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National Peace Corps Association > News > Advocacy > House Spending Package Slashes Service
House Spending Package Slashes Service
By Jonathan Pearson on Thursday, February 17th, 2011
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the House of Representatives gave final passage to H.R. 1, legislation that would sharply reduce federal spending in the current, Fiscal Year 2011 budget.
Peace Corps and other service programs are on the chopping block. Under the House proposal, Peace Corps funding would be sharply cut from the current $400 million to $331 million, stripping away funding increases over the past two years. California RPCV Congressman Sam Farr (Colombia 64-66) took to the House floor earlier in the week to criticize the cuts to Peace Corps and other programs contained in the International Affairs Budget.
On the domestic front, the group Voices for National Service says the House legislation proposes eliminating the Corporation for National and Community Service, which includes Americorps and other domestic service programs. Supporters are being asked to participate in a February 25th Save Service in America Day.
The Senate will take up the Fiscal Year 2011 budget when it returns from a week-long recess on February 28th. The Hill newspaper reports sharp differences between the two chambers on the FY 2011 budget, which raises the possibility of a government shutdown.
Meanwhile, The National Peace Corps Association’s annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps is less than two weeks away. Peace Corps funding will be among the issues raised during the Day of Action. Capitol Hill volunteers are still needed. Follow this link to make plans to participate from your home, and contact us at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org if you can join us on Capitol Hill on March 3rd.
As a recent RPVC, the first thing I did when I read your email was to contact my US House Rep and both of my Senators to ask them to please vote to cut the Peace Corps budget.
I stand firmly behind my view that the Peace Corps should not grow. It has already grown far beyond its capacity to support its volunteers, to train and oversee the conduct of its Program Managers and to ensure the health and well-being of its American volunteers and employees.
The US budget cannot afford to fix the Peace Corps, so its budget and size should be cut down to more manageable levels.
Very sincerely,
Julie Tomlinson
Raleigh, NC
I would have to disagree with the Ms. Tomlinson that funds should be cut from the Peace Corps budget. In addition, I think that the U.S. Congress would be sending a message to countries that Peace Corps currently serves, that our war efforts are more important than international development issues. By cutting our service budget, we would be signaling to the world our preference and commitment to focus on the welfare of only two countries: Iraq and Afghanistan.
I had the pleasure to serve in the Peace Corps Costa Rica Rural Community Development program from 2005-07. Of course improvements could have been made to the program, but overall, I saw the impact that my fellow volunteers had with the support of the in-country staff. The impact wasn’t necessarily tangible, but it was obvious and invaluable. On a side note, it would be a shame to see AmeriCorps get cut because we would be reducing our commitment to domestic development.
I do not think that cutting the budget will fix any problems that the Peace Corps may have. If anything, the Peace Corps needs current funding in order to update the organization’s operations to continue to improve the service that Peace Corps Volunteers give abroad. Maybe there should be a better system of program evaluation, in which current funds should be allocated accordingly, but a substantial budget cut like the one suggested is sending the wrong message about American priorities. It would do a direct disservice to developing countries and our image abroad.
Sincerely,
Amy Cortina
San Diego, CA
I see the NPCA talking about not cutting funding.
My question to members and non-members, is where is this $440 million going to come from?
-Cut military spending?
-National public health care system, medicare for all?
-Those who make 250k+ pay tax rates similar to the Clinton era ?
The NY Times did a decent job of putting up a interactive federal budget online where anyone could increase/decrease different areas.
See link below:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html
Simply asking RPCV’s to contact elected officials to ask them not to cut Peace Corps funding is not enough.
They need to be educated about the federal budget.
Dear Julie,
Great initiative! I think contacting your congressmen regarding an issue about which you are informed is substantially more than the average citizen undertakes, and it is particularly more impressive than folks who simply comment that your actual action “is not enough” from the safety of the blogosphere (I particularly admire that you put your name down after expressing a fair opinion…I have less respect for anonymous posters).
I am an RPCV from the same Rural Community Development Program in Costa Rica as Amy, and I do not share her opinion. While my service was wonderful, challenging, broadening, and character building, I believe that of all PC countries, Peace Corps Costa Rica may be one of the least effective use of public funds imaginable. I found it to be much more of a glorified study abroad program for the middle and upper-middle class Americans than a development organization focused on international outreach.
Keep fighting the good fight Julie!
Tyler Montgomery
Asheville, NC
Thank you for your comments Tyler,
I also sent my views and a summary of my experiences to the New York Times in response to an article they printed in May about Peace Corps volunteers’ experiences. I won’t go into detail here, but it describes some of the things I dealt with. It wasn’t glorified study abroad or international outreach. It was frightening.
Now, with the collapsed US/global economy and the US’s emaciated revenue, there’s no doubt in my mind that Peace Corps funding will be cut. As it should be. Nonetheless, I do plan to write to my senators and representative again.
Julie
Raleigh, NC