Dear Colleague Letter

U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins circulated the annual Peace Corps funding letter, seeking a $20 million increase in agency funding. Thanks to your efforts, a record number of senators signed this year's letter.

By Jonathan Pearson

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have concluded circulating their annual Peace Corps “Dear Colleague” letter, asking other senators to sign on and ensure robust support for the agency as Volunteers return to service overseas. The letter, addressed to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State & Foreign Operations, calls for increasing Peace Corps funding for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023) from $410.5 million to $430.5 million. 43 senators signed this year's letter, breaking the previous record of 42 signatures in 2020.

This request is in line with President Biden’s budget request for the fiscal year that begins in October 2022. “This funding will be critical as the Peace Corps resumes operations, improves volunteer security, engages in global health efforts, and broadens outreach to attract new talent,” the senators write.

“This funding will be critical as the Peace Corps resumes operations, improves volunteer security, engages in global health efforts, and broadens outreach to attract new talent.”

Read the annual Dear Colleague Peace Corps funding letter, or find the text at the bottom of this post.

In March 2022, Volunteers began returning to service overseas. At this time, Peace Corps programs are again operating in Zambia, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Namibia, with more headed overseas in the coming weeks and months. As many as 30 other nations are now in the pipeline to have Volunteers return to service this year. The Peace Corps agency has undertaken critical reforms to ensure a better and stronger Peace Corps for a changed world. But the agency needs funding to make all this possible.

Last month, in the House of Representatives, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) circulated a Peace Corps funding letter among colleagues. The House letter (which is now closed), requests $450 million for the Peace Corps in FY 2023, drew strong bipartisan support, garnering signatures of 146 lawmakers.
 

Thank Senators Who Signed This Year's Letter. 

Now that the letter is closed, write to your senators to express your thanks for signing the letter (or your disappointment if they did not).

Take Action Now

Who has signed the letter?

Here are the senators who signed this year's Feinstein-Collins Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter for Fiscal Year 2023. 

DEADLINE to sign on: 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2022 (This letter is now closed)

SIGNATURES as of Wednesday, May 18, 12:00 p.m. 43 (A new record for this letter!)

Arizona: Kelly, Sinema

California: Feinstein (co-author), Padilla

Colorado: Bennet

Connecticut: Blumenthal, Murphy

Delaware: Carper

Georgia: Warnock

Hawai'i: Hirono, Schatz

Illinois: Duckworth, Durbin

Maine: Collins (co-author), King

Maryland: Cardin, Van Hollen

Massachusetts: Markey, Warren

Michigan: Peters, Stabenow

Minnesota: Klobuchar, Smith

Nevada: Cortez Masto, Rosen

New Hampshire: Hassan, Shaheen

New Jersey: Booker, Menendez

New Mexico: Lujan

New York: Gillibrand

Ohio: Brown

Oregon: Merkley, Wyden

Pennsylvania: Casey

Rhode Island: Reed, Whitehouse

Vermont: Sanders

Virginia: Kaine, Warner

Washington: Cantwell

West Virginia: Manchin

Wisconsin: Baldwin

Here’s the text of the Senate Peace Corps funding letter.

Read it below — or download the PDF.

May 17, 2022

The Honorable Chris Coons, Chairman
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Lindsey Graham, Ranking Member
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Coons and Ranking Member Graham,

Strong and consistent bipartisan support has built the Peace Corps into the international face of American volunteerism. Continuing that tradition, we request that you support the Fiscal Year 2023 President’s Budget Request of at least $430.5 million for the Peace Corps.

The requested amount represents less than a five percent increase over flat funding of approximately $410.5 million for the past seven years. This funding will be critical as the Peace Corps resumes operations, improves volunteer security, engages in global health efforts, and broadens outreach to attract new talent.

The United States gains immeasurably from the Peace Corps’ mission of international volunteer service. Since the Peace Corps’ inception 61 years ago, more than 241,000 Americans have served in 143 countries and provided more than three billion hours of service to our nation and the world. These ambassadors of goodwill set the conditions for prosperity, self-reliance, and stability in postings around the globe.

The Peace Corps suspended global operations during the pandemic and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries. Today, every government that had volunteer programs at the time of the evacuation has asked for volunteers to return.

The Peace Corps represents a cost-effective way to promote the United States abroad while providing tangible benefit for host communities. It supports the U.S.’s humanitarian mission and shapes the diplomatic and security environment. Peace Corps service also offers international experience to American volunteers, many of whom will become leaders here at home.

Thank you for considering our request and your enduring support for the Peace Corps.

Sincerely,

[Signatures of Senators]

Story updated May 18, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Jonathan Pearson is Director of Advocacy for National Peace Corps Association. Write him at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org.

For the first time in many years, both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees are both putting forward recommendations that would reduce funding for our nation’s international affairs programs.

