In Recognition of National Peace Corps Week

Floor Speech

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Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues and the over 6,800 Peace
Corps volunteers around the globe in commemorating National Peace Corps
Week which coincides with the 54th Anniversary of the Peace Corps.
Since its beginning in the Kennedy Administration, nearly 220,000
Americans have served in 140 developing nations around the world.
These volunteers serve as teachers, health care service providers and
educators helping to bring needed care to communities that lack access.

Their vision and commitment to bettering the world around them has
helped make enduring contributions in agriculture, education, health
and HIV/AIDS, youth, and technology in developing countries.
Additionally, returned Peace Corps volunteers are the type of leaders
we need in all sectors of our society to help face the many challenges
in our own country.

And as a strong reminder that growing numbers of young Americans want
to go and make a difference in this world, in 2014, the Peace Corps
received a 22-year high of 17,336 applications. But it is not only
young Americans making a difference in the Peace Corps. A growing
number of volunteers are over age 50.

A total of 5,800 volunteers from my home state of Wisconsin have
served in the Peace Corps since its founding, including my
distinguished former colleague from Wisconsin, Congressman Tom Petri.
On a per capita basis, Wisconsin ranked 9th in the nation in sending
Peace Corps Volunteers in 2013 with the University of Wisconsin-Madison
among the tops in the nation among large colleges and universities in
sending Peace Corps volunteers overseas.

Over 200 Wisconsinites are currently serving. I want to personally
thank the seven volunteers from my district who are currently serving
in the Peace Corps. Caitlin Connolly, Adam Coonen, Sarmeera Hassan,
Casimir Korducki, Jodi Lemmer, Daniel Pologe, and Lindsey Powell. From
Belize to Zambia, these young people are representing the best of
Milwaukee and of America. I am very proud of them.

As a representative for the great state of Wisconsin, I strongly
support the goals of the Peace Corps and the passion and commitment of
its volunteers on behalf of the United States. I am pleased that the
President's FY2016 request includes $30 million increase in funding to
help increase the number of volunteers serving.

As our world continues to struggle with natural disasters, diseases
such as Ebola, conflict and instability, fledging transitions to
democracy, and poverty and hunger, the Peace Corps will be a vital part
of the U.S. diplomatic and development response and a sign of our
nation's long term commitment to helping alleviating suffering around
the globe.

I congratulate the Peace Corps and their volunteers on this momentous
occasion. It is an excellent example of the type of program we need to
invest in as part of our efforts to promote development, peace, and
stability around the globe.

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