[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2586]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  51ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS

  (Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 51st anniversary of 
the Peace Corps.
  In just 51 years, the Peace Corps has been an unparalleled force for 
peace. Listen to the numbers: 139 developing countries have been 
served; over 200,000 returned Peace Corps volunteers and four of those 
are Members of Congress. Taken together, these volunteers have 
contributed more than 400,000 years of service in the name of peace.
  I am proud to be a part of these ranks. The Peace Corps changed my 
life, and it continues to change the lives of both those who serve and 
the communities that are served.
  In 2012, this call to service doesn't show any signs of slowing down. 
As I speak, 9,095 Americans are serving in 76 countries. This includes 
my constituent Chase Rollings of Santa Cruz, who is working in Ethiopia 
teaching the English language for a tour guide association to increase 
ecotourism and helping women develop honey production and dried fruit 
projects to promote their income. That is just the work of one 
volunteer.
  Today, I honor Chase and hundreds of thousands of other Peace Corps 
volunteers past and present. Each one of you represents America's 
highest ideals: peace, prosperity, and friendship. Truly your service 
is more important today than it has ever been.
  Congress must fund the Peace Corps. It is the best job in America.

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