By Jonathan Pearson
 

More than a month ago, negotiations on the federal debt ceiling which ultimately averted a default of U.S. financial obligations, included an agreement to cap most non-discretionary government spending for the next two years. Now, the Senate and House of Representatives are advancing their respective appropriations bills to fund the federal government for the fiscal year that begins October 1. Our nation's international affairs programs are on the chopping block, though the rate of reductions between the two chambers are much different. And, like many other programs in that account, funding for the Peace Corps could be negatively impacted.

In the House of Representatives

In the House of Representatives, a funding package advanced by the Appropriations subcommittee for State/Foreign Operations (S/FOPS) proposes reduced funding in the next fiscal year (FY 2024) by at least 12 percent over current spending. Taking into account a so-called “clawback” of funds in this account, overall spending could result in a cut as high as 30 percent, drawing this response from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC). National Peace Corps Association is a member of this coalition.

On July 12, the full Appropriations Committee conducted a mostly polite, but highly partisan debate in which the S/FOPS spending package was approved on a party line vote. Most of the debate focused on near or complete funding cuts for the United Nations and climate change programs, abortion and family planning policies, and the U.S. relationship with China and other "adversaries". Peace Corps funding was not raised, but in an earlier document summarizing the spending package, funding for Peace Corps fell under a category titled “Cuts to Wasteful Spending”, and is listed as one of 17 accounts which would see its current FY 2023 funding level reduced to FY 2019 levels. That would return Peace Corps funding to $410.5 million, which would be the same level of funding the agency received in FY 2016.

In the Senate

The Senate Appropriations Committee has also begun its work on FY 2024 spending by releasing its top-line funding levels for each of the 12 appropriations subcommittees. The Senate recommendations for each subcommittee are more in line with the negotiated funding levels made in conjunction with the recent debt ceiling agreement, calling for roughly flat funding for the next two fiscal years.

While the Senate S/FOPS subcommittee has not yet determined funding for individual programs, it has been provided with an overall funding target that is just over two percent below current funding. If the subcommittee were to distribute that reduction equitably, Peace Corps would see its current funding of $430 million reduced to approximately $422 million. USGLC released this statement following the recent Senate action. Subcommittee action is expected soon.

NPCA Statement

We concur with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition that funding for all of our international affairs programs — including the Peace Corps — should be absolutely no less than current funding.

If we simply consider the daily news headlines, it is clear that U.S. engagement with the world is vital, and reducing our engagement is dangerous. As for the Peace Corps, we are excited that the agency has returned roughly 2,000 Volunteers to 53 countries, and has requests to return to as many as 13 more nations. While lawmakers are recognizing the important contributions of the Peace Corps to our global engagement and national service agendas, they must accept the fact that we cannot move forward to meet these growing service opportunities with cuts to funding. Level funding of $430 million for the Peace Corps should be the bare minimum appropriation to continue to move forward. However, to fully meet its renewed potential, a higher investment is clearly necessary.

How Can Individual RPCVs Help? Here’s How:

These developments in the U.S. Senate and House come as National Peace Corps Association prepares for its annual district office meetings drive during the months of August and September.

If you are represented by a member of the Senate or House Appropriations Committees, we need you to contact us at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org and help organize a local meeting with your lawmaker. No previous experience is necessary, and we will help you plan this important outreach in support of the Peace Corps. Thank you!

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez circulated the annual Dear Colleague Peace Corps Funding letter during the week of April 10th, supporting President Biden's request of a 15 percent increase in Peace Corps funding. 42 Senators signed this year's letter, one short of our record.

By Jonathan Pearson

On Monday, April 10, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, began circulating the annual Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague letter. This year's letter to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for State/Foreign Operations, urges support for President Biden's request of $495 million for the Peace Corps — a 15 percent, $65 million increase in funding for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins this coming October. 
 

“Upon the request of eager host countries where Peace Corps previously served and countries ready to launch new programs, the Peace Corps is thoughtfully returning to pre-pandemic volunteer levels.”

A Quick Turnaround 

Facing an April 12th deadline, the Peace Corps community rallied over a 50-hour period, and helped secure the signatures of 42 Senators on this letter. That was one signature short of last year, when a record 43 Senators signed a similar letter. While the letter is now closed, you can still take action by thanking those Senators who signed the letter, and urging others to support strong funding for the Peace Corps going forward. 

Take Action Now

Read the final Peace Corps funding letter or find the text of the letter (without the signatures) at the bottom of this post.

Read our talking points about supporting strong Peace Corps funding.

Who has signed the letter?

Here are the senators who signed this year's Menendez Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter for Fiscal Year 2024. 

