In building the foundation for a 21st century Peace Corps, there are many members of the House of Representatives one can point to as champions. The four RPCV Congressmen (Sam Farr, Mike Honda, Tom Petri and Steve Driehaus), Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, Subcommittee member Betty McCollum, and Foreign Affairs Chairman Howard Berman are among the many who immediately come to mind.
But...Then there's the Senate, where members of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State/Foreign Operations are scheduled to meet next week to make recommendations on funding for Peace Corps and other international programs. In recent years, the Senate has regularly recommended less Peace Corps funding than the House.
The Senate needs a champion to advance the call for a $450 Million Peace Corps appropriation for Fiscal Year 2010. RPCV Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), has set the wheels in motion, introducing the Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act (S. 1382) But he's not on the subcommittee that will take the first action on funding. Kit Bond (R-MO) is on that subcommittee. His powerful commentary on Newsmax.com is a demonstration of his leadership. But he will need a majority Democrat to help advance the cause.
The United States Senate needs more Peace Corps champions.
Action: Contact your Senators today and ask them to be champions for the Peace Corps.
- Follow this link for an action to key members of the subcommittee.
- If one/both of your Senators is not on the subcommittee, ask them to co-sponsor S. 1382, the Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act.
Your voice is needed now. Take action now.
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