Peace Corps Polyglot

Congresswoman McCollum Responds to Planned Closing of Peace Corps Regional Recruiting Offices

On July 21, 2008, Congresswoman Betty McCollum's (MN-4) office issued the following press release concerning the reported closing of Peace Corps regional recruiting offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado later this year:

McCollum Opposes closing of Minnesota Peace Corps Office

Plans to close Minnesota and Colorado recruiting offices raise retention concerns

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) today sent a letter to Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter, a Minnesota native, expressing concern about plans to close the regional recruiting offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado later this year.

"It is my goal to see a growing number of highly qualified, diverse, and determined Americans of all ages committing themselves to serve our country as Peace Corps volunteers. Achieving this goal will require Congress to provide additional funds, which I support. It will also require a strong nation-wide recruiting presence. This plan to close the Minnesota and Colorado recruitment offices raises considerable questions about the Peace Corps future direction," Congresswoman McCollum wrote.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-4) serves on the House Appropriations Committee and the Government Reform Committee.

Text of Letter:

July 21, 2008

Dear Director Tschetter:

As a strong supporter of Peace Corps and the men and women who serve our nation as volunteers, I am dismayed to learn about plans to close the regional recruiting offices in Minnesota (Minneapolis) and Colorado (Denver). It is my understanding that this plan will go into effect in approximately four months. I can state quite clearly that unless significant recruiting benefits - qualitative and quantitative - can be demonstrated from this plan, I will work to oppose the closing of these offices.

Director Tschetter, I would request the following details related to the planned closing of the Minnesota and Colorado recruitment offices:

• When specifically are the two offices slated for closing?
• How much will you spend in FY2008 on recruitment and what percentage of that amount are the operational costs of the Minnesota and Colorado offices?
• Will there be Peace Corps staff reductions in Minnesota and Colorado?
• What is the fiscal savings associated with the closing of these two offices?
• What is the operational impact on recruitment (i.e.; total number of recruiters, supervision of recruiters, face-to-face interviews with applicants) as a result of the closing of the offices?
• Do you plan to use "contract" or non-Peace Corps staff recruiters?
• Is there an anticipated reduction of Peace Corps volunteers serving in FY2009 over the current level of approximately 8,000?

As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies, the Peace Corps budget is within our subcommittee's jurisdiction. If there is a funding crisis that requires recruiting offices to be closed it is obvious that the President's FY2009 budget request of $343.5 million is insufficient to meet existing agency needs. Only last week our subcommittee approved the President's full request for Peace Corps without any indication that recruiting offices would be closing. This news therefore is even more troubling considering the agency's failure to inform subcommittee members of this budget crisis in advance of action on the funding bill.

It is my goal to see a growing number of highly qualified, diverse, and determined Americans of all ages committing themselves to serve our country as Peace Corps volunteers. Achieving this goal will require Congress to provide additional funds, which I support. It will also require a strong nation-wide recruiting presence. This plan to close the Minnesota and Colorado recruitment offices raises considerable questions about the Peace Corps future direction. Director Tschetter, I have serious doubts about this decision and I look forward to a prompt response to this letter.

Sincerely,

Betty McCollum                                                                                                                  

cc:     Chairwoman Nita Lowey
         Rep. Keith Ellison
         Rep. Diane DeGette
         Rep. Mark Udall
         Rep. Sam Farr
         Rep. Mike Honda
         Rep. Jim Walsh
         Rep. Chris Shays
         Rep. Tom Petri
         Sen. Christopher Dodd
         Sen. Amy Klobuchar
         Sen. Norm Coleman

**This release will be posted to Congresswoman McCollum's website shortly.  As this evolves we'll be posting more information on our homepage, http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington D.C. Raise Funds for Solar Panel Project

Every year the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington D.C. (RPCVw) demonstrate their continuing commitment to the work of the Peace Corps by sponsoring a Peace Corps Partnership Project. The year they teamed up with Sarah Mendelsohn, a PCV from Ohio who is helping her village in Cape Verde build solar panels for a community center.

The community of Hortelao where Sarah is serving does not have access to electricity. This lack of electricity has, among other things, put serious limitations on the village's jam business. When the solar panels are up and running the jam business will be able to expand its product base by using refrigerators they already own. Expenses will decrease since there will no longer be a need for a generator to mix the fruit. Sarah commented on the powerful impact the solar panels and the RPCVw partnership will have, stating:

I cannot tell you how excited my community of Hortelao is for our solar panels. A couple of weeks ago a group of girls began forming a study group, which will take place in our Community Center once they have lights. The women involved in our jam-making income generating project are currently receiving a workshop from a Portuguese NGO. During this workshop the women asked for suggestion of new products that will be possible with refrigerators, this is the first time I have ever seen them speak in workshops; normally they are painfully shy. Also, this NGO looked over our proposal for the solar panels and is interested in pursuing the idea for the entire town of Hortelao. I thank each of you for your generosity and promise to keep you up-to-date, with pictures and messages from Hortelao.

