[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3471-3472]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK--MARCH 1-7, 2004

  Mr. COLEMAN. Madam President, this week is National Peace Corps Week. 
It is with great pleasure that I send my congratulations to the Peace 
Corps volunteers serving throughout the world as we celebrate the Peace 
Corps' 43 years of service.
  Forty-three years ago, President John F. Kennedy mobilized a 
generation to work in emerging nations around the world in education, 
community development, agriculture, health care, and public works.
  Since 1961, over 170,000 Americans have volunteered their expertise, 
time, and energy to foster development and progress in 136 countries. 
There is no greater symbol of America's generosity than American 
volunteers living and working in partnership with the people of 
developing nations to encourage education and opportunity.
  Currently, over 7,500 volunteers are serving in 71 countries around 
the world--the highest number of volunteers in the field in 28 years--
and applications have risen by 10 percent. Last year, Peace Corps 
entered or re-entered Albania, Azerbaijan, Chad, and Fiji, and many 
other countries have expressed interest in establishing a partnership 
with Peace Corps. I strongly support Peace Corps entry into Mexico for 
the first time.
  It is my deepest hope that we continue to recognize and support the 
Peace Corps' important work. By honoring the Peace Corps, we reaffirm 
our Nation's commitment to strengthen freedom and create opportunities 
around the world.
  President Bush has announced a goal of doubling the number of Peace 
Corps volunteers over 5 years. I support this effort and the 
President's budget request for the Peace Corps. As chairman

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of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics 
Affairs, it is my objective to help the Peace Corps become not only 
bigger, but also better and safer. The well-being of the volunteer must 
remain the top priority of the Corps. I believe the Peace Corps must 
have the resources it needs to ensure volunteer safety. I also believe 
the Peace Corps should continue efforts to diversify its volunteers. We 
need to bring into the Corps more older volunteers, and more 
minorities. Only then can be the Peace Corps truly represent the face 
of America's melting pot.
  The Peace Corps is part of Minnesota's heritage--over 5,000 
Minnesotans have served as volunteers. And while the Peace Corps has 
been rightly associated with John F. Kennedy, it was Minnesota Senator 
Hubert Humphrey who proposed the idea in the 1950s.
  I am very happy to join with Peace Corps volunteers, past and 
present, to celebrate National Peace Corps Week--March 1-7, 2004.

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