[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2559]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                COMMEMORATING NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2006

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Peace 
Corps Week, which runs from February 27th through March 5th.
  Forty-five years ago, John F. Kennedy challenged the people of the 
United States to serve their country: to travel to places they never 
dreamed they'd visit, to help people they never thought they'd meet, 
and to do this from the bottom of their hearts. The men and women of 
the Peace Corps answered and have continued to answer that call, 
volunteering two years out of their lives to the lives of others.
  With 7,810 current volunteers, the Peace Corps has enlisted more than 
182,000 men and woman and served in 138 countries to improve the lives 
of the less fortunate. They've been teachers and mentors to countless 
children. They've helped farmers grow crops, worked with small 
businesses to market products, and helped teach new health care 
practices. They've helped schools develop computer skills, and educated 
entire communities about the threat of HIV/AIDS.
  The United States was founded on the principle that human beings, 
regardless of race, creed, or sex possess certain inalienable rights: 
the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Peace Corps 
volunteers are the ambassadors of these rights.
  In the past half-century world events have brought many challenges to 
Peace Corps volunteers. Yet they have always been able to adapt, 
responding to those in need regardless of the situation. Volunteers 
meet all challenges head on with innovation, determination, and 
compassion. For their altruism, Peace Corps volunteers deserve to be 
recognized for their work toward peace.
  To date, the 6th District has produced over 350 Peace Corps 
volunteers, including the following 27 current volunteers: Troy A. 
Agron, who is working in Azerbaijan; Sarah W. Bartfeld, Albania; Carol 
A. Batz, Tonga; Zachary Burt, Morocco; Lilian Chan, Eastern Caribbean; 
Rustin P. Crandall, Guyana; Catherine A. Cvengros, Armenia; Ashley E. 
Fine, Benin; Amil A. Gehrke, Georgia; Levi Hanzel-Sello, Moldova; 
Sharon Kaiser, Eastern Caribbean; Connor J. Kamada, Senegal; Jenna Kay, 
Uganda; Paul H. Kingsbury, Panama; Anna F. Kuhn, Tanzania; Ana Alecia 
Lyman, Mozambique; Julia C. Miller, Burkina Faso; Priya N. Mishra, 
Moldova; Jonathan G. Morris, Ukraine; Lanthy Nguyen, Macedonia; 
Nickolette D. Patrick, Ukraine; Alyson L. Peel, Swaziland; Shaydra A. 
Pflaum-Scott, Macedonia; Uriah S. Reisman, Panama; Christopher Shutt, 
Bulgaria; Elicia F. Smith, Kenya; and Eric J. Tawney, Vanuatu.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating National 
Peace Corps Week and honoring the brave and selfless volunteers who 
have sacrificed years of their lives to make our world a better place.

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