[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5592-5593]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 6, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today, during National Peace Corps 
week, to commemorate the service of the current 7,749 Peace Corp 
volunteers making long-lasting contributions to communities in 73 
countries around the world.
  Forty-six years ago, President John F. Kennedy created the Peace 
Corps with the aim of enabling ordinary men and women to combat the 
debilitating effects of poverty, disease, and war in developing 
countries. More than 187,000 volunteers have served in 139 countries, 
and it is clear that the Peace Corps' impact has been truly 
extraordinary.
  The leadership embodied in the Peace Corps Volunteers have helped 
farmers find new efficient methods for crop production, developed new 
business plans for economically depressed communities, and inspired 
countless children by acting as mentors and teachers. Their compassion 
and commitment to service have led to significant achievements in 
fostering improved understanding and strengthening the bonds of 
friendship.
  Peace Corps Volunteers remain committed to addressing some of the 
world's most pressing problems today. These men and women have offered 
crucial assistance to communities struggling to halt the spread of HIV/
AIDS, to regions devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and to countries 
rebuilding after deadly tsunamis. For their brave service and 
dedication, these Volunteers deserve to be commended.
  To date, the 6th District of California has produced almost 400 Peace 
Corps Volunteers, including the following 28 current volunteers: Troy 
A. Agron, who is working in Azerbaijan; Caron L. Alarab, Guinea; Carol 
A. Batz, Tonga; Libby A. Bersot, Botswana; Jennifer M. Busick, Bolivia; 
Eldon L. Christenson, Guinea; Rustin P. Crandall, Guyana; Joseph P. 
Deschenes, Albania; Tameron A. Eaton, Eastern Caribbean; Amil A. 
Gehrke, Georgia; Robyn M. Grahn, Honduras; Donald F. Hesse, Jordan; 
Jessica D. Holloway, Armenia; Connor J. Kamada, Senegal; Anna F. Kuhn, 
Tanzania;

[[Page 5593]]

Abigail M. Lafrenz, Bulgaria; Bridget M. Leddy, Kyrgyzstan; Ana Alecia 
Lyman, Mozambique; Sydney F. McCall, Bolivia; Morgan C. Montgomery, 
Honduras; Laura M. Norton, Madagascar; Jordan M. Reeves, Panama; Uriah 
S. Reisman, Panama; Jacob E. Rich, Peru; Emily C. Ryan, China; Elicia 
F. Smith, Kenya; Katherine L. Theiss-Nyland, Malawi; Kyla H. Wall-
Polin, Bulgaria.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor the 46th 
anniversary of the establishment of the Peace Corps and to celebrate 
the achievements of these passionate men and women who have succeeded 
in making our world more peaceful.

                          ____________________