Booker, Tillis Introduce Resolution Celebrating 65 Years of the Peace Corps and Honoring Nearly 250,000 Americans Who Answered the Call to Serve
Originally posted by the office of Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 (WASHINGTON, DC) — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced a resolution celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps and commending its volunteers for more than six decades of public service focused on enhancing U.S. global leadership, strengthening international stability, empowering communities, and expanding people-to-people ties. U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa) introduced a companion resolution in the House. Since President John F. Kennedy issued his historic call to service and established the Peace Corps on...
Garamendi, Radewagen Introduce Bipartisan Concurrent Resolution Commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the U.S. Peace Corps
Originally posted by the office of Representative John Garamendi (CA) SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 (WASHINGTON, DC) — Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), the only Returned Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Congress and Co-Chair of the Congressional Peace Corps Caucus, introduced a bipartisan concurrent resolution with Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (American Samoa) to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the United States Peace Corps. The resolution officially honors the service, legacy, and ongoing global impact of the nearly 250,000 Americans who have answered the call to service since President John F. Kennedy founded the agency in 1961. “Patti and...
TAKE ACTION: Concurrent House and Senate Resolutions to Honor Peace Corps Service
For 65 years, Peace Corps Volunteers and staff have served our nation. We have shared skills and taken part in transformative cultural exchange that has helped build strong relationships between the U.S. and 144 countries worldwide This year, Congress can honor the nearly 250,000 volunteers who have served since 1961. RPCV Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) and Delegate Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) have introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives (H.Con.Res.119, "Honoring the 65th Anniversary of the Peace Corps"). Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) have introduced a concurrent resolution in the Senate (S.Res.872). Together, the concurrent...
FY 2027 U.S. Senate Peace Corps Funding Request
We had a deadline of April 27 for swift, steady action urging Senators to sign the annual Peace Corps funding letter. We had less than one week to ask Senators to sign the funding letter, which was authored this year by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). See who signed the letter below. The request was $479 million for the Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2027—an increase from the current funding level of $410 million. The $479 million request is equal to the recommendation made for last fiscal year and matches this cycle's House of Representatives request authored by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA...
Peace Corps Reorganizing to Streamline Operations in Washington, DC
Following extensive dialogue and a period of review with Congress and discussions with the Peace Corps Employees Union, Peace Corps/Washington is preparing for a reorganization of the Washington, DC office. With this reorganization, the agency's intent is to streamline operations to improve communications, responsiveness to country offices, and improve overall efficiencies across the agency. This reorganization will not result in further reductions in workforce. Rather, it is focused on departmental restructuring and reporting streams. One important change is the consolidation of all country post management into a single leadership and operations division, with five geographic units: The Americas: Colombia, Costa Rica,...
Representatives in the House Show Bipartisan Support for Funding of the Peace Corps
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2026 Media Contact: Joe Shaffner, Vice President National Peace Corps Association, jshaffner@peacecorpsconnect.org Washington, DC – Last week, members of the House of Representatives rushed to meet a one week deadline of March 11 to sign on to a letter calling for a Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 27) funding increase for the Peace Corps. Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) and Delegate Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) co-authored the letter addressed to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs — calling for $479 million to be set aside...
Peace Corps Launches Tech Prosperity Corps Initiative
Today, the Peace Corps announced a new initiative, called Tech Prosperity Corps, to “recruit, train and deploy skilled Americans to support the adoption of artificial intelligence in Peace Corps host countries participating in the American AI Exports Program.” The initiative was announced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 by Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology. According to acting Peace Corps Director Richard E. Swarttz, “By building technical capacity, supporting AI adoption across critical use cases, and addressing barriers to last-mile AI implementation, Tech Prosperity Corps volunteers will leverage American AI to expand access...
House Defeats Peace Corps Funding Cutting Amendment
Last Thursday evening, the House of Representatives defeated an amendment that called for further proposed cuts to the Peace Corps' Fiscal Year 2024 budget. The vote was 295 - 135 to defeat the amendment. 83 Republicans joined 212 Democrats to defeat the amendment. Use this link to see how your representative voted. Then, use this link to thank your rep (or express disappointment) for their vote. On Thursday, the House of Representatives considered the Fiscal Year 2024 State/Foreign Operations (S/FOPS) appropriations bill, with dozens of highly contentious amendments. This included a brief debate on an amendment to further cut funding for the Peace Corps. Use...
Senate Committee Recommends Peace Corps Funding Increase
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Fiscal Year 2024 Spending Package with $448 Million for Peace Corps By Jonathan Pearson In a strong bipartisan vote on Thursday, July 20th, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) spending package for international affairs programs that includes $448 million for the Peace Corps — a four percent, $18 million increase over current funding for the agency. This vote is in sharp contrast to the recommendation of the House Appropriations Committee, which, just last week, approved its version of the State/Foreign Operations (SFOPS) spending package, which included a $20 million (4.6 percent) decrease in funding for the...
Peace Corps Documentary to be Broadcast Nationwide on PBS Stations
Starting on September 2, the Peace Corps documentary, A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps will be available on PBS stations across the country. But there are still some regions that will need to request that their local stations air the documentary. A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps is coming to PBS stations nationwide, starting September 2. You can help make sure this documentary airs in your region. With local PBS stations scheduling programming 2-3 months from air date, the time is now to reach out to your local station. The PBS World channel will host a nationwide broadcast premiere on...