Statement of Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman
Senate Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs
June 25, 2002
Today the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere,
Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs convenes to receive testimony on the
future of the Peace Corps and specifically on legislation I introduced
along with Senators Gordon Smith, Kennedy, Torricelli and several other
members to refine the Peace Corps Charter so it will be better able to
meet the challenges it will face in the coming years. A companion bill has
also been introduced in the House by Sam Farr, Mark Udall and others. I
want to thank Congressmen Farr and Udall as well as member of the returned
Peace Corps community for working with us to craft the bill that is the
subject of today's hearing. I look forward during the course of today's
hearing to receiving comments on the legislation and to discussing ways in
which we can begin to address the needs and challenges of today's and
tomorrow's Peace Corps, so that it can continue to be relevant for the
21st century.
As we all know, some 41 years ago President John F. Kennedy made public
his vision for the future of an American volunteer service. He spoke of a
corps of committed and idealistic young volunteers, the Peace Corps, who
would travel all over the world, "promoting world peace and friendship."
He saw public service as an ideal that would transcend political rhetoric.
Volunteers were not to reflect particular Republican or Democratic
ideology, but rather their service was to be a manifestation of core
American values—values held in common by all of us. The goal of this new
endeavor was to support the development and betterment of the countries
and communities where they served, to foster a greater understanding of
American values and culture abroad, and to likewise foster a greater
appreciation of other peoples and cultures on the part of Americans. Four
decades later, more than 165,000 Americans have volunteered for the Peace
Corps and worked with diligence and compassion to achieve these aims.
As remarkable as the success of the Peace Corps has been, and as
important a symbol and example it is of public service, in the aftermath
of the tragic attacks on America of September 11, it has become something
more. It has become a necessity. The terrorist attacks of last September
have shown us that the world has become a much smaller place. The United
States can no longer afford to neglect certain countries, or certain parts
of the world. We need to find ways to help developing countries meet their
basic needs, and we need to do so now. We especially need to act in places
where there are people who are unfamiliar with or hostile to American
values.
Now, more than ever, Peace Corps volunteers play a pivotal role in
helping us achieve a greater understanding of America abroad, especially
in predominantly Muslim countries.
If we are to expand the reach of the Peace Corps -- to send our
volunteers into more countries -- then we must provide the Peace Corps
with adequate resources to safely and effectively pursue these objectives.
I believe that the legislation I introduced last week, the "Peace Corps
Charter for the 21st Century Act", provides a framework for the Peace
Corps to maintain its relevance in the context of the new challenges it
confronts, and authorizes sufficient funding to implement that framework,
including expanding the number of volunteers as called for by President
Bush.
Today our witnesses have been asked to comment on the various
provisions in the bill. Before turning to them, let me first take a few
minutes to outline some of the most significant provisions in the
legislation. First, our bill stresses the importance of maintaining the
Peace Corps' independence from any political affiliation, party,
government agency, or particular administration.
This independence is critical to the continued success, credibility,
and acceptance of the volunteers in the countries in which they serve. We
must vigilantly preserve this independence. This is especially critical as
we are attempt to open new programs in challenging places. We must make
sure that the Peace Corps' goals of friendship, peace, and grassroots
development are in no way muddled or compromised by other short-term
political objectives.
One way that the Peace Corps can address the needs of the 21st century
is to give special emphasis to recruiting volunteers for placement in
countries whose governments are seeking to foster a greater understanding
by and about their citizens. Monies are authorized in the bill for this
purpose. The bill also calls upon the Director of the Peace Corps to
outline a strategy for increasing the Peace Corps' presence in countries
with substantial Muslim populations and other places of particular
concern. We must find ways to engage with these countries, and to foster a
more open interaction and understanding between our citizens.
I know that the current Peace Corps Director is anxious to provide
opportunities for Americans from all walks of life and ethnicity to become
volunteers.
To that end, the pending legislation attempts to level the playing
field in order to make it possible for more Americans to become volunteers
through an assessment of the adequacy of college loan forgiveness programs
offered to volunteers, and by an increase in the readjustment allowance
provided to volunteers at the end of their service.
Another important provision in this legislation is the training
mandated for volunteers in the areas of education, prevention, and
treatment of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and
tuberculosis, so that they may better help fight these diseases in the
communities in which they serve. This training, in cooperation with the
centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of
Health, the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health
Organization, and local health officials, will prepare volunteers to
promote a better grassroots approach to public health, safety, and disease
prevention.
I also feel strongly, that we must find better ways to utilize the
insights and experience of returned volunteers, to get them more involved
in the promotion and support of the Peace Corps three core goals.
One way to do this is to provide federal grant monies to non-profits
established by returned volunteers. These non-profits would be established
for the express purpose of using the knowledge, experience, and expertise
of returned volunteers to help carry out the goals of the Peace Corps.
Returned volunteers are an under-utilized resource. This would seek to
remedy that under use.
As our witnesses today will make clear, many returned volunteers
continue to make a difference here at home through their enduring
community service, and their work to strengthen America's appreciation of
other cultures. Together they are building a legacy of service for the
next generation, and it is my hope that the non-profit grant monies
provided for in the bill, will provide them with yet another outlet for
continued service.
Finally, let me speak briefly to the funding level increases called for
in this legislation. Over the next four years this bill authorizes annual
appropriations in the following amounts: $465,000,000 for fiscal year
2004, $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, $560,000,000 for fiscal year
2006, and $560,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
In addition, and most importantly, this bill allows for additional
appropriations to be made to address the specific funding needs of the
Peace Corps as it seeks to increase volunteer strength. Again, we must not
allow our desire to expand the number of volunteers in the field to
infringe on the security of our volunteers or the quality of the Peace
Corps experience. If that means that the President's goal of doubling the
Peace Corps by 2007 is not met, so be it. Quality must go hand and hand
with quantity if this organization is to remain true to its goals.
In conclusion, I believe that the "Peace Corps Charter for the 21st
Century Act" provides a road map for Peace Corps Act to enable it to
better meet the future needs of our volunteers while expanding and
refining the organization. The Peace Corps is a symbol of the very best of
American ideals of service, sacrifice, and self-reliance. Our volunteers
are to be commended again for their enduring commitment to these ideals,
and for the way they are able to communicate the message of the Peace
Corps throughout the world. They are entitled to an organizational
framework and funding levels that meet the demands they will confront in
the coming years.
I will turn now to my ranking member for his comments. I look forward
from hearing from our distinguished witnesses.
