Take Action: June 18 - A Historic Opportunity for Peace Corps

On June 18, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (chaired by New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey) is expected to mark up the Fiscal Year 2010 International Affairs Budget (which includes funding for the Peace Corps). 

This may prove one of the most crucial moments in the history of Peace Corps.

If Rep. Lowey appropriates the full $450 million recently recommended by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, she will have seized a historic opportunity to provide the Peace Corps with the resources it needs to become a 21st Century organization and to advance the new President's agenda to restore U.S. standing in the world.

That’s how big the stakes are. 

We do not want to tie up Rep. Lowey’s phones but we are asking her constituents in the days before June 18th to call 202-225-6505 and express their sentiments.  If your Congress member is on the House Appropriations Subcommittee, please call that representative; the names and numbers are listed below.  All others we are asking to e-mail Lowey@morepeacecorps.org to express your feelings in support of a robustly funded Peace Corps. The More Peace Corps campaign, an initiative of the National Peace Corps Association, will assemble these e-mails and present them to the Congresswoman.

HOUSE APPROPRIATION SUBCOMMITTEE ON STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS MEMBERS

(IF YOU ARE A CONSTITUENT OF ANY OF THESE LAWMAKERS, CALL THEM TO URGE A $450 MILLION PEACE CORPS APPROPRIATION.  IF YOU ARE NOT A CONSTITUENT, THINK OF SOMEONE YOU KNOW IN THEIR DISTRICT AND ASK THEM TO TAKE ACTION)

Democrats
Nita M. Lowey (NY) (Chair) 202 225-6506
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (IL) 202 225-0773
Adam Schiff (CA) 202 225-4176
Steve Israel (NY) 202 225-3335
Ben Chandler (KY) 202 225-4706
Steven R. Rothman (NJ) 202 225-5061
Barbara Lee (CA)  202 225-2661
Betty McCollum (MN) 202 225-6631
David R. Obey (WI), Ex Officio  202 225-3365

Republicans
Kay Granger (TX) (Ranking Member)  202 225-5071
Mark Steven Kirk (IL)  202 225-4835
Ander Crenshaw (FL) 202 225-2501
Dennis R. Rehberg (MT) 202 225-3211

Comments

[Nicole]

I'm urging you to approve the entire amount. The Peace Corps is a great organization that brings hope instead of sorrow and nails instead of bullets. The volunteers are some of the best people in the world to cement international relationship on the grass-roots level and each dollar that we commit to our organization is one more opportunity to improve a life in a world otherwise full of heartache.

Peace,
Nicole
(Ghana 2000-2002)

[Joan Borsten Vidov]

Dear Reprsentative Lowy: I volunteered for the Peace Corps in 1970 and was sent to a remote village in rural Panama. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. My time there greatly influenced my post-Peace Corp life - my choices, my interests, my ability to get from A-Z. 25 years later I returned with my husband and stepson, and discovered that as much as the village and its inhabitants had influenced me, I had influenced them. They still make the straw mobiles I invented to gave families a second income. The village boy I sent as an exchange student to my friends in San Leandro California became an engineer on the Panama Canal. Now all families recognize the value of education and try to send one child to high school/college.

Please give the Peace Corps the requested $450 million - the results are so worthwhile.

Thank you.

[Shawn]

Please fully fund the Peace Corps.

[Douglas Holt (Streuter)]

Aloha kaua e Representative Lowey:

Those of us who served overseas as Peace Corp Volunteers understand the value of giving back. We gave service to our nation in ways that profoundly impacted the lives of our host country nationals that left a lasting imprint in our memories of what a few caring young people can do to make a differnece.

The Peace Corps is about people-to-people interaction, sharing and growing in a spirit of mutual respect. I ask that you and your committee look favorably upon our plea as returned volunteers to support the Peace Corp at the highest possible level.

Mahalo a nui loa (thank you very much)
Doug Holt
RPCV Nigeria XX (1966-1967)

[Carol Joan Stafford]

I am writing to urge you to approve the full $450 million for the Peace Corps.

C. Joan Stafford
RPCV Fiji 1993-95

[Elise Annunziata]

Dear Chairwoman Nita Lowey,

The United States Peace Corps has a long and rich history of service that benefits developing countries as well as America's image abroad. As a retunred Peace Corps volunteer who served in West Africa for three years, I can tell you from experience that this program is vitally important.

In keeping with President Obama's increased call for Americans to serve our country in a volunteer capacity, I urge you to appropriate the entire $450M for the Peace Corps already authorized in the revised Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.

Thank you,
Elise Annunziata
Senegal '96-'99

[Dan Rusthoi]

Dear Chairwoman Nita Lowey,

The Peace Corps does much and is badly needed for restoring the US image abroad. I am a former Peace Corps volunteer and a strong believer in the effectiveness of the organization. Along with the other RPCVs, I urge you to appropriate the entire $450M for the Peace Corps already authorized in the revised Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.

Thank you.
Dan Rusthoi
RPCV Iran, 1966-67

[Linda Scarborough]

Dear Representative Lowey,

I am writing to urge you to appropriate the entire $450,000,000 for the Peace Corps already authorized in the revised Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.

The Peace Corps is a very good thing - please fund it.

Thank you,

Linda Scarborough
RPCV West Cameroon (1963 - 1965)

[Lily B Bean]

As a former Peace Corps volunteer and strong believer in the effectiveness of the organization and its value in restoring the damaged US image through the world, I urge Rep. Lowe to appropriate the full $450 million already authorized for P.C. in the revised bill.

[Roger Landry ,Zambia ll]

I do hope you find some fund to help all the volunteers you have damaged and set to a life of poverty because we were a peace corps volunteer we who have got life alter ing injuries are not doing well in the DOL/OWCPse Senator C.J. Dodd comment to peace corps president
281-257-0638