Sam Farr: “I would first of all like to welcome to the United States Capitol all the returned Peace Corps volunteers who have…”

“I would first of all like to welcome to the United States Capitol all the returned Peace Corps volunteers who have served this country overseas. Now, over 165,000 Americans have served in over 130 countries throughout the world, and they have come here to our Nation's capital to celebrate the anniversary of Peace Corps, which is 40 + 1 years old. We were going to have the 40th anniversary celebration last year, but 9-11 pushed it off to this year, so it is 40 plus one. I had the honor yesterday of introducing a bill about the Peace Corps, H.R. 4979. It authorizes appropriations for the Peace Corps to double the number of volunteers in five years; it restates the independence of the Peace Corps; it reports to Congress on new initiatives and security for Peace Corps volunteers; it makes a commitment to recruit and place Peace Corps volunteers in countries where they could help promote mutual understanding, particularly in areas with substantial Muslim populations; it develops training programs for Peace Corps volunteers in areas of education and prevention of AIDS; it streamlines and empowers the Peace Corps Advisory Council and creates a fund to promote the work of returned Peace Corps volunteers in fulfilling the goals of the Peace Corps and in facilitating the world-wide support of peace. I ask Members of Congress who are interested in this to cosponsor this great piece of legislation.”