Barbara Lee: “This is the only amendment that I will reluctantly oppose. This amendment seeks to increase funding to the Peace Corps…”

“This is the only amendment that I will reluctantly oppose. This amendment seeks to increase funding to the Peace Corps to the fiscal year 2024 level. I do agree with the premise that the Peace Corps should receive additional funding in this bill. The reality is that there is not enough funding for the offset where the gentleman is identifying this money, and that is the State Department diplomatic programs. It is already $1 billion below the fiscal year 2024 level. This amendment highlights that the allocation for this bill is just simply too low. We cannot expect to address the variety of global challenges to foster peace and support our diplomatic efforts with the 12 percent decrease in the top line of this bill. I support the mission of the Peace Corps fully. They are our best diplomats. I commend all of the volunteers who serve our country. I was recently in Africa on a bipartisan delegation, and we met with many Peace Corps members. They are serving this country, and they are helping in so many ways in the most vulnerable places on the planet. I thank them for that. This amendment, though, is just robbing Peter to pay Paul. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, again, reluctantly. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.”