RPCVw plans to donate $1,000 to the project and they need the support of members to reach that goal. They are holding their annual Partnership Reception on June 26, 2008 to raise funds for the project. The event will be held at Toro Mata - The Art of Peru, 2410 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009. The suggested minimum donation is $20 for RPCVw members and $30 for non-members.

Click here to RSVP to the event and learn more about the Partnership Program.

Advocacy Round-Up: Peace Corps Funding Holds, Farm Bill Reform Fails

There was a whirlwind of activity on Capitol Hill in December, with many issues of interest to our community.  Here's a summary:

Peace Corps Funding Holds in Budget Package:  While Congress and the President battled over the federal budget, there was mostly good news on the Peace Corps funding front.  The omnibus spending bill sent to the President includes $333.5 Million for Peace Corps.  While an across-the-budget recission may reduce the final funding by approximately $2 Million - the figure represents the highest funding increase in at least four years.

Congressional Letters Supporting Foreign Affairs Funding:  Nearly 60 Senators and 120 Representatives have signed onto congressional letters urging President Bush to support robust foreign affairs funding when he submits his Fiscal Year 2009 budget.  The US Global Leadership Campaign has a running list of who signed the letter - consider contacting your lawmakers to say thank you or to express your disappointment.

Farm Bill:  The growing call for reform of U.S. agriculture policies from social justice and other organizations required reform opponents to pull out all the stops to defeat a key amendment to reduce trade-distorting subsidies.  While the amendment actually passed, an agreement that it secure enough votes to survive a Senate filibuster led to the withdrawl of the Dorgan-Grassley amendment.  Read this press release from Oxfam America.  A conference committee will begin the process of reconciling differences between the Senate and House versions of the Farm Bill.

A Victory: Senate Approves $10 Million Increase for Peace Corps

We are happy to report that last night the Senate approved an amendment to the State/Foreign Operations Appropriations bill to increase the Peace Corps appropriation for Fiscal Year 2008 by $10 Million. This raises the Senate funding recommendation for Peace Corps to $333.5 Million - the same funding level approved earlier by the House of Representatives. 

The Senate amendment was sponsored by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT; Dominican Republic 66-68) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). To offset the Peace Corps increase, the amendment included a recommendation suggested by the NPCA to reduce $10 Million in unobligated funds used for foreign military finance programs.

During floor discussion, Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) indicated support for the increase in Peace Corps funding, but questioned the offset. He suggested to work on finding an alternative offset during the Senate/House conference to reconcile final legislation. The Dodd-Feinstein amendment was approved by voice vote. The entire State/Foreign Operations bill was approved last night by a vote of 81 - 12.

You can read the text of the brief floor discussion on the Peace Corps amendment (remarks by Senators Feinstein and Gregg) below.

SAY THANK YOU:

Please take a moment in the next few days to send thank you messages to the offices of Senators Dodd and Feinstein for their continued leadership in supporting the Peace Corps!

Senator Dodd:
202-224-2823
http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3128&cat=Opinion

Senator Feinstein
202-224-3841
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe

SENATE FLOOR DISCUSSION ON DODD-FEINSTEIN PEACE CORPS AMENDMENT:

ADDITIONAL PEACE CORPS FUNDING

Sec. 699B. (a) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by title III under the heading ``PEACE CORPS'' is hereby increased by $10,000,000.

(b) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by title IV under the heading ``FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING PROGRAM'' is hereby reduced by $10,000,000.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, this amendment by Senator Dodd and myself increases the funding for the Peace Corps by $10 million for a total of $333.5 million. This matches the President's request and the funding level in the House bill. The offset comes from unobligated foreign military financing funds.

The Peace Corps is one of our most effective and successful foreign aid programs. Since 1961, over 190,000 Americans, including 25,000 from my home State of California, have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 countries. Currently, there are 7,749 volunteers serving in 73 countries.

I am a big fan of the Peace Corps. They are diplomats, and they restore people's confidence in this country. The Peace Corps also provides critical education. In fact, approximately 20 percent of the Peace Corps volunteers today are serving in predominantly Muslim countries. And at a time when United States prestige is at an all-time low, Peace Corps volunteers provide a different face of America--one of compassion, one of care, and one of understanding. This amendment matches the President's request in the budget. It matches the funding level in the House. It is offset by unobligated balances. I urge that the amendment be adopted today.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I am certainly in sympathy with the purposes of the amendment. The Peace Corps is an extraordinary organization filled with very dedicated and special people who give of their life, willing to go into the countryside in parts of this world and help people out, out of their concern for social well-being and the betterment of others. They are very admirable people. So I support the number. But the offset is an issue.

I have discussed this issue with Senator Dodd. I have not had a chance to discuss it with Senator Feinstein. Senator Dodd and I reached an understanding that we would try to find a better offset in conference.

With that understanding, I certainly have no objection to this amendment. I ask that it be approved.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? If not, the question is on agreeing to amendment No. 2721.

The amendment (No. 2721) was agreed to.