DEADLINE to sign on: 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, 2023

SIGNATURES as of Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. 42 (THIS LETTER IS NOW CLOSED)

ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES that were needed to reach last year's record: 1

Arizona: Kelly, Sinema

California: Feinstein, Padilla

Colorado: Bennet

Connecticut: Blumenthal, Murphy

Delaware: Carper

Georgia: Ossoff

Hawai'i: Hirono, Schatz

Illinois: Duckworth

Maine: King

Maryland: Cardin, Van Hollen

Massachusetts: Markey, Warren

Michigan: Peters, Stabenow

Minnesota: Klobuchar, Smith

Nevada: Cortez Masto, Rosen

New Hampshire: Hassan, Shaheen

New Jersey: Booker, Menendez (author)

New Mexico: Lujan

New York: Gillibrand

Ohio: Brown

Oregon: Merkley, Wyden

Pennsylvania: Casey, Fetterman

Rhode Island: Reed, Whitehouse

Vermont: Sanders, Welch

Virginia: Kaine, Warner

Washington: Cantwell

Wisconsin: Baldwin

(Last month, RPCV Congressman John Garamendi of California led efforts to issue a similar Dear Colleague letter, signed by 136 members of the House of Representatives. Learn more here) 

Here’s the text of the Senate Peace Corps funding letter.

Read it below — or download the PDF.

April 12, 2022

The Honorable Chris Coons, Chairman

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Lindsey Graham, Ranking Member

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations

Washington, D.C. 20510 

Dear Chairman Coons and Ranking Member Graham,

The United States gains immeasurably from the Peace Corps' mission of international volunteer service. Since the Peace Corps' inception 61 years ago, more than 240,000 Volunteers have served in 143 countries dedicating billions of hours to fostering peace and friendship around the globe. These ambassadors of goodwill to set the conditions for prosperity, self-reliance, and stability in postings around the world. 

Strong and consistent bipartisan support has built the Peace Corps into the international face of American volunteerism. Continuing that tradition, we request that you support the President’s Budget request of $495 million for the Peace Corps for the Fiscal Year 2024. This continues the trajectory of funding increases that began in Fiscal Year 2023, following seven years of flat funding, which is necessary to meet new safety and security challenges as well as match historic levels of inflation.

The Peace Corps suspended global operations during the pandemic and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries. Upon the request of eager host countries where Peace Corps previously served and countries ready to launch new programs, the Peace Corps is thoughtfully returning to pre-pandemic volunteer levels.

The Peace Corps represents one of the most cost-effective ways to promote the United States abroad while providing tangible benefit and engagement for host communities, as well as providing valuable international experience for American Volunteers, many of whom will become leaders here at home. As the geopolitical stage continues to change, promoting the United States through the Peace Corps in regions such as the Indo-Pacific will help bolster United States national security interests, promote positive development outcomes, and tackle new and emerging challenges in a world forever changed by the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Thank you for considering our request and for your enduring support for the Peace Corps.

Jonathan Pearson is Director of Advocacy for National Peace Corps Association. Write him at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org.

In the House of Representatives, today (April 22) is the deadline for a bipartisan letter from the co-chairs of the Peace Corps Caucus seeking a $40 million increase in agency funding. Now is the time to contact your House Rep and ask them to sign this letter. 

By Jonathan Pearson

Congressmen John Garamendi (D-CA) and Garret Graves (R-LA), co-chairs of the House Peace Corps Caucus, have begun circulating a Peace Corps funding letter asking other House members to sign on and ensure robust support for the agency as Volunteers return to service overseas. The letter, addressed to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State & Foreign Operations, calls for increasing Peace Corps funding for Fiscal Year 2023 from $410.5 million to $450 million. 

Read the annual Dear Colleague Peace Corps funding letter, or find the text at the bottom of this post.

Garamendi served with the Peace Corps in Ethiopia. Together with Graves, in 2021 he introduced the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act — the most sweeping Peace Corps legislation in decades. 

In March 2022, Volunteers began returning to service overseas. They will be returning to dozens of countries in the months ahead. The Peace Corps agency has undertaken critical reforms to ensure a better and stronger Peace Corps for a changed world. But the agency needs funding to make all this possible.
 

Deadline is This Friday, April 22 at 12 Noon EST. Take action now.

Urge your House Representative to sign the Garamendi-Graves Peace Corps funding letter to support strong funding for Peace Corps in a changed world. Last year, a similar letter was signed by 156 members of the House of Representatives. We need your help to reach or surpass this mark! The current deadline to sign this letter is Friday, April 22, 2022.

Take Action Now

Who has signed the letter so far?

Here are the lawmakers who have signed the Garamendi-Graves Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter for Fiscal Year 2023. 

