Push the Senate Subcommittee to Support the $46 million increase



Push the Senate Subcommittee to Support the $46 million increase

Push the Senate Subcommittee to Support the $46 million increase

July 12, 2010 | News

Last week, the House of Representatives' State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $46.15 million funding increase for the Peace Corps in 2011. In this time of fiscal austerity, it was a big win. Read about it here.

Now, the key vote will be in the Senate.

Within the next 2 weeks, the 15 Members of the Senate State and Foreign Operations subcommittee, led by Chairman Patrick Leahy (VT) and Ranking Member Judd Gregg (NH), will likely decide whether or not to support the $46 million increase, which has been endorsed by over 30 Senators thanks to the efforts of Senators Chris Dodd (CT) and Bob Corker (TN).

If you are a constituent of one of the 15 subcommittee members, please contact your Senator now (sample text below, please personalize). You can also help by forwarding this newsletter on to friends and family urging them to take action. Key phone numbers and website links are listed below.

One very positive factor is that the $46.15 million increase (already passed by the House subcommittee) is supported by the Administration, and the Senate subcommittee supported the President's request last year. But this is no guarantee that it will do so again.

If you are a constituent of one of the 15 Subcommittee Members, call now and say (please personalize and adapt this text):

I am calling from ____ to encourage Senator ____ to support $46.15 million in additional funding for the Peace Corps in 2011. This is the amount requested by the administration's budget to strengthen and expand the agency. Since 1961, Peace Corps volunteers have served the needs of people in developing countries while shaping how those people view America. Today, new countries are appealing for Peace Corps programs. Please take this momentous opportunity and support the $46.15 million increase recently approved by the House subcommittee. I appreciate your support.

Democratic Subcommittee Members

* Senator Patrick Leahy (Chairman) (VT) (202) 224-4242

* Senator Daniel Inouye (HI) 202-224-3934

* Senator Tom Harkin (IA) 202-224-3254

* Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD) (202) 224-4654

* Senator Richard Durbin (IL) (202) 224-2152

* Senator Tim Johnson (SD) (202) 224-5842

* Senator Mary Landrieu (LA) (202) 224-5824

* Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) (202) 224-3224

* Senator Arlen Specter (PA) 202-224-4254

Republican Subcommittee Members

* Senator Judd Gregg (Ranking Member) (NH) (202) 224-3324

* Senator Mitch McConnell (KY) (202) 224-2541

* Senator Robert Bennett (UT) (202) 224-5444

* Senator Christopher Bond (MO) (202) 224-5721

* Senator Sam Brownback (KS) (202) 224-6521

* Senator George Voinovich (OH) (202) 224-3353

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: July, 2010; Congress; Congress; Speaking Out; Budget; Appropriations

When this story was posted in July 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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

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May 12, 2010: PC Returns to Colombia Colombia Program restarts after 30 Year Absence 11 May Karen Smith works in Afghanistan and Sudan 24 Apr Kevin Bubriski began photographing Nepal in 1975 24 Apr Mark Lenzi writes: Can Poland get past the 'curse'? 14 Apr Aaron Williams visits Jordan 13 Apr Committee passes Dodd's Peace Corps Bill 13 Apr NPCA's Africa Rural Connect wins Award 13 Apr Brian Kuhn among Scientists on Ancestor Find 12 Apr Melanie Edwards gathers data on "invisible poor" 12 Apr Johnnie Carson writes: Africa Policy Under Obama 7 Apr Be Part Of New Film About The Peace Corps 30 Mar Chief of Staff encourages PCVs to serve third year 29 Mar Williams Testifies on Vision for Future of Peace Corps 18 Mar Heath Lowry teaches Turkish Studies at Princeton 14 Mar Torkin Wakefield created "Bead for Life" in Uganda 14 Mar Parents of Murdered PCV Speak Out 12 Mar Village in Kenya Erects Monument to Megan DaPisa 10 Mar Frank Swoboda at World Food Prize HQ 10 Mar Ashley Bates reports from Gaza 4 Mar Joe Zenisek started Share the Love 10 years ago 28 Feb Peter Hessler publishes "Country Driving" 25 Feb Stacia and Kristof Nordin call Malawi home 22 Feb

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Feb 10, 2010: Senator Dodd to Retire Dodd retires from Senate 6 Jan Cameron Hume named US Ambassador to Pakistan 8 Feb Florida RPCVs sponsor Everglades Experience 6 Feb Jeff Hall brings aid to Sierra Leone 1 Feb Peace Corps to reach 11,000 PCVs in 2016 1 Feb Hugh Pickens writes: Standing Bear Looks to the Future 27 Jan Ann Varghese survives 55 hours in Haiti rubble 26 Jan John Guy LaPlante at 80 was oldest PCV 17 Jan Steve Radelet to advise Hilary Clinton on Development 15 Jan Obituary for Co-Author of ‘The Ugly American' 14 Jan Peace Corps Establishes Program in Indonesia 11 Dec What Happened to Obama's Promise? 3 Dec George Packer writes: Obama's Troubles 24 Nov PC Mourns Loss of Morocco PCV So-Youn Kim 17 Nov Peace Corps volunteers return to Madagascar 16 Nov PC to grow by several thousand over next 2 years 15 Nov Former Hostage John Limbert named to Iran Bureau 11 Nov Carrie Hessler Radelet named PC Deputy Director 9 Nov Garamendi Sworn into Congress 9 Nov Jesse Lonergan writes graphic novel "Joe and Azat" 4 Nov David Macaray writes: Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan 29 Oct Dustin Hogenson writes: Sauna in Kazakstan 26 Oct

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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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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .

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