Department Of State, Foreign Operations, And Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I applaud the chairwoman and ranking member for both of their work in crafting a bill that everyone in this House can be proud to support.

This bill commits about 1 percent of the total Federal budget to confront all
of the global challenges we face: poverty, conflict, famine, drought, disease and global climate change. If we ignore these issues, they will threaten our way of life.

This year's bill makes bold, necessary investments in areas of global health, agriculture and climate change, and it puts America back onto the path of doubling the number of Peace Corps volunteers proudly serving our country.

I look forward to working with the chairwoman and President Obama to increase our investment in child survival and maternal health and to meet America's commitment to the Millennium development goals.

Today, we start building a safer, healthier world for America's children and all of the world's children.

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Thank you, Madam Chair. I am very proud of my staff and the other staff and Members who have served in the Peace Corps who are in this House.

Mr. Chairman, today the Peace Corps, one of the most successful foreign policy initiatives, is at a crossroads. Since 1961, over 200,000 Americans have served our country by helping others around the world. Today's Peace Corps needs to be reenergized. Peace Corps is not capable of meeting the demand of Americans of all ages who want to serve. As I said, Peace Corps is at a crossroads.

We have an opportunity here today in this moment to reinvigorate Peace Corps for the next new century, but it's going to take leadership from Congress. The President's request simply was not enough, even though the President does propose to double, increase and fully fund Peace Corps out into the years.

We have an opportunity to do it today. Chairwoman LOWEY is leading with $450 million, a commitment to Peace Corps to put the agency back on track to double those numbers.

President Bush spoke up from this Chamber and President Obama spoke too in his inaugural address.

We have an opportunity to make history today. Support the Peace Corps.

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