DEADLINE to sign on: 12 Noon Friday, April 22, 2022

SIGNATURES as of Friday, April 22, 5:00 PM: 146 (THIS LETTER IS NOW CLOSED)

SIGNATURES needed to reach our goal: 10

Alabama: Sewell

American Samoa: Radewagen

Arizona: Gallego, Grijalva

California: Barragan, Bass, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Cardenas, Chu, Correa, Costa, DeSaulnier, Eshoo, Garamendi (co-author), Huffman, Khanna, Young Kim, LaMalfa, Mike Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Matsui, McNerney, Panetta, Scott Peters, Sanchez, Speier, Swalwell, Takano, Mike Thompson, Vargas

Colorado: Crow, DeGette

Connecticut: Courtney, Hayes, Himes, Larson

District of Columbia: Norton

Florida: Deutch, Soto

Georgia: Bishop, McBath, Hank Johnson, David Scott, Williams

Hawai'i: Kahele

Illinois: Bustos, Casten, Danny Davis, Rodney Davis, Foster, Chuy Garcia, Kelly, Schakowsky, Schneider

Indiana: Carson

Iowa: Axne

Kansas: Davids

Kentucky: Barr, Yarmuth

Louisiana: Graves (co-author)

Maine: Golden, Pingree

Maryland: Brown, Raskin, Sarbanes

Massachusetts: Auchincloss, Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal, Pressley, Trahan

Michigan: Dingell, Kildee, Levin, Slotkin, Stevens

Minnesota: Craig, Phillips

Nevada: Horsford, Titus

New Hampshire: Kuster

New Jersey: Andy Kim, Malinowski, Pascrell, Payne, Sherrill, Sires, Van Drew

New York: Clarke, Delgado, Higgins, Jones, Katko, Carolyn Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, Meeks, Morelle, Rice, Suozzi, Tonko, Velazquez

Northern Marianas: Sablan

North Carolina: Adams, Butterfield, Manning

Ohio: Beatty, Shontel Brown

Oregon: Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio

Pennsylvania: Boyle, Doyle, Evans, Wild

Puerto Rico: Gonzalez-Colon

Rhode Island: Cicilline, Langevin

Tennessee: Cohen

Texas: Allred, Castro, Doggett, Escobar, Vicente Gonzalez, E.B. Johnson, Jackson Lee, Veasey

Vermont: Welch

Virginia: Beyer, Connolly, Luria, McEachin, Wexton

Virgin Islands: Plaskett

Washington: DelBene, Jayapal, Larsen, Schrier, Strickland

Wisconsin: Kind, Moore

Here’s the text of the House Peace Corps funding letter.

Read it below — or download the PDF.

April 28, 2022

The Honorable Barbara Lee, Chairwoman
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Hal Rogers, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Chairwoman Lee and Ranking Member Rogers:

We respectfully request that you provide $450 million for the Peace Corps in the forthcoming “Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act” for fiscal year 2023. This funding level would allow the Peace Corps to resume in-country Volunteer activities, once safe and prudent to do so, and support the longstanding goal of deploying 10,000 volunteers worldwide. It is also consistent with the authorized funding level in the bipartisan “Peace Corps Reauthorization Act” (H.R.1456) reported favorably by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on September 30, 2021.

More Americans want to serve than the Peace Corps has the funding to absorb. The ratio of annual applications to available Volunteer positions currently stands at over 4:1. In 2013, retired General Stanley McChrystal called this gap between applicants and national service opportunities like the Peace Corps “democratic energy wasted and a generation of patriotism needlessly squandered.”

Peace Corps Volunteers serve our country in remote, challenging environments. In recent years, the Peace Corps has taken steps to improve the health and safety of its Volunteers. We believe the Peace Corps needs to do more, including fully implementing the Sam Farr Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-256). Increased funding is necessary to ensure that the Peace Corps can fulfill its commitment to the health and safety of American citizens who choose to serve. In addition, Congress must increase the federal workers’ compensation levels for Volunteers temporarily or permanently disabled because of their service abroad.

Thank you for your leadership and past efforts to provide the Peace Corps with the resources needed to support the next generation of American leaders who volunteer abroad.

Sincerely,

John Garamendi
Member of Congress

Garret Graves
Member of Congress

Story updated April 25, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Jonathan Pearson is Director of Advocacy for National Peace Corps Association. Write him at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org

While the House and the Senate seek to reconcile funding recommendations, Rep. Betty McCollum calls on colleagues to back $430.5 million in Peace Corps funding. This increase is crucial for ensuring that the Peace Corps returns to the field better than before, she says, while also making crucial and long overdue reforms.

By Jonathan Pearson

On Capitol Hill, Senate and House negotiators are trying to reconcile differences in their recommendations for federal spending for the new fiscal year (FY 2022). Their timeline to reconcile differences was extended when Congress voted keep the government funded at current levels through February 18, 2022. This includes the Peace Corps. The House of Representatives proposes a 5 percent, $20 million increase for the Peace Corps, which would bring the agency’s annual budget to $430.5 million. The Senate is recommending flat funding of $410.5 million, however — which would mark the seventh consecutive year without an increase in Peace Corps funding.

Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) is seeking to bring her colleagues in the House on board to back the original House recommendation for increased Peace Corps funding. “This increase is crucial for ensuring that the Peace Corps returns to the field better than before while also making crucial and long overdue reforms,” she has written in a “Dear Colleague” letter to other members of the House.

“Strong funding for the Peace Corps will demonstrate U.S. leadership and commitment towards rebuilding a more resilient global community, ensuring the agency can continue to modernize to meet current challenges, and re-establish that America’s history of service continues to be a priority.”
    —Rep. Betty McCollum

Further, McCollum’s letter notes, “As we continue to combat COVID-19, and as eventual success requires containment of the pandemic around the entire world, strong funding for the Peace Corps will demonstrate U.S. leadership and commitment towards rebuilding a more resilient global community, ensuring the agency can continue to modernize to meet current challenges, and re-establish that America’s history of service continues to be a priority.” 

Download a copy of the letter here or read the full text below.

Signatures on the letter were collected through December 10, 2021. Now that the letter is concluded, what can members of the Peace Corps community do to help now? Write to your members of Congress now and urge them to support the House funding level for the Peace Corps!

42 members of Congress signed the House Dear Colleague Letter.

Last year, 34 House members signed a similar letter, helping to avoid proposed cuts in funding for the agency. This year, because of your efforts, the McCollum letter secured 42 signatures.

Thanks to those who asked their member of the House of Representatives to sign the letter! 

Who signed the letter?

Here are the members of the House of Representatives who have signed the McCollum Peace Corps Funding Letter (This letter is now closed): 

California: Bass, Brownley, Costa, Eshoo, Garamendi, Khanna, LaMalfa, McNerney, Peters

Colorado: DeGette, Neguse

Connecticut: Larson

Delaware: Blunt Rochester

District of Columbia: Norton

Georgia: Bishop, Johnson, McBath

Illinois: Schakowsky

Kansas: Davids

Kentucky: Yarmuth

Maine: Pingree

Maryland: Raskin

Massachusetts: Keating, McGovern, Moulton, Neal

Michigan: Dingell

Minnesota: McCollum (author), Phillips

Missouri: Cleaver

Nevada: Titus

New Jersey: Kim, Malinowski

New York: Morelle, Suozzi

Rhode Island: Cicilline

Tennessee: Cohen

Vermont: Welch

Virginia: Wexton

Washington: Jayapal

Wisconsin: Kind, Moore

Here’s the text of the Dear Colleague letter.

December 9, 2021

The Honorable Patrick Leahy
Chairman
Senate Committee on Appropriations                       
S-128, The Capitol                                                    
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Chairwoman
House Committee on Appropriations
H-307, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Richard Shelby
Vice Chairman
Senate Committee on Appropriations
S-128, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Kay Granger
Ranking Member
House Committee on Appropriations
1026 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515                                 

Dear Chairman Leahy, Vice Chairman Shelby, Chairwoman DeLauro, and Ranking Member Granger,

As you work to finalize the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill, we respectfully urge you to support the House-passed funding level of $430,500,000 for the Peace Corps that was included in the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill. This funding would represent a modest, five percent funding increase, following six years of flat funding. This increase is crucial for ensuring that the Peace Corps returns to the field better than before while also making crucial and long overdue reforms.

In particular, these reforms align with the new Peace Corps Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1456), which was overwhelmingly approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee with a bipartisan 44–4 vote on September 30^th. The bill currently has 110 House cosponsors and reflects the broad consensus view within the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer community on how best to reform the agency. 

These reforms include: enhanced readjustment allowance paid to volunteers; noncompetitive eligibility for returned volunteers for federal civil-service positions; health care benefits, including adequate access to menstrual products, and mental health care during and after service; expedited re-enrollment of involuntarily terminated volunteers; strengthening of volunteer safety; expanded whistleblower protections; increased rate of pay that applies to a volunteer's workers compensation claim, and deeper investment in the leveraging the internet in Peace Corps programs.

To meet the expectations of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer community, these reforms must be funded. Now is the best opportunity to provide such resources to the agency, so that when it returns volunteers to the field, it will do so in a manner that modernizes not just volunteer service in the field, but also how the agency serves its volunteers.

Established in 1961, the Peace Corps has sent more than 240,000 Americans to serve as Volunteers in 142 host countries, carrying out its mission to promote world peace and friendship. The Peace Corps represents a vital component to American diplomacy and engagement abroad. Accounting for less than one percent of the United States’ International Affairs Budget, the Peace Corps is also a cost-effective, high-impact program helping to promote American democratic values in developing countries around the world.

