[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  37TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, yesterday, March 3, was designated by 
the President as the day to pay public tribute to the 37th anniversary 
of the Peace Corps. Although the official anniversary technically 
occurred on Sunday, March 1, a day during the week for events to be 
sponsored in honor of the Peace Corps' anniversary proved to be more 
practical.
  It was nearly four decades ago that President Kennedy signed 
legislation into law to create the Peace Corps in 1961 and sent the 
first class of volunteers to Ghana. Since its founding, more than 
150,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps.
  The public recognition of the Peace Corps' anniversary has special 
significance for me personally, as I was fortunate enough to serve as a 
Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic some years ago. Like 
other Americans who have had the honor of serving as Peace Corps 
volunteers, my service in the Dominican Republic will remain one of the 
most important periods of my life.
  Currently there are 6,500 volunteers, serving in 84 countries around 
the globe. These people dedicate two years of their lives to addressing 
the critical development needs of impoverished communities. They help 
people gain access to clean water, grow more food, help prevent the 
spread of AIDS, teach English, math and science, aid entrepreneurs in 
the development of new business, and work with non-governmental 
organizations to protect the environment.
  The Peace Corps has been marked by much success thanks to current and 
returned Peace Corps volunteers. Based on the Peace Corps' high level 
of achievement since its creation, and taking into account the unmet 
needs of the developing world, I support the proposed increase in the 
Peace Corps Fiscal Year 1999 budget.
  The value of the Peace Corps is not limited solely to its overseas 
volunteer service. There is a ``domestic dividend'' as well--the 
experience and value that is brought back to the communities where 
volunteers return once their two year tour is over. Experience has 
shown that Returned Peace Corps volunteers participate in their 
communities across the nation more than most other Americans.
  This week, as the nation celebrates the 37th anniversary of the Peace 
Corps, more than 350,000 students in all 50 states will learn more 
about life in the developing world by talking with and listening to 
5,000 current and returned volunteers, in person, via satellite and by 
phone. In my home state of Connecticut, one of six states and 23 cities 
that declared March 3 as Peace Corps Day, students in New London talked 
to current Peace Corps Volunteers in Panama and students at Balboa High 
School in Panama via a live CU-SeeMe video conference. With advancing 
technology, it is exciting to have students in the United States learn 
more about people in different corners of the world, without even 
leaving their classroom.
  Finally, I commend all of those volunteers, both past and present who 
have contributed to the success of the Peace Corps. Every anniversary 
is an important one. This one has been made special by being officially 
recognized as Peace Corps Day--something that will hopefully become an 
annual occurrence. It serves as an opportunity for Americans to learn 
about other cultures of the World and to pay tribute to the more than 
150,000 Americans who have dedicated part of their lives to making this 
a better World to live in. I am confident that we in the Senate are 
proud of each and every one of them.

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