Advocacy
-
National Peace Corps Association > News > Advocacy > President Signs Budget With Level Peace Corps Funding
President Signs Budget With Level Peace Corps Funding
By Jonathan Pearson on Friday, December 23rd, 2011
Peace Corps champion Congressman Sam Farr connects with a fellow RPCV during last September's 50th Anniversary Capitol Hill Advocacy Day
A Fiscal Year 2012 funding package that includes level funding of $375 million for the Peace Corps was signed into law Friday afternoon by President Obama.
The possibility of Peace Corps seeing a slight cut in its funding appears to be averted – at least for now. Last week, when the House of Representatives supported a spending package that included level funding for Peace Corps, they also voted for separate legislation to support an extra $8 billion in federal disaster relief funding. Additionally, to pay for disaster relief the House voted for an across-the-board spending cut of 1.8 percent for non-defense discretionary spending.
Had that cut taken effect, Peace Corps could have expected a funding reduction of approximately $7 million. However, the Senate defeated the across-the-board recision, while voting in favor of both disaster assistance and the FY 2012 budget package.
Peace Corps did suffer a 6.5% cut during congressional budget battles earlier this year. Strong advocacy by Peace Corps champions on Capitol Hill and the Peace Corps community across the nation played a major role in positioning the agency to be spared further targeted cuts in a year with significant pressure for sharp federal spending.
In January, Congress will return to continue action on various spending measures, including and especially further extension of a major payroll tax cut. One of the key points of contention is expected to be how to pay for the payroll tax cut and other measures that may be coming before the Senate and House.
January will also mark the beginning of preparations for activity on the President’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget request. NPCA Advocacy will include preparing for our 8th Annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps, planned for March 1st.
Yeaaaa, Jonathan and all advocates! We did it! In the days of paying off the huge debt, it’s great to see that the Hill values Peace Corps enough to at least keep the current funding level.
It’s always amazed me that since 1986, the Hill has authorized Peace Corps to double the number of volunteers in many of its authorization hearings, but it has never appropriated enough money to do so. Back in 1981, Loret Ruppe urged us to advocate for a PC budget equivalent to a B-1 bomber. Unfortunately we’ve never come close. Fortunately I don’t think we’ve ever been cut either.
It’s Rep. Sam Farr on the Hill and Jonathan’s leadership on the ground that helps to keep the Peace Corps’ budget at the highest level possible — despite the deepest recession. Thanks, Jonathan!