[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK

  Mr. BYRD. Madam President, this week, March 1 through March 7, is 
National Peace Corps Week. It marks the 49th anniversary of this unique 
and important government agency.
  When proposing the creation of the Peace Corps to Congress, President 
John F. Kennedy declared that, ``Our own freedom, and the future of 
freedom around the world, depends, in a very real sense, on the ability 
to build growing and independent nations where men can live in dignity, 
liberated from the bonds of hunger, ignorance, and poverty.''
  For 49 years, nearly 200,000 dedicated Americans have served in 139 
countries around the world helping developing nations with health and 
sanitation projects, assisting them in increasing their agricultural 
production, and educating their young. In pursuit of the Peace Corps 
goal of helping people help themselves, Peace Corps volunteers have 
served as school teachers, economic development advisers, agricultural 
and environmental specialists, and in various capacities as skilled 
laborers. Today, Peace Corps volunteers are working in countries around 
the world in emerging and essential areas such as information 
technology and business development.
  In fulfilling the mission that President Kennedy established for it 
on March 1, 1961, the Peace Corps has become an enduring symbol of the 
American commitment to freedom through the encouragement of the social 
and economic progress of all nations. It is truly one of the most 
successful and influential programs in the history of our Nation.
  Madam President, I use this opportunity, the 49th anniversary of the 
Peace Corps, to congratulate and to thank everyone ever involved in 
this program that provides such an important service to our country, as 
well as other nations, and to our fellow man.

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