[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2737]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 2010

  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, this week is National Peace Corps Week, so 
I want to take a moment to recognize the tremendous work done by Peace 
Corps volunteers around the world. I myself served in the Peace Corps 
in Somalia in the mid-1960s and saw first hand the contribution that 
Peace Corps volunteers make to the communities in which they serve.
  Since the founding of the Peace Corps in 1961, nearly 200,000 
volunteers have served in 139 countries around the world. Over 7,000 
volunteers are currently providing services in 76 countries, making 
contributions in agriculture, business development, information 
technology, education, health and HIV/AIDS, youth, and the environment. 
Twelve of my own constituents are serving around the world in such 
countries as Panama, Kenya, and Cambodia.
  Next year the Peace Corps will celebrate its 50th anniversary. During 
this anniversary year, we will rightly recognize the achievements of 
the Peace Corps and its volunteers over the past five decades. However, 
I hope we also recognize that the mission of the Peace Corps is as 
important as it has ever been. At a time when there is still tremendous 
need outside our borders, Peace Corps volunteers must continue their 
mission of helping others help themselves. Additionally, those 
volunteers must continue to serve--as they have in the past--as our 
nation's citizen ambassadors to people in other countries, and, once 
they arrive back home, as liaisons between the citizens of our country 
and the citizens of the country where they served.
  I hope that Congress will continue to support and expand this vital 
institution for decades to come.

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