In the Senate, the full Appropriations Committee met to consider its version of the State/Foreign Operations bill. The Committee unanimously passed a bill that includes just a $373.4 Million recommendation for Peace Corps. But we can still get the full $450 million if we continue to scale our movement and build co-sponsors on s.1382, Senator Dodd’s Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act 2009 , which presently has two co-sponsors (Senators Durbin and Kennedy). We can get the full amount if we just keep at it. Likely in September, the Senate and House will come together in “conference” and at that time if we build even more support, our heroes will be there for us again and fight the low numbers out of the Senate.
Even though the Senate Appropriations Committee only approved a budget of $373 million, the Peace Corps can still get the full $450 million if Friends of the Peace Corps continue to scale our movement and build co-sponsors on s.1382, Senator Dodd’s Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act 2009
An Important Update
Yesterday, history was made for the Peace Corps in the House of Representatives: the full $450 million was approved for FY 2010. Congratulations to all of you. You made this happen with your passionate letters, phone calls, and outreach. Those who have been our champions on the Hill since the beginning didn’t let us down on this day. When Rep. Cliff Stearns (FL-6) offered two amendments to scale down Peace Corps funding, Chairwoman Nita Lowey , showing incredible courage once again stood up in ardent defense of full funding, mentioning the thousands of letters she and her colleagues had received from former volunteers. She stood up for the people in those 25 countries that want volunteers. She stood up for the 13,000 applicants to the Peace Corps who are hoping to have a chance to serve America and the world. When Rep. Stearns countered that we should not be investing in costly job creation abroad, Representatives Sam Farr and Betty McCollum , who have been our heroes from the beginning of this movement, delivered passionate defenses that reminded those present of the days of Sargent Shriver. They talked about the great work volunteers do. They talked about creating a new American foreign policy that was built on peace and development. When Rep. Stearns mentioned the costliness of the Peace Corps, Rep. Steve Driehaus was incredible as he stood up and stated he was paid $280 a month as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal and asked Rep. Stearns if he knew of a job in the United States that cost so little. Representative Stearns countered that he was just defending President Obama’s $373.4 million and his amendment could even be called the “Obama/Stearns” Amendment.
The Peace Corps is alive again and it’s because of you. We still have a lot of work to do and we are struggling in the Senate, but please take a moment and celebrate what we have achieved. Please send thank you notes to the hard working staff of our most ardent champions:
Rep. Lowey - ann.vaughan@mail.house.gov
Rep. Farr - marc.hanson@mail.house.gov
Rep. McCollum - bill.harper@mail.house.gov
Rep. Driehaus - aaron.wasserman@mail.house.gov
Rep. Kirk - andria.hoffman@mail.house.gov
Senator Kit Bond - mike_dubois@bond.senate.gov
Senator Leahy and other members of the Subcommittee received literally thousands of phone calls, letters and faxes including a beautiful epistle from Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary.
In the Senate, the full Appropriations Committee met to consider its version of the State/Foreign Operations bill. The Committee unanimously passed a bill that includes just a $373.4 Million recommendation for Peace Corps. But we can still get the full $450 million if we continue to scale our movement and build co-sponsors on s.1382, Senator Dodd’s Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act 2009 , which presently has two co-sponsors (Senators Durbin and Kennedy). We can get the full amount if we just keep at it. Likely in September, the Senate and House will come together in “conference” and at that time if we build even more support, our heroes will be there for us again and fight the low numbers out of the Senate.
It deserves to be mentioned that one Senator stood up alone yesterday. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) was our hero, and when we eventually do get the full $450 million out of the Senate as well, by amendment or other means, it will be Senator Bond who we’ll have to thank. Not only did he write a letter opposing the $373.4 million appropriation, but he made a statement in which he challenged Congress “to put the money where its mouth is” for the Peace Corps. He cited the importance of Peace Corps as a “smart power” investment, and made positive reference to the need for higher funding levels.
CONGRATULATIONS
Because of you, we are in this position. Don’t let up. Now we should all be focused on growing co-sponsors on Senator Dodd’s bill and building broad support in the Senate for $450 million when all is said and done.
