing a letter to Senate Appropriations leaders to fully fund the President's FY07 request for the International Affairs Budget



If either of your Senators have not signed on, please email a message following instructions in the link above, or call the Senate switchboard (202-224-3121) as soon as possible. Ask to be connected to your Senator's office, identify yourself as a constituent and leave the following message: "I am calling to urge Senator _____ to sign onto the DeWine-Feinstein-Santorum-Durbin letter which supports a full appropriation of the President's international affairs budget request."

Senators DeWine, Feinstein, Santorum, and Durbin are asking their colleagues to join them in signing a letter to Senate Appropriations leaders to fully fund the President's FY07 request for the International Affairs Budget

Welcome to USGLC's FY07 302(b) Senate Letter Resource Page:

Senators DeWine, Feinstein, Santorum, and Durbin are asking their colleagues to join them in signing a letter to Senate Appropriations leaders to fully fund the President's FY07 request for the International Affairs Budget. We need your help to increase signatures on the letter. Below are links that will assist with the effort:

Link to the FY07 Senate 302(b) Sign-on letter.

Click here to see the priority list of Senators and here for talking points for your calls.

Click here to send an email to urge your Senator to sign the letter. This link can also be forwarded to your network.

Click here for a list of Senators who have signed by state.

45 Signatories on the Senate Letter on behalf of the FY07 International Affairs Budget

California
Sen. Barbara Boxer(D-CA)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Connecticut
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)

Florida
Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL)

Georgia
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

Hawaii
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)

Iowa
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Illinois
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)

Kansas
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)

Louisana
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Massachusetts
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)

Maryland
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

Maine
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Michigan
Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Minnesota
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN)

North Carolina
Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)

North Dakota
Byron Dorgan (D-ND)

Nebraska
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

New Hampshire
Sen. John Sununu (R-NH)

New Jersey
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

New Mexico
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

New York
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

Ohio
Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)

Oregon
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Pennsylvania
Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)

Rhode Island
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

South Dakota
Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD)

Vermont
Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Washington
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Wisconsin
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-WI)

When this story was posted in May 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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It's Official: Vasquez nominated to FAO Exactly one week ago we predicted that Director Vasquez would soon be receiving a major ambassadorship. Today the White House confirmed that Vasquez will be the new Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture replacing Tony Hall. PCOL Comment: Director Vasquez, let us be the first to thank you for your service to the Peace Corps, congratulate you on your new appointment, and wish you good luck in your future endeavors. Although we have had our differences over the years and we opposed your nomination in 2001, we think you are leaving a solid legacy of accomplishment and have served the Peace Corps well. Initiatives and Accomplishments: Vasquez's major initiatives and accomplishments since becoming Peace Corps Director include: an agreement with Mexico in 2003 to host volunteers, sending RPCVs to work domestically in Hurricane relief after Katrina, emphasis on recruitment of minorities and of community college graduates, upgrading Peace Corps' infrastructure especially IT upgrades in the online application tracking process and the Volunteer Delivery System, an emphasis on safety and security of volunteers including the creation of a Situation Room at Peace Corps Headquarters, modifying Peace Corps' "Five Year Rule" for employment, and the expansion of the Peace Corps to its highest level in 30 years. He is the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Loret Ruppe Miller and Sargent Shriver.

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory. New: Sign up to receive PCOL Magazine, our free Monthly Magazine by email. Like to keep up with Peace Corps news as it happens? Sign up to recieve a daily summary of Peace Corps stories from around the world.

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Interview with a Hit Man RPCV John Perkins says that for many years he was an "economic hit man" in the world of international finance whose primary job was to convince less developed countries to accept multibillion dollar loans for infrastructure projects that left the recipient countries wallowing in debt and highly vulnerable to outside political and commercial interests. In this exclusive interview for "Peace Corps Online," Colombia RPCV Joanne Roll, author of Remember with Honor, talks to Perkins about his Peace Corps service, his relation with the NSA, "colonization" in Ecuador, the consequences of his work, why he decided to speak out, and what his hopes are for change.

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PC Program in Chad temporarily suspended Director Vasquez announced the temporary suspension of the Peace Corps program in Chad on April 14 and that all 29 Peace Corps volunteers have left the country. With a program dating back forty years (See Page 4 of the April 1966 "Peace Corps Volunteer"), RPCVs hope that volunteers can return to Chad as soon as the situation has stabilized. Congratulations to the Peace Corps for handling the suspension quickly and professionally.

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Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA request The Ashland Daily Tidings reports that Peace Corps has blocked their request for information on the Volkart case. "After the Tidings requested information pertaining to why Volkart was denied the position — on March 2 — the newspaper received a letter from the Peace Corps FOIA officer stating the requested information was protected under an exemption of the act." The Dayton Daily News had similar problems with FOIA requests for their award winning series on Volunteer Safety and Security.

