[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2849-H2851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 158) to recognize the Peace Corps on the
occasion of its 35th anniversary and the Americans who have served as
Peace Corps volunteers.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.J. Res. 158
Whereas the Peace Corps has become a powerful symbol of
America's commitment to expand hope, create opportunity, and
encourage development at the grass roots level in the
developing world;
Whereas more than 140,000 Americans have served as Peace
Corps volunteers in more than 125 countries in Africa, Asia
and the Pacific, Central Asia, Eastern and Central Europe,
and the Western Hemisphere since 1961, and have strengthened
the ties of friendship and understanding between the people
of the United States and those of other countries;
Whereas Peace Corps volunteers have made significant and
lasting contributions around the world in agriculture,
business development, education, the environment, health, and
youth development, and have improved the lives of individuals
and communities around the world;
Whereas Peace Corps volunteers, enriched by their
experiences overseas, have brought to their communities
throughout the United States a deeper understanding of other
cultures and traditions;
Whereas Peace Corps volunteers embody and represent many of
America's most enduring values, such as service, commitment
to the poor, and friendship among nations;
Whereas the Peace Corps continues to receive broad,
bipartisan support in Congress and from the American people;
and
Whereas March 1, 1996 will mark the 35th anniversary of the
founding of the Peace Corps: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
achievements and contributions of the Peace Corps over the
past 35 years be celebrated; that the dedication and
sacrifice of Peace Corps volunteers be recognized and their
continued contributions be acknowledged not only for their
service in other countries but in their own communities; and
that the President is requested to honor Peace Corps
volunteers and reaffirm our Nation's commitment to
international peace and understanding.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran]
will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter].
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Joint Resolution 158 recognizes the Peace Corps
and its volunteers on its 35th anniversary year. Mr. Farr and the five
other original cosponsors of this resolution are all former Peace Corps
volunteers now serving their country here in the Congress. Their
resolution recognizes the sacrifice and dedication of Peace Corps
volunteers, both in their assigned countries and here at home after
they return on the occasion of the Corps's 35th anniversary.
I will note that since the first volunteer stepped off the plane in
1961 at a little airport in Ghana, over 140,000 Americans have become
Peace Corps veterans in the service of peace, understanding and
development. Today, Peace Corps volunteers are older, more experienced
and specialized but their mission is still the same: development and
basic American values in the developing world at the grassroots level.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from New York [Mr. Gilman], the distinguished chairman of the full
committee.
Mr. GILMAN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, we all can agree on the bipartisan strength of the Peace
Corps in the 104th Congress. Founded under President Kennedy and its
first Director, Sargent Shriver, the Peace Corps grew through the
1960's and 1970's but really came to the crossroads in the 1980's. I
want to make a special note for the longest serving Peace Corps
Director, Ms. Loret Ruppe, whose energy, drive, and dedication set the
Peace Corps' goal that we still support today: 10,000 volunteers by the
year 2000. Loret is now struggling with cancer but her mission and her
impact on the Corps is still felt today. As Loret used to say, ``Peace
Corps volunteers are working today to help the African farmer and her
husband * * *.''
Last month, we debated a highly controversial State Department bill
on the House floor. I think that one provision of that bill we could
all support was the funding levels for the Peace Corps. The House
conferees and especially former Peace Corps Director, Senator Paul
Coverdell of Georgia, joined together to ensure funding for the Peace
Corps, even in these tough budgetary times. Under its new Director,
Mark Geran, I think this Congress is expecting a lot from the Peace
Corps in its next 35 years.
I recommend this resolution to the House and urge its support.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr.
Bereuter], the subcommittee chairman, and the gentleman from New York
[Mr. Gilman], the full committee chairman, for bringing this resolution
before the House. It is actually cosponsored by six Members of the
House who are former Peace Corps volunteers: Mike Ward, Jim Walsh, Tony
Hall, Chris Shays, Tom Petri, and Sam Farr.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from California [Mr. Farr] who has come all the way from his district
to speak on this.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as one of the six
returned Peace Corps volunteers now serving in the House, and I rise in
support of House Resolution 158, recognizing the Peace Corps' 35th
anniversary.
