[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 32 (Thursday, February 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING NATIONAL PEACE CORPS DAY

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                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2003

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National Peace 
Corps Day on Friday, February 28. It is a special day not only for my 
fellow returned Peace Corps volunteers, but also for everyone who has 
been touched by the Peace Corps' global reach. The Peace Corps' mission 
of compassion and diplomacy is more important than ever to the world 
population, and so I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Peace 
Corps on this important day.
  Since 1961, Peace Corps Volunteers have strengthened the ties of 
friendship and understanding between the people of the United States 
and those of other countries. During these 42 years, the Peace Corps 
has become an enduring symbol of our nation's commitment to progress, 
opportunity, and development at the grass-roots level in the developing 
world.
  In all, more than 168,000 Americans have responded to our nation's 
call to serve by becoming Peace Corps Volunteers in 135 countries, and 
I am proud to say I am one of them. As a young man, I served as a 
Volunteer in the Republic of El Salvador, building schools and health 
clinics, learning the language, and developing an enduring bond with 
the people, culture, and language. The experience instilled in me a 
profound connection to that country, and a dedication to improving 
international relations around the world and fulfilling the Peace 
Corps' third mandate.
  Here in Congress, I am firmly committed to ensuring that future 
generations have the same opportunities that I did to carry out the 
mission of the Peace Corps. In fact, I believe that we need to 
dramatically expand and enhance these opportunities given how vital the 
Peace Corps' mission is in the current global climate. In that effort, 
I have cosponsored H.R. 250, a bill proposing to increase the number of 
Volunteers across the globe, reaffirm the Peace Corps' independence, 
and promote better mutual understanding between those serving and those 
whom they serve.
  Mr. Speaker, the Peace Corps has been a part of my life for almost 
forty years. I have served as a Volunteer, I have supported important 
Peace Corps legislation, and now today I rise in honor of National 
Peace Corps Day. It is a day to honor all Peace Corps Volunteers, past 
and present, and reaffirm our commitment to helping people help 
themselves throughout the world.

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