Take Action to Get Peace Corps Funding!

We are moving into the closing days of two key actions related to Peace Corps funding for Fiscal Year 2010 - which begins October 1st.  As we reach out to congressional offices here in Washington, lawmakers need to know there are lots of constituents back home who support the Peace Corps.

RPCV Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) are circulating a Peace Corps Dear Colleague letter.  Other Senators are being asked to sign the letter, which urges robust funding for Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2010.  This letter is expected to be circulating for a brief time period, perhaps closing as early as Friday.  So quick action is important. We need your help!

Take action now:

• If you are a constituent of Senators Leahy (VT) or Gregg (NH), contact us at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org for a special action.
• If you are a constituent of Senators Dodd or Corker, thank them for their leadership in support of the Peace Corps. 
• If your Senators are listed at the bottom of this post, they have already signed the Dear Colleague letter and should be thanked for taking positive action. 
• If your senator has not signed the Dear Colleague Letter, please contact your senator through phone, email or both.

BY PHONE:

1. Call the toll-free number to the Capitol Hill Switchboard (877-851-6437) and ask to be connected to the office of your Senator (you can find direct lines or the names of your Senators by clicking here.

2.Identify yourself by name and community, and leave this message.  "I'm calling to urge Senator _____ to sign the Dodd-Corker letter in support of significantly increased Peace Corps funding for Fiscal Year 2010."

BY EMAIL:

1. Click here for a link to an email for your senator.

2. You can use the sample letter below, but we strongly encourage you to personalize your message, possibly indicating your Peace Corps connection- RPCV, staff, applicant, general supporter, etc.

SAMPLE:

Dear Senator _______,
 
At a time when our nation needs to build positve relations with friends and partners around the world, we need to expand opportunities for Peace Corps service.  I urge you to show your support for the Peace Corps by signing the Dodd-Corker Dear Colleague letter.  
It is extremely disappointing that the just approved budget for the current Fiscal Year (FY 2009) will result in less Peace Corps volunteers in the field, not more. It is extremely concerning that we face another year of telling up to twenty countries that have regularly been requesting volunteers that we will not be able to meet their request yet again.  It is disheartening that as Americans are being called upon to serve their nation, we are not finding the political will to employ more Americans through a cost-effective program such as the Peace Corps.
 
The Dodd-Corker letter urges a robust Peace Corps appropriation in Fiscal Year 2010.  I urge you to immediately sign onto this letter as a first step in demonstrating your leadership and commitment to building a bigger, better and bolder Peace Corps.
 
You can sign onto the Dear Colleague letter by contacting Ben Weingrod in Senator Dodd's office or Stacie Oliver in Senator Corker's office.
 
Thank you for considering this request.
 
Sincerely,
 
(Your Name)
(Your Address)

SENATORS WHO HAVE SIGNED THE LETTER:

California Dianne Feinstein

Connecticut Chris Dodd
 
Illinois Richard Durbin

Maryland Ben Cardin 

Massachusetts John Kerry 

New Jersey Robert Menendez 

Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse 

Tennessee Bob Corker 

Vermont Bernie Sanders 

Wisconsin Russ Feingold 

Comments

[Kate]

You should also contact your Representative to urge support for H.R. 1066, the Peace Corps Expansion Act of 2009, to amend the Peace Corps Act to provide continued funding for the Peace Corps and to increase the readjustment allowances for volunteers and volunteer leaders.

This bill is sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr (D, CA). It has 89 co-sponsors. Click on over to OpenCongress.org and type in H.R. 1066 in the search field to find out more about this bill, read the full text of the bill, and take action to support it. Do it TODAY!