Let me first take a minute to thank Chairman Gilman and the Ranking
Minority Member Hamilton for bringing this measure to the floor. I also
want to thank Mark Geran, who is the Director of the Peace Corps, who
has been instrumental in the continuing success of the agency, as well
as the other returned Peace Corps volunteers now serving in this
country and serving in this Congress, my colleagues Representative Tony
Hall of Ohio, Representative Tom Petri, Representative Mike Ward,
Representative Jim Walsh, and Representative Chris Shays.
President Kennedy created this international service organization 35
years ago to promote international goodwill. During his powerful
inaugural address, he challenged Americans with, ``Ask not what your
country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,'' and
many of them, including myself at that time, responded to that call and
joined the Peace Corps in the early 1960's. The creation of the Peace
Corps was part of this vision of his.
Today, there are currently 7,000 Americans working as Peace Corps
volunteers. The average age in 1961, when President Kennedy made his
call, was 22 years of age. Today, in 1996, the average age is 29 years
old. Over 500 volunteers are over the age of 50. The educational
experience of volunteers has grown; more volunteers with graduate
degrees than ever before.
Over 140,000 returned volunteers have served in the Peace Corps in
more than 125 countries, in Africa, Asia, Eastern and Central Europe.
They have also served in the South Pacific and in Latin America.
The Peace Corps was formally established by Executive order on March
1, 1961. Volunteers were sent to Ghana, Colombia, and Tanzania, and
over 850 volunteers were in the field by the end of the first year.
Soon volunteers teaching in schools were joined by those working in
agriculture, health and nutrition, forestry, and fisheries. In the
1980's, the Peace Corps was refined and developed new initiatives in
response to the special needs of the developing world.
In Lesotho, in Mali, and Niger, Peace Corps began the Africa Food
Systems Initiative to assist farmers in need of innovative ways to
increase food production. In the Caribbean, the Peace Corps has
developed initiatives to stimulate job-creating small enterprises.
The Peace Corps has undertaken a lot of new initiatives. The Peace
Corps has plans to send volunteers to South Africa in response to a
request for assistance from President Nelson Mandela. The Peace Corps
has also resumed its presence in Haiti following
[[Page H2850]]
the successful presidential elections. Currently the Peace Corps is
investigating the feasibility of sending volunteers to the Middle East
and to Cambodia.
The agency plans on development of a Crisis corps to respond to
natural disasters in developing countries. The story about that reached
our office when volunteers were calling about the situation in Rwanda,
saying that they had been there and served and spoke the language and
knew the customs and the culture. They knew the history and the
politics and they wanted to be able to go back. We did not have a
facility in law to allow that, so we had to ask the State Department to
make a special process for that, and that is what is now being
developed into this Crisis Corps, so that indeed when we do have people
that have the skills that are needed in countries with disasters, we
can immediately get them there.
The purpose of the Peace Corps' mission is to promote world peace.
Peace Corps volunteers have made significant and lasting contributions
around the world in agriculture, business development, education,
environmental health, and youth development, and they have improved the
lives of thousands all over the world. The Peace Corps has become a
powerful symbol of international humanitarianism.
The Peace Corps teaches volunteers the value of service and the value
of commitment. The agency is an example of America's commitment to
expanding hope, to creating opportunity and offering the volunteers an
experience that they will remember for a lifetime.
At a time when funding for foreign assistance programs is under
severe constraints, it is notable that the Peace Corps continues to
enjoy strong support in this Congress and among the American people.
The agency is facing a strong future. In Friday's Washington Post it
was quoted that the Peace Corps is the employer with the most job
openings for graduates of the class of 1996. In fact, the demand for
Peace Corps volunteers overseas far exceeds our ability to supply that
demand, and I hope that in Congress we will appreciate that as we look
at its budget next year and realize this is one area that is extremely
cost effective. If we want to get a good bang for the buck, the Peace
Corps is there and the countries want us to come.
The annual survey by Black Collegian magazine stated that the agency
plans to recruit over 3,000 graduates. That is the third highest
employer in the country. So while the Peace Corps is promoting
international goodwill, it is key in benefiting our domestic economy as
well.
