[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2748]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, on March 1, 1961, President Kennedy signed 
an Executive order that established the Peace Corps whose mission would 
be to promote peace, mutual understanding, and friendship between 
Americans and the people of the world. Back then, the world was viewed 
as engaged in a cold war with the United States and its allies pitted 
against the Communist bloc. President Kennedy envisioned the Peace 
Corps as an agency that would create opportunities for Americans to 
reach out to the rest of the world, and make positive contributions to 
community development and nation-building overseas.
  As we celebrate the Peace Corps's 45th anniversary, all Americans can 
be proud of what the agency has accomplished and continues to do. 
Through its hardworking and committed volunteers who now number nearly 
8,000, the Peace Corps provides assistance today in 138 host countries 
in such fields as education, healthcare, environmental preservation, 
and business development.
  Last year, the Peace Corps's Crisis Corps Volunteers helped with 
rebuilding efforts in tsunami-ravaged areas of Sri Lanka and Thailand. 
And, for the first time in its history, volunteers were deployed at 
home as approximately 270 volunteers assisted with recovery efforts 
along the U.S. gulf coast in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and 
Rita.
  I am also proud to report that the Peace Corps continues to attract 
Volunteers from Hawaii. At this moment, 12 volunteers from Hawaii are 
serving in 12 different host countries that include Bulgaria, China, 
Morocco, Nicaragua, Swaziland, and Tanzania.
  It is a pleasure to join all Americans in congratulating the Peace 
Corps and its volunteers past and present for their outstanding work, 
and for their invaluable and effective civic contributions to 
communities throughout the world.

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