Advocacy

Commemorative Passes Senate, Falls Short in House

By Jonathan Pearson on Friday, January 4th, 2013

Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)

Peace Corps Commemorative legislation took another significant step forward in 2012, but the effort to establish a space near the National Mall to mark the historic significance of the founding of the Peace Corps will continue in 2013.

A major breakthrough for the legislation came in the closing days of the 112th Congress, when the United States Senate unanimously approved the legislation.  This news was tempered however in the House of Representatives, where the bill was not brought forward for final passage.

There is good reason for optimism, however, as the House bill had a bi-partisan list of 159 co-sponsors, encompassing a wide range of geographic distribution, party affiliation, legislative seniority and political ideology.  Furthermore, similar legislation was unanimously passed in the House in 2010, at the close of the previous, 111th Congress.

Send Thank You Messages to Key Lawmakers!

A number of lawmakers deserve recognition and thanks for continued progress with Peace Corps commemorative legislation.  Please take a quick moment (especially if you are a constituent), to thank these lawmakers for their leadership.

  1. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH): Senator Portman was the lead sponsor of the Peace Corps Commemorative legislation (S. 1421).  He and his staff worked very hard to move this legislation to passage.

    Senator Mark Udall (D-CO)

  2. Senator Mark Udall (D-CO):  Similarly, Senator Mark Udall (Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee) and his staff provided important guidance and support in advancing the bill.  Senator Udall was an original co-sponsor of S. 1421 and co-authored a letter with Senator Portman urging other colleagues to co-sponsor the bill.
  3. Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM, now retired) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK):  As Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, these two lawmakers and their staff were critical to bringing the Peace Corps Commemorative to the Senate floor for final passage.
  4. Senate Co-Sponsors:  If your Senator(s) are among the bi-partisan group of 22 co-sponsors of S. 1421, please extend a thank you for their strong show of support for this legislation.
  5. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) in the House of Representatives:  Once again, RPCV Congressmen Sam Farr (D-CA), Tom Petri (R-WI), Mike Honda (D-CA) and John Garamendi (D-CA) led the way in building support and working toward passage of the House legislation (H.R. 854).  Special thanks should be extended to these champions of the Peace Corps.
  6. Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA): As the Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Congressman Markey and his staff worked right to the end of the 112th Congress to seek passage of H.R. 854.
  7. House Co-Sponsors: A strong bi-partisan group of 159 lawmakers co-sponsored the Peace Corps commemorative.  Please extend a thank you for their strong show of support for this legislation.

 

 

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