Please join me and my colleagues in supporting this resolution to
recognize the Peace Corps on the occasion of its 35th anniversary, and
the contributions and achievements that its volunteers have brought
home to America and are now achieving in countries all over the world.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. FARR of California. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman I have been on
the Foreign Operations Subcommittee for 14 of the last 16 years, and
the Peace Corps is one of the best things that we do in foreign
relations, without any question. Even in the tough budgetary times in
which we find ourselves, we have to maintain that commitment and
increase it if we possibly can, and make certain that this good
program, which after all is people-to-people, not government-to-
government, people-to-people, continues and is strongly supported by
the Congress.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the support on both
sides of the aisle. I think this program is one that we can all be
proud of, and in a time when people think that there is debate and
rancor among the parties in Congress, I can tell that this is one area
where we all agree that America has created a fantastic opportunity for
its youth, for its people of all ages to be able to experience overseas
living as minorities in another land.
{time} 1430
As a return volunteer, I reflect on my experience every day, and I
appreciate the support Congress is giving it.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is amazing that there have only been 140,000
volunteers over the last 35 years, when you consider the profound
impact that the Peace Corps has had in the lives of individuals and in
fact in the progress of nations around the world. But the impact has
also been felt in terms of the volunteers. We just heard from one.
There are several others in this body.
The fact is that the leaders in government and in industry in America
today in many ways share that common experience of having been Peace
Corps volunteers. I hope that will continue to be the case, because not
only do we share our national know-how and goodwill, but we benefit a
great deal with that broadened experience.
I just want to say that we in the minority, as well as the gentleman
from New York, Chairman Gilman, expressed for the majority, applaud
President Clinton's selection of Mark Gearan to be Director of the
Peace Corps. We could not have had a better choice. We appreciate the
fact that again we have a broad bipartisan support for this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House
Joint Resolution 158 recognizing the Peace Corps on its 35th
anniversary.
President John Kennedy created this international service
organization 35 years ago to promote international goodwill. During his
powerful inaugural speech the young President challenged Americans
with, ``Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do
for your country.'' The Peace Corps was part of this vision for how
Americans could play a positive role in the developing world. In its 35
years, the Peace Corps has come to represent what is best about our
country and our character as a people: our ability to forge a spirit of
idealism with a commonsense approach to what works for people who need
and want our help.
My other returned Peace Corps volunteer colleagues and I know the
value of volunteer service and the significance of this fine agency. I
had the benefit of serving in the Peace Corps in Colombia in the early
1960's. That experience has led me to serve my community in local,
State, and Federal government. Peace Corps taught me the value of
service, responsibility, and commitment.
Currently, there are nearly 7,000 Americans working as Peace Corps
volunteers. They work at the grass-roots level in places far from their
homes and families. Some volunteers do not see other Americans for
months at a time. They are completely entrenched in their countries of
service. They speak the language, eat their food, and share their
culture. They put a face on America and its values around the world.
Volunteers serve in many different programs ranging from the
traditional education and health programs to promoting new sustainable
programs to benefit agriculture, the environment, and economic
development.
Education remains Peace Corps' largest program. Over 40 percent of
all volunteers teach English, mathematics, science, and business
studies. They work in special education, vocational educations, and
nonformal education activities for adults and at-risk youth. In
addition to classroom teaching, volunteers work closely with local
educators to share methodology, integrate relevant content and resource
centers and teaching materials. In Cameroon, volunteers have helped
develop a manual on teaching HIV/AIDS prevention in English-language
classes. The manual has since been adopted for public use by the
Ministry of Education.
Teaching and prevention of HIV/AIDS to citizens in high-risk groups
has played a major part in the health services provided by volunteers.
In Thailand, volunteers have conducted surveys to help the country
update its HIV/AIDS education materials. Other health services
performed by volunteers include providing primary health care services
to many of the world's women and children including maternal and child
health activities, nutrition, community health education, and water and
sanitation projects.
Peace Corps is the leader in protecting the global environment. The
focus of the environmental strategy is on community work, teaching
conservation of national resources, and sustainable resource
management. Much of the environmental work is in forestry management,
reforestation, and watershed management. The fastest growing new
project activity is environmental educations. Volunteers in Tanzania,
home of the largest wildlife refuge are involved in projects ranging
from codifying Tanzanian environmental law to ensure protection of
exported birds to preparing a management plan for Ileje Forestry
Reserve and teaching environmental education in the schools.
