[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 31 (Monday, February 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF PEACE CORPS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 23, 2009

  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, as a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I am 
honored to formally recognize the work of the Peace Corps on the 48th 
Anniversary of its inception and to help kick off National Peace Corps 
Week. Countries from all over the globe will celebrate past 
contributions to the international community from the Peace Corps as 
well as look forward with anticipation to what the future holds for the 
organization.
  During National Peace Corps Week, we salute and honor the men and 
women of this Nation who have selflessly served abroad as Peace Corps 
Volunteers, as well as those current Volunteers who continue to carry 
out the Peace Corps mission: world peace and friendship.
  The Peace Corp provides a unique opportunity for Volunteers to travel 
the world and help some of the most impoverished people in the world 
while improving oneself. I fondly remember my time as a volunteer in El 
Salvador after answering President John F. Kennedy's call to service 
where I built schools and health clinics. The experience meant much to 
me personally and professionally, the beginning of my lifelong 
commitment to public service. I returned with a passion for teaching, 
and quickly put my skills, including fluency in Spanish, to use in 
Santa Clara County schools. Most importantly, I returned to the United 
States with a deeper understanding of humanity and a personal 
commitment to speak on behalf of the marginalized and powerless.
  Since President John F. Kennedy's call to service in 1960, over 
195,000 people have served as Peace Corps Volunteers spanning 139 
countries. I hope that these numbers can be greatly expanded as a new 
era of hope and service begins. Today, a renewed call to service has 
been issued by President Barack Obama challenging Americans from all 
walks of life to bear the torch of peace and good will that many 
Americans in the past have carried proudly to other countries.
  I am greatly encouraged by President Obama's commitment to expand 
public service by building upon the Peace Corps and creating innovative 
programs that inspire Americans to volunteer and serve. In addition, 
President Obama supports the expansion of the Peace Corps to 16,000 by 
2011, the Peace Corps 50th Anniversary. I am in total support of the 
expansion of this worthy and necessary organization.
  Today, I honor the Peace Corps and its brave Volunteers for their 
service to our Nation and to the international community. For years, 
the volunteers of the Peace Corps have helped developing nations 
fulfill their needs for trained men and women, championed the cause of 
charity and philanthropy, found common ways to address global 
challenges, and set forth a dialogue of understanding between Americans 
and locals from other countries. Peace Corps Volunteers set a universal 
standard for how we are to embrace the realities of an ever-shrinking 
world.
  With a bleak economic outlook and an international community under 
pressure, the Peace Corps mission is more vital than ever. I look 
forward to helping President Barack Obama fulfill his promise of 
renewing America's reputation worldwide and revitalizing America's 
commitment to service.

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