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PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

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History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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PC announces new program in Cambodia Director Vasquez and Cambodia's Deputy Chief of Mission Meng Eang Nay announced a historic new partnership between the Peace Corps and the Kingdom of Cambodia that will bring volunteers to this Southeast Asian country for the first time. Under King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia has welcomed new partnerships with the U.S. government and other U.S. organizations.

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Top Stories: March 23, 2006 Peace Corps celebrates 45th Anniversary 9 Mar Celeste joins Stonebridge International 21 Mar Spain plans Peace Corps 20 Mar Rita Botts learns about living in layers in Ukraine 18 Mar Melanie Boyer writes "About Last Night" 17 Mar Pat Waak files campaign complaint 15 Mar Tom Bissell is a 'Yooper' 15 Mar Toledo keeps Peru's dispute with Yale in the public eye 14 Mar Lack of teachers for 'Critical Languages' 14 Mar Keith and Jenny Gelber met as PCVs in Zambia 10 Mar Bush presents award to Amber Davis-Collins 9 Mar Brian Singer founded Project Zawadi 9 Mar Christopher R. Hill speaks on East Asia in Transition 9 Mar Edmund Hull says patience will win war on terrorism 7 Mar Miriam Gray reconnects with Brazil RPCV after 40 years 5 Mar Ashley Tsongas keynotes Women's Week Breakfast 5 Mar Sari Long says PC has much to teach us 3 Mar Dana Priest calls for Peace Corps for the 21st Century 4 Mar Vasquez says PC needs to be more racially diverse 4 Mar Peace Corps Fund ready for first round of grants 2 Mar Shriver Peaceworkers Celebrate 12 Years 1 Mar White House plans to close Americorps NCCC Program 1 Mar

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Peace Corps suspends program in Bangladesh Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez announced the suspension of the Peace Corps program in Bangladesh on March 15. The safety and security of volunteers is the number one priority of the Peace Corps. Therefore, all Peace Corps volunteers serving in Bangladesh have safely left the country. More than 280 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Bangladesh since the program opened in November 1998. Latest: What other newspapers say.

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Invitee re-assigned after inflammatory remarks The Peace Corps has pulled the invitation to Derek Volkart to join the Morocco Training Program and offered him a position in the Pacific instead after officials read an article in which he stated that his decision to join the Peace Corps was in "response to our current fascist government." RPCV Lew Nash says that "If Derek Volkart spoke his mind as freely in Morocco about the Moroccan monarchy it could cause major problems for himself and other Peace Corps volunteers." Latest: Volkart reverses stance, takes new assignment in Paraguay.

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RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

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Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

By former volunteer (ca208-ch03-bl04.il-chicago0.sa.earthlink.net - 207.69.137.37) on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 7:48 am: Edit Post

Where is the money for the victims of violence during service? Where is the fund to assist the families who have lost love ones during service because of Peace Corps unsafe policies during the last two decades?

You are asking us to sweep all those violations on human beings lives who served in Peace Corps under the rug. You want us to uphold this by asking us to call Senators?

No, call your Senator and ask first if they are going to investigate the Peace Corps for cover up, medical malpractice, arbritrary firings because you as a volunteer reported a possible safety issue while serving? Or you are not geeting proper support in your medical care post Peace Corps through FECA.

When will Deborah Gardner's family get closure?

When will Dennis Priven be sued civilly for taking her life?

When will Zigmond Lebensoln, the Psychiatrist who got Dennis Priven off be investigated by the Congress and the courts in this case and for misdiagnosing many volunteers on a class action level. Lebensoln is now dead? Why can't his cases be investigated? Are they being covered up by Peace Corps? He has hurt many families of volunteers and protected negligence at Peace Corps for years. Its time to put resources into these cases to demonstrate Peace Corps is what it says it is.

Where is Walter Poirier? John Kerry is on the Foreign Relations committee. Pull aid from Bolivia and you will find out what happened. Really investigate his case. Furthermore, help his family properly with funding and proper support.

What about the families of Larissa Jaffee, Jang Lee, Kevin Reveille, Karen Phillips, Susan Fagan, Nancy Coutu and many others who died during service?

What about the 2,800 plus who were victims of violence and their cases are covered up only to violate these former volunteer's civil rights by labeling them wrongfully and ruining the careers of volunteers who served in difficult positions. They served their government and the people of their given country.

They are being jipped by Peace Corps. They need funding for a non profit outside the realm of the national Peace Corps association that has a team of lawyers to defend the rights of volunteers serving and the families of volunteers. Mr. Poirier said, they had know where to go except Congress. This is true for many former volunteers whose careers are being ruined because they served with Peace Corps.

Its morally wrong whether you are democrat or republican.

Stop the Cover up and call your Senator and Congress person to stop the Cover up and start to get back to why the Peace Corps was started to serve others.

By former volunteer (ca527-ch01-bl01.tx-dallas0.sa.earthlink.net - 207.69.139.6) on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 11:36 pm: Edit Post

Nancy,

Here our postings.

Write in to refuse to support Peace Corps budget and advocate for reform in FECA benefit reform and for victims of violence during service. Let you Senator's know what happened to you.

former volunteer