Food production remains to be a priority for many nations in Africa,
Asia, Latin America,
[[Page H2851]]
and the former Soviet Union. Rapidly expanding populations, changes in
climate, and a series of natural and man-made disasters have created
serious food shortages. With most people in developing nations still
practicing subsistence farming, there is a critical need to introduce
and apply sustainable agricultural techniques to village farmers. In
Guatemala, volunteers are teaching farmers how to increase their family
incomes and produce animal protein for dietary intake through the
integration of fish and small animal production.
The fastest growing program for volunteers is economic development
especially in Eastern Europe. Volunteers promote local economic
development through self-sustaining income and employment producing
practices. Working with local community leaders, businesses, and trade
associations, volunteers teach business management, commercial banking
and related skills assisting local efforts to establish free market
economies. In Poland, a volunteer has been instrumental in establishing
46 small businesses with no-interest loans from the local government
with only a 6-percent default rate.
The Peace Corps has become a powerful symbol of international
humanitarianism. It is a goal which hundreds of people strive toward
each year. Not just young college graduates, but people of all ages. In
fact, 9 percent of Peace Corps volunteers are over 50 years old.
The Peace Corps remains a popular calling; there is not one State in
the country which has not sent a Peace Corps volunteer. In my State of
California, over 20,000 people have volunteered to serve around the
world.
The Peace Corps has become a powerful symbol of America's commitment
to expand hope, create opportunity, and encourage development at the
grassroots level in the developing world.
Volunteers embody and represent many of America's most enduring
values, such as service, commitment to the poor, and friendship among
nations. Returned volunteers, enriched by their experiences overseas,
have brought to their communities throughout the United States a deeper
understanding of other cultures and traditions.
At a time when funding for foreign assistance programs is under
severe constraints, it is notable that the Peace Corps continues to
enjoy strong support in the Congress and among the American people.
That is a tribute to the thousands of Americans--young and old--who
have served over the past 35 years, often under very difficult
conditions. And it is a tribute to the visionary but simple idea behind
the Peace Corps; that the world will be a more peaceful place if we
understand one another better and if we can help those in need improve
their own lives and that of their families and communities.
Join me in supporting House Joint Resolution 158, recognizing and
honoring the Peace Corps' achievements and contributions and its
volunteers over the past 35 years.
Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking my colleague
from California, Mr. Farr, for his work on this resolution, and his
consistent efforts in the past to recognize and support the Peace
Corps.
Since 1961, when President John F. Kennedy signed an Executive order
establishing the Peace Corps, 140,000 men and women have represented
America by volunteering in 125 countries around the world. I am proud
to say that I am among that number.
For me, the Peace Corps represents the best that this Government has
to offer. When we bring together dedicated, energetic people and arm
them with tools to work in foreign communities as ambassadors of peace,
things happen--people's lives improve--and we all benefit. Today,
nearly 7,000 such dedicated individuals are serving as Peace Corps
volunteers in 94 different countries. They are improving the
environmental, agricultural, and business infrastructures in those
nations. They are educating the children, caring for the sick, and
teaching the poorest of the poor how to help themselves. But, most
importantly, these volunteers are the face of America for people across
the globe. They are people-to-people diplomats building a peaceful
world from the ground up.
But, it's not easy. I know first-hand the challenges and difficulties
that these Peace Corps volunteers face. I also know the tremendous
rewards. My Peace Corps experience changed my life. When I graduated
from college in 1964, I had dreams of playing pro football, making big
money, and driving fast cars. Instead, I ended up teaching English and
riding a bicycle through the jungles of Thailand.
During my first night in Thailand, I sat in a restaurant and watched
a cat chase a rat across the floor and devour it. I thought, ``What am
I doing here.'' But, as I got to know the people in the village, my
whole outlook changed. I came home from Thailand with a better
understanding of the world, with my priorities in order, and prepared
for a life of public service.
No other institution does what the Peace Corps does. It serves the
needy of the world in concrete, practical ways. It promotes world
peace. And, every year, it brings 3,000 experienced, multicultural, and
compassionate volunteers back home to America. During its long and
distinguished history, the Peace Corps has enjoyed wide public approval
and bipartisan support here in Congress. I certainly hope that that
support continues as the 1997 appropriation process goes forward.
Today, as it celebrates its 35th anniversary, the Peace Corps
deserves our highest recognition and I commend all of its past and
current volunteers for 35 years of success.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] that the House
suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, House Joint Resolution
158.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________