As you know, due to COVID-19, the Peace Corps evacuated its 7,334 Volunteers in March 2020, marking the first time in its history in which no volunteers are serving overseas. Fortunately, the agency plans to start redeploying volunteers during FY22 in a deliberate and responsible manner, in concert with host countries and with the health, wellbeing, and success of future volunteers (and the countries where they will serve) of paramount importance. 

As we continue to combat COVID-19, and as eventual success requires containment of the pandemic around the entire world, strong funding for the Peace Corps will demonstrate U.S. leadership and commitment towards rebuilding a more resilient global community, ensuring the agency can continue to modernize to meet current challenges, and re-establish that America’s history of service continues to be a priority. 

Returning volunteers to the field is costly. So are the long overdue reforms that both Congress and the Peace Corps community are seeking. That is why now is precisely the right moment for a deeper investment in the Peace Corps. We therefore urge you to take advantage of this inflection point to reaffirm the value that the Peace Corps — and each of its Volunteers — has brought to our country and the world by funding the agency at $430,500,000 in FY22.                      

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,

Download a copy of the letter here. 

Story and list of signatories last updated Thursday, December 30, at 3:30 PM.

Jonathan Pearson is Director of Advocacy for National Peace Corps Association. Write him here.

It has been six years since the Peace Corps received a meaningful increase in its baseline funding. Could this be the year that changes?

By Jonathon Pearson

Illustration by John S. Dykes

In December 2015, President Obama signed an appropriations bill that provided $410 million for the Peace Corps, an increase of about $30 million. Since then, the agency has received a mere $500,000 bump in annual appropriation — one-tenth of 1 percent. Indeed, the Peace Corps community has spent much time in recent years fending off proposed cuts while some needed reforms languished — due, in part, to lack of funding.

In May, the Biden administration put forth its Fiscal Year 2022 budget recommendation: yet another year of flat funding for the Peace Corps. However, thanks to National Peace Corps Association’s advocacy network and congressional champions, the outlook has brightened. In July, the House of Representatives completed work on the State/Foreign Operations spending package, approving a $20 million jump in Peace Corps funding — about 5 percent. That was half the increase promoted by a bipartisan list of 156 House members who earlier in the year submitted their annual “Dear Colleague” letter to House appropriators.

The $430.5 million House funding proposal aligns with this year’s Senate Peace Corps funding letter, with 39 senators on board. This news is promising. However, the Senate has yet to take formal action on its State/Foreign Operations appropriations bill. When senators resume work in mid-September, there is no guarantee they will follow the House’s lead. Experience shows that hearing from citizen advocates makes a difference. And an assessment of what’s ahead for the Peace Corps — relaunching Volunteer programs in scores of countries, with safety and security paramount — means a heavy lift.

Write your senator

Visit NPCA’s Action Center and urge support for no less than $430 million for the Peace Corps as we move toward redeployment of global operations and implementation of key reforms

On July 28 the House of Representatives approved a $430.5 million Peace Corps budget for 2022 — an increase of 5 percent. It points to the first meaningful increase in funding in six years.

By Jonathan Pearson

(UPDATE – July 28, 2021, 9:00 PM Eastern): On a mostly party-line vote, the House of Representatives approved a Fiscal Year 2022 spending package for the Department of State and other foreign operations. Included in the $62.2 billion State/Foreign Operations bill is a $20 million funding increase for the Peace Corps — nearly 5 percent. The Senate has not yet taken up its version of a State/Foreign Operations spending bill.

(UPDATE – July 1, 2021, 2:00 PM Eastern): The full House Appropriations Committee today approved a $62.2 billion State/Foreign Operations spending package for Fiscal Year 2022 that includes a recommended $20 million funding increase for the Peace Corps — nearly 5 percent.

The package was approved on a 32–25 party line vote. It will next head to the full House of Representatives — at a date yet to be determined — for further debate and voting.

No similar action has been taken yet by the Senate Appropriations Committee in advancing its version of the State/Foreign Operations spending plan for the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2021.

(UPDATE – June 28, 2021, 8:30 PM Eastern): On a voice vote, the House Appropriations Subcommittee for State/Foreign Operations approved a $62.2 billion international affairs budget for Fiscal Year 2022. This represents a 12 percent, $6.7 billion increase over the current fiscal year. Included in this budget is $430.5 million for the Peace Corps, a $20 million increase over current funding. In brief remarks, Subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) referenced the Peace Corps as one of several programs that will provide “needed humanitarian assistance” around the world. No amendments to the bill were made, but that could possibly change when the full Appropriations Committee considers this funding package on Thursday morning.

The House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee for State/Foreign Operations had recommended a Fiscal Year 2022 funding package that includes $430.5 million for the Peace Corps.

