[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E57-E58]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          A BILL TO REAUTHORIZE THE UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS

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                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2003

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I ask permission to revise and extend my 
remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure and the honor today of introducing a 
bill which will reauthorize the United States Peace Corps. I served in 
the Peace Corps for two years, from 1964-66, in Colombia and it 
inspired me to devote my life to public service. With this bill, over 
14,000 Americans will be given the chance to have the same inspiration.
  This bill is long in the making. We in Congress have been advocating 
the increase and strengthening of the Peace Corps for a long time. The 
goal of increasing the Peace Corps to 10,000 volunteers was announced 
by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. It was echoed by President Clinton 
in 1992. Finally, President George W. Bush announced in his State of 
Union address last year, his commitment to double the number of Peace 
Corps volunteers in five years. Last year, following the President's 
statement, I introduced a bill, which would help fulfill this vision 
for the Peace Corps. The same bill was introduced in the Senate, where 
it was ultimately passed by unanimous consent.
  The bill I am introducing today is essentially the same bill that was 
passed by the Senate:
  It doubles the number of volunteers in five years;
  It restates the independence of the Peace Corps;

[[Page E58]]

  It asks for reports to Congress on new initiatives and security for 
Peace Corps volunteers;
  It makes a commitment to recruit and place Peace Corps volunteers in 
countries where they could help promote mutual understanding, 
particularly in areas with substantial Muslim populations;
  It develops training programs for Peace Corps volunteers in areas of 
education and prevention of AIDS;
  It streamlines and empowers the Peace Corps Advisory Council and 
creates a fund to promote the work of returned Peace Corps volunteers 
in fulfilling the third goal of the Peace Corps--to educate other 
Americans about their experience overseas.
  This is a crucial time to invest in the Peace Corps, a crucial time 
to invest in improving America's relations with peoples and countries 
across the globe. I believe that this bill represents an important 
symbol of the good will of the United States, and reflects our 
fundamental nature as a concerned and caring nation.
  I would like to thank Congressman Mark Udall, whose mother was a 
Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, for helping to author the bill. I would 
also like to thank my fellow Congressman Mike Honda for also being an 
original cosponsor. I would also like to thank all of the Returned 
Peace Corps Volunteers who have given invaluable input in creating this 
bill.
  I encourage my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this important 
piece of legislation.

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