2010.03.02: Williams Speaks at University of Texas
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2010.03.02: Williams Speaks at University of Texas
Williams Speaks at University of Texas
During the audience question-and-answer session following the interview, a former Peace Corps volunteer voiced concern that the stipend has not increased in 20 years or adjusted for inflation during that time. Williams said that an increase in the Peace Corps budget under President Barack Obama would allow the program to raise the allowance. The service program has received bipartisan support in Congress. When Obama allocated $373 million to the program in the 2010 fiscal year budget, the House and the Senate increased that amount to $400 million. The Obama administration's goal mirrors similar attempts by the former George W. Bush administration, which also pledged to double the number of Peace Corps volunteers immediately after 9/11. The program peaked in 1966 at 16,000 volunteers. Williams said he wanted to expand the Peace Corps presence in Muslim countries. "We need to get to know them better, and they need to get to know us," Williams said.
Williams Speaks at University of Texas
Students heed call to service
Peace Corps set to increase stipend for returning volunteers
By Joshua Michaels
Daily Texan Staff
Published: Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Updated: Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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Caption: Peace Corps director Aaron Williams, center, speaks with former colleague Samuel Scott, right, and volunteer Ben Freelom, who served in Guatemala from 2007 to 2009, following a moderated interview at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. Photo: Tamir Kalifa/The Daily Texan
Peace Corps director Aaron Williams announced at a moderated interview Monday that the volunteer organization will increase the $6,000 stipend for returning Peace Corps volunteers.
The Peace Corps is a national, governmental service program that places volunteers in developing countries. Volunteers are typically employed in jobs relating to international development, such as agricultural training, business development or English instruction.
Returning Peace Corps volunteers receive a $6,000 stipend from the government to help cover the costs of transitioning back to the United States.
During the audience question-and-answer session following the interview, a former Peace Corps volunteer voiced concern that the stipend has not increased in 20 years or adjusted for inflation during that time. Williams said that an increase in the Peace Corps budget under President Barack Obama would allow the program to raise the allowance.
The service program has received bipartisan support in Congress. When Obama allocated $373 million to the program in the 2010 fiscal year budget, the House and the Senate increased that amount to $400 million.
The Peace Corps is currently stationed in 76 countries with 7,300 men and women, 68 of whom are from UT. While Obama made a campaign promise to double the number of current volunteers by the organization's 50th anniversary in 2011, the 2011 fiscal year budget places the Peace Corps on track to reach only 11,000 volunteers by 2016, according to the PolitiFact Web site.
The Obama administration's goal mirrors similar attempts by the former George W. Bush administration, which also pledged to double the number of Peace Corps volunteers immediately after 9/11. The program peaked in 1966 at 16,000 volunteers.
Williams said he wanted to expand the Peace Corps presence in Muslim countries.
"We need to get to know them better, and they need to get to know us," Williams said.
The Peace Corps currently operates in Jordan and Morocco and is restoring its program in Indonesia, which holds the world's largest Muslim population, this year.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: March, 2010; Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams; Peace Corps Directors; Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; Peace Corps Headquarters
When this story was posted in March 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: The Daily Texan
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Directors; COS - Dominican Republic; Headquarters
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