This recommendation represents a $20 million increase — nearly 5 percent — in funding for the agency for the fiscal year that begins October 1. A subcommittee vote on this recommendation is expected on Monday evening. Should this figure be eventually approved, it would mark the first meaningful funding increase for the agency in six years. That’s good news for the Peace Corps.

“The Peace Corps is on the way back,” says Glenn Blumhorst, President and CEO of National Peace Corps Association, upon learning the news. 

“The Peace Corps is on the way back,” said National Peace Corps Association President and CEO Glenn Blumhorst, upon learning the news. “This recommendation by the State/Foreign Operations Subcommittee reinforces congressional support — not only for the robust redeployment of Peace Corps Volunteers — but the importance of providing the agency with funding that will allow for many improvements and reforms that will build a stronger program for the next generation of volunteers. Our community needs to stay engaged to make sure this strong commitment by the subcommittee is advanced.”

Read the subcommittee’s press release on its entire $62 billion spending package for U.S. international affairs programs. 

Today’s action was bolstered by the annual Peace Corps funding Dear Colleague letter, a bipartisan action issued earlier this year by Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA).

Updated July 1, 2021 at 2 p.m. Return to this post for updates this week on actions and reactions on FY 2022 Peace Corps Funding in the House of Representatives.

Jonathan Pearson is the Director of Advocacy for National Peace Corps Association

As Congress begins to turn its attention to Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills, is the Peace Corps poised for a funding increase?

By Jonathan Pearson

There’s a long way to go in the annual appropriations process. But the possibility of a meaningful Peace Corps funding increase — which would be its first in six years — got a boost recently through the annual Senate Peace Corps funding letter.

Led by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D–CA) and Susan Collins (R–ME), the letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee for State/Foreign Operations requests “appropriate robust funding in Fiscal Year 2022 of at least $430 million.”  Here’s a release with more about the letter. And here’s the full text of the letter itself.

Earlier this year, 156 members of the House of Representatives signed a similar letter, requesting $450 million for Peace Corps in the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2021. However, earlier this month, President Biden requested continued flat funding for the Peace Corps — which would not provide the kind of robust support needed as Peace Corps prepares to return Volunteers to the field and enact needed reforms. 

Take Action: Contact members of the Senate and the House

We urge you to write to your members of Congress and ask them to provide the Peace Corps with a long overdue raise in Fiscal Year 2022. It is especially important to write to lawmakers who serve on the Senate/House Appropriations Committees.

Who Signed the Senate Letter?

Here's the state-by-state list of signers of this year’s Senate letter:

Arizona: Sinema

California: Feinstein, Padilla

Colorado: Bennet

Connecticut: Blumenthal, Murphy

Delaware: Carper

Georgia: Warnock

Hawaii: Hirono, Schatz

Illinois: Duckworth, Durbin

Maine: Collins, King

Maryland: Cardin, Van Hollen

Massachusetts: Markey, Warren

Michigan: Stabenow

Minnesota: Klobuchar, Smith

Nevada: Rosen

New Hampshire: Hassan, Shaheen

New Jersey: Booker, Menendez

New Mexico: Heinrich, Lujan

New York: Gillibrand

Oregon: Merkley, Wyden

Rhode Island: Reed, Whitehouse

Vermont: Sanders

Virginia: Kaine, Warner

Washington: Cantwell

West Virginia: Manchin

Wisconsin: Baldwin

Jonathan Pearson is the Director of Advocacy for National Peace Corps Association. Contact advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org to find out how you can help.

The “Dear Colleague” letter calling for $450 million in Peace Corps funding draws support from members of Congress across the country.
 

By Jonathan Pearson

Just a few weeks ago Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), Co-Chairs of the House Peace Corps Caucus, issued a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State/Foreign Operations for some long-needed support — and to bolster funding as the Peace Corps agency undertakes to send Volunteers back into the field. 

The letter calls for increasing Peace Corps funding for Fiscal Year 2022 from $410 million to $450 million. Members of the Peace Corps community mobilized across the country to make sure their representative understood the importance of this support. 

Thanks to those efforts, 156 lawmakers across the country signed the bipartisan House Peace Corps funding letter. That includes members of Congress from nearly every state — Alabama to Wisconsin, Delaware to Texas, California to Kansas — and from Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Read the letter here — or scroll down. And see who signed it below. 

If you see your Representative listed as having signed this letter, please follow this link and thank them for taking positive bipartisan action to support the Peace Corps at this critical time.

