[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 35 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE 46TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 46th 
anniversary of the Peace Corps.
  In October 1960 then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at 
the University of Michigan to serve their country and the cause of 
peace by living and working in the developing world.
  This challenge was met with enthusiasm and led to the creation of the 
Peace Corps less than 5 months later on March 1, 1961. Since then, over 
187,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 
countries.
  Peace Corps volunteers have made significant contributions and 
improved the lives of individuals and communities around the world. 
They have impacted agriculture, business development, information 
technology, education, health, HIV/AIDS, and the environment.
  The Peace Corps also provides short-term assistance to countries in 
need through its Crisis Corps Volunteer Program. These former 
volunteers have assisted domestically with Hurricane Katrina efforts. 
Internationally, they have helped with rebuilding efforts in tsunami 
devastated areas of Sri Lanka and Thailand, and in Guatemala after 
Hurricane Stan.
  In addition to their invaluable work abroad, volunteers gain 
marketable skills for use in the United States upon returning home. 
Worldwide, volunteers learn over 250 languages and dialects and receive 
extensive cross-cultural trainings that have been put to use in 
Congress, the Executive branch, the Foreign Service, education, 
business, finance, industry, trade, health care, and the social 
services sector.
  I am proud to be a strong supporter of the Peace Corps which has 
become a symbol of our nation's commitment to progress, opportunity, 
and development worldwide.
  On this anniversary, I would also like to acknowledge the two 
individuals from my district who are currently volunteering in Africa: 
Jorge A. Gaitan who is serving in Burkina Faso and Casey L. Kohler who 
is serving in Togo. I commend both of them for dedicating two years of 
their lives to helping others abroad and for serving as ambassadors 
from the United States.

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