[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 19, 2026

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my steadfast support 
for the Peace Corps as we celebrate the 65th anniversary of its 
founding this month.
  On March 1st, we marked 65 years since President John F. Kennedy 
issued his historic call to service at the University of Michigan. That 
call inspired a generation of Americans to serve beyond our shores. 
From its first group of volunteers in 1961, the Peace Corps has grown 
into a global network of more than 240,000 Americans who have served in 
over 140 countries. For six and a half decades, it has remained a 
singular instrument of American people-to-people diplomacy, advancing 
world peace and friendship through service.
  Today, the Peace Corps continues to connect American volunteers to 
opportunity internationally, providing technical assistance and 
fostering social and economic development abroad. Its services span 
various fields, including agriculture, economic development, education, 
environment, health and youth development.
  As a Member of Congress from Hawaii, representing our Pacific Island 
communities and the deep ties that bind us across Oceania, I am 
especially proud of the Peace Corps' enduring legacy in the Indo-
Pacific. The Peace Corps first established its presence in the Pacific 
Islands in 1966. It partnered with what are now the Freely Associated 
States--the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and 
the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Since then, more than 13,000 
volunteers have served in 12 Pacific Island nations. They have taught 
in classrooms, strengthened public health systems, supported youth 
leadership and worked alongside communities to build climate resilience 
and promote sustainable development.
  Service flourished in the region until 2020 when the COVID-19 
pandemic forced the evacuation of thousands of volunteers. This marked 
the first global suspension of Peace Corps operations in its history. 
But today, we celebrate not only an anniversary, but a new beginning.
  Peace Corps volunteers have returned to Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and 
Vanuatu. Plans are underway to resume service in Palau, and 
Congressional support exists to expand to the Marshall Islands and the 
Federated States of Micronesia. In January 2023, Samoa became the first 
Pacific Island nation to welcome volunteers back after the pandemic. 
Americans are once again serving as educators, librarians, health 
partners and community development advisors. They are working on 
disaster preparedness, environmental education and youth empowerment.
  Public support for the Peace Corps remains strong. The ratio of 
annual applications to available volunteer positions exceeds 4 to 1. 
Thousands of Americans are ready and eager to serve. Retired General 
Stanley McChrystal described the gap between applicants and available 
opportunities as ``democratic energy wasted and a generation of 
patriotism needlessly squandered.'' With sufficient funding, the agency 
can expand into strategically important regions, including additional 
Pacific Island nations that are eager to welcome volunteers.
  Today, I continue to see the impact of the Peace Corps in my own 
district. I see it in the enthusiastic students at the University of 
Hawaii at Manoa who are preparing to become the next generation of 
Peace Corps volunteers. I also see it in the Returned Peace Corps 
Volunteers of Hawaii, more than 300 members strong, including many 
elders (kupuna) and veterans, who after completing their service chose 
to carry forward the Peace Corps mission here at home and across our 
Nation.
  At a time when the world faces complex geopolitical, economic, 
humanitarian, public health and climate challenges, this is not the 
moment to reduce our commitment. As a member of the Appropriations 
Committee, I strongly support the Peace Corps and its mission. I will 
continue working to protect and strengthen its funding so it can meet 
the growing demand for service.
  On this 65th anniversary, let us reflect on President Kennedy's 
vision. He recognized that the talents cultivated across our Nation 
could serve the common good. He understood that national security and 
compassionate diplomacy are linked. That vision lives on through the 
work of thousands of volunteers today. It is our responsibility to 
carry that legacy forward.
  I honor the Peace Corps family (`ohana) around the world, past, 
present and future, and want them to know that their steadfast 
commitment to service is deeply appreciated and profoundly valued. 
Especially in challenging times, their dedication to a broader purpose 
reflects the very best of our Nation.

                          ____________________