Benjamin Gilman: “the main purpose of H.R. 6689 is to reauthorize appropriations to expand the Peace Corps to President Ronald Reagan's…”

“the main purpose of H.R. 6689 is to reauthorize appropriations to expand the Peace Corps to President Ronald Reagan's goal of 10,000 volunteers. This legislation was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), and I am proud to be a cosponsor along with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton). I understand that all three Republican and all three Democratic Members who served in the Peace Corps cosponsored this bill. Senator Coverdell and Senator Dodd will introduce companion legislation in the Senate. Mr. Chairman, 14 years ago Ronald Reagan's late beloved Peace Corps director, Loret Ruppe, gave us a vision of a Peace Corps that could grow to 10,000 volunteers, and today we renew that goal on a bipartisan basis, working with the administration and with the minority in Congress to realize that vision. This bill was carefully drafted in cooperation with the administration and with OMB, and while we initially planned to get the Peace Corps to 10,000 by the year 2000, budget realities and our concern for the planned and orderly expansion of the Corps means that we will reach our goal by the year 2003.”