[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATING NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK

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                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 8, 2005

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 44th 
anniversary of the Peace Corps and to celebrate National Peace Corps 
Week, which ran from February 28 to March 6, 2005.
  Last week, we honored Peace Corps Volunteers for their dedicated work 
in promoting world peace and friendship across the globe. In an era 
where global interdependence and camaraderie has become increasingly 
important, the Peace Corps plays an integral role in connecting 
individuals from different countries, races, and creeds.
  Since the inception of the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, over 178,000 
volunteers have served in 138 countries. Currently, there are more than 
7,700 Peace Corps volunteers serving in 72 countries around the world--
the highest number of volunteers in the field in the past 29 years. 
Peace Corps volunteers are quite a diverse group, serving as teachers, 
information technology consultants, youth and agriculture workers, 
health and HIV/AIDS educators, and business advisors.
  I am proud to say that the 5th Congressional District of New York 
currently has 12 of its own as Peace Corps volunteers. They are, in 
alphabetical order and followed by the countries in which they serve: 
Kimberly A. Beers, Dominican Republic; Ling-Yun Chen, Turkmenistan; 
Michael E. Garris, Armenia; Seth B. Gazes, EI Salvador; Melissa 
Gonzalez, Costa Rica; Orlando Gonzalez, Costa Rica; Amy Y. Han, 
Uzbekistan; Grace E. Lee, Madagascar; Pei-Zei Lin, Burkina Faso; Erin 
C. McNally, Turkmenistan; Richard Z. Mo, Paraguay; Debbie Nip, Moldova.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
please join me in honoring all of the past and present Peace Corps 
volunteers who selflessly serve abroad, empowering individuals in 
developing countries and spreading their message of world peace and 
friendship. These fine men and women have committed years of their 
lives to helping total strangers and to making our world a better and 
friendlier place. We salute your unselfish acts.

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