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National Peace Corps Association > News > Advocacy > Peace Corps Commemorative Re-introduced in Senate
Peace Corps Commemorative Re-introduced in Senate
By Jonathan Pearson on Thursday, February 7th, 2013
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
Senator Mark Udall (D-CO)
Just five weeks after the United States Senate gave unanimous approval to Peace Corps Commemorative legislation, Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Mark Udall (D-CO) have re-introduced the bill in the new, 113th Congress.
“For over 50 years, the Peace Corps has served as a powerful vehicle for volunteers who wish to use their talents to carry America’s humanitarian values to other parts of the world,” said Senator Portman, the lead sponsor of the legislation. Senator Udall, who Chairs the National Parks Subcommittee which has jurisdiction over the bill, noted how “the Peace Corps reflects the spirit of public service and global engagement that help us – in the words of JFK – ’to move the world down the road to peace.’ ”
Follow these links to read press releases from Senators Portman and Udall.
“Commemorating the establishment of the Peace Corps and its fundamental ideals of humanitarian service, a commitment to help eliminate poverty, and an unwavering optimism about building a better and more peaceful world for all mankind, will help define who we are as Americans and will surely become a meaningful part of the Washington, D.C. landscape”, said Roger Lewis (Tunisia 1964-66) and Bonnie Gottlieb (Cote D’Ivoire 1972-74), both officers and directors of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation.
The newly re-introduced Senate legislation will be given a bill number in the coming days. Twenty-two Senators co-sponsored the legislation in the previous, 112th Congress.
In the House of Representatives, lawmakers gave unanimous approval to similar legislation (introduced by RPCV Congressman Sam Farr) in the 11th Congress, but fell short of providing final approval last year, despite strong bi-partisan support that included 159 co-sponsors.
Passage of Peace Corps commemorative legislation is one of the items that will be raised during the National Peace Corps Association’s 9th annual National Day of Action, scheduled for February 28th.