Thank Your Member of Congress

SIGNATURES

as of Monday, April 26, 10:00 AM: 156 

Alabama: Sewell

Alaska: Young

American Samoa: Radewagan

Arizona: Gallego, Grijalva

California: Barragan, Bass, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Cardenas, Chu, Costa, DeSaulniers, Eshoo, Garamendi (co-author), Jacobs, Khanna, Kim, LaMalfa, Barbara Lee, Mike Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Matsui, McNerney, Napolitano, Panetta, Peters, Sanchez, Speier, Swalwell, Takano, Vargas

Colorado: Crow, DeGette, Neguse

Connecticut: Courtney, Hayes, Himes, Larson

Delaware: Blunt Rochester

District of Columbia: Norton

Florida: Deutch, Lawson, Soto, Wilson

Georgia: Bishop, Hank Johnson, McBath, David Scott

Hawaii: Kahele

Illinois: Bustos, Danny Davis, Rodney Davis, Foster, Chuy Garcia, Kelly, Rush, Schakowsky

Indiana: Carson

Iowa: Axne

Kansas: Davids

Kentucky: Barr, Yarmuth

Louisiana: Graves (co-author)

Maine: Golden, Pingree

Maryland: Brown, Raskin, Sarbanes

Massachusetts: Auchincloss, Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal, Pressley, Trahan

Michigan: Dingell, Kildee, Slotkin

Minnesota: Craig, Phillips

Missouri: Cleaver

Nevada: Horsford, Titus

New Hampshire: Kuster

New Jersey: Gottheimer, Kim, Malinowski, Norcross, Pallone, Pascrell, Payne, Sherrill, Sires, Van Drew

New Mexico: Leger Fernandez

New York: Clarke, Delgado, Jones, Higgins, Katko, Carolyn Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, Meeks, Morelle, Rice, Suozzi, Tonko, Torres, Velazquez

North Carolina: Adams, Manning

Northern Marianas: Sablan

Ohio: Beatty, Anthony Gonzalez

Oregon: Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio

Pennsylvania: Boyle, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Wild

Puerto Rico: Gonzalez-Colon

Rhode Island: Cicilline, Langevin

Tennessee: Cohen

Texas: Allred, Castro, Doggett, Escobar, Vicente Gonzalez, Green, Jackson-Lee, E.B. Johnson, Veasey, Vela

Vermont: Welch

Virginia: Beyer, Connolly, Luria, McEachin, Spanberger, Wexton

Virgin Islands: Plaskett

Washington: DelBene, Jayapal, Larsen, Schrier, Adam Smith, Strickland

Wisconsin: Kind, Moore

If you see your Representative listed as having signed this letter, please follow this link and thank them for taking positive bipartisan action to support the Peace Corps at this critical time.

Here’s the Text from the Letter

Read it below — or download the PDF.

April 28, 2021

The Honorable Barbara Lee, Chairwoman
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Hal Rogers, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Chairwoman Lee and Ranking Member Rogers:

Thank you for your commitment to the Peace Corps. Because of your efforts, the agency is poised for even greater impact at a time when the unique role of the Peace Corps is urgently needed. To ensure the Peace Corps has the resources needed to further its mission, we respectfully ask that you appropriate $450 million for fiscal year 2022.

Public support for Peace Corps remains strong, and its programs continue to renew and expand, but the agency’s potential is severely limited by its essentially flat funding levels in the past six years. The agency’s budget allocation has not increased beyond $410.5 million since fiscal year 2016. Providing $450 million for fiscal year 2022 would allow the Peace Corps to resume in-country Volunteer activities once safe and prudent to do so, and support the longstanding goal of deploying of 10,000 volunteers worldwide.

More Americans want to serve than the Peace Corps has the funding to absorb. The ratio of annual applications to available Volunteer positions currently stands at over 4:1. Retired General Stanley McChrystal has called this gap between applicants and service opportunities “democratic energy wasted and a generation of patriotism needlessly squandered.” Additionally, six years of essentially flat funding has compelled the agency to cut both pre-service and in-service training days to meet budget restrictions, meaning Volunteers get less time for language, technical, and cross-cultural training.

The Peace Corps works to accomplish its legislative mandate within the context of unique security challenges, and the agency has taken steps to improve the health and safety of its Volunteers as it implements provisions within the Sam Farr Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-256). However, there remain residual health care policy issues within the agency that require increased budgetary support. In particular, we need increased funding and compensation levels for Volunteers temporarily or permanently disabled as a result of their service abroad.

Similar to members of our military and diplomatic corps, Peace Corps Volunteers take an oath to serve our country, and do so often in remote, challenging environments. Increased funding is necessary to ensure that Peace Corps can fulfill its commitment to the health and safety of American citizens who choose to serve.

We thank you for your efforts to provide Peace Corps with the resources it needs to fuel the next generation of American leadership, and we respectfully ask that you make this $450 million investment in the agency for fiscal year 2022.

Sincerely,

John Garamendi
Member of Congress

Garret Graves
Member of Congress

Jonathan Pearson is Director of Advