[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E334-E335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 2010

  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the National 
Peace Corps Week that is celebrated from March 1 through March 7, 2010.
  The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to the early 1960s, when 
then Senator John F. Kennedy inspired Americans to serve their country 
in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. 
The Peace Corps celebrated its 49th anniversary on March 1st.
  As of September 30, 2009, 7,671 Peace Corps Volunteers are making 
significant and lasting contributions to improve the lives of 
individuals and communities in 76 countries. Since 1961, nearly 200,000 
Volunteers have served in 139 countries around the world and in their 
local communities in the United States when they return home.
  The Peace Corps has become an enduring symbol of our nation's 
commitment to encourage progress, create opportunity, and expand 
development at the grass-roots level in the developing world.
  That is why I strongly support federal funding to ensure a strong and 
vibrant Peace Corps program.
  Throughout its history, the Peace Corps has adapted and responded to 
the issues of the times. In an ever-changing world, Peace Corps 
Volunteers have met new challenges with innovation, creativity, 
determination, and compassion.
  Peace Corps Volunteers work in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central 
and South America, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East. 
Volunteers have made contributions around the world in agriculture, 
business development, information technology, education, health and 
HIV/AIDS, youth, and the environment.
  Peace Corps Volunteers will arrive in Indonesia in spring 2010 and 
will work as English teachers in high schools and at teacher training 
institutions. In mid-2010, Peace Corps Volunteers will return to Sierra 
Leone after a 16-year absence. Volunteers will focus on secondary 
education and work with their host communities on grassroots 
initiatives and community development projects.
  Peace Corps Volunteers have strengthened the ties of friendship and 
understanding between the people of the United States and those of 
other countries. Their work around the globe represents a legacy of 
service that has become a significant part of America's history and 
positive image abroad. Their desire to make a difference has improved 
the lives of millions of people around the world as well as here in the 
United States.
  Peace Corps Volunteers provide hope and meaningful assistance to 
people affected by HIV/AIDS. The tireless efforts and dedication of 
Volunteers have made the Peace Corps a key partner in the global 
response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Peace Corps Volunteers are uniquely 
suited to work in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention because they are 
trained in the local language, live and work in the communities where 
they serve, and know how to share information in a culturally 
appropriate way.
  Peace Corps Response provides returned Peace Corps Volunteers the 
opportunity to serve again in rewarding, high-impact, short-term 
assignments. Since its inception in 1996, this program has sent more 
than 1,000 returned Volunteers into the field in over 40 countries. 
Peace Corps Response Volunteers are deployed to crisis situations such 
as disaster relief following natural catastrophes, as well as to 
nonemergency interventions such as HIV/AIDS awareness.
  Through Peace Corps service, Volunteers worldwide learn more than 250 
languages and dialects, and they receive extensive cross-cultural 
training that enables them to function effectively at a professional 
level in different cultural settings. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers 
are leaders in all sectors of our society.
  My home state of Colorado is a very service-oriented state and its 
first lady, Ms. Jeannie Ritter, wife of Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, 
was a Peace Corps volunteer who served in Tunisia in a center for the 
disabled.
  My district, the Second Congressional District of Colorado, has a 
strong tradition of volunteerism and I would also like to take this 
opportunity to recognize in particular the great work of 38 
constituents who are currently serving as Peace Corps Volunteers in 
countries like Togo, Costa Rica, Peru, Zambia, Honduras, Malawi and the 
Dominican Republic, among others. Thank you very much for your 
contributions to the people and communities of these nations and for 
serving as ambassadors of peace, hope and opportunity.
  In addition, I am very proud that the University of Colorado at 
Boulder--our state's flagship higher education institution--ranks 
second in the nation among colleges and universities for the most 
alumni joining Peace Corps in 2009 with 95 active volunteers and 
continues its great tradition of national and international service. 
Historically, the University of Colorado at Boulder ranks 5th for most 
alumni Volunteers in America, with 2,206 alumni having served as Peace 
Corps Volunteers since 1961.
  It is indeed fitting to recognize the achievements of the Peace Corps 
and honor its Volunteers, past and present, and reaffirm our country's 
commitment to helping people help themselves throughout the world. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the National Peace Corps 
Week and the 49th anniversary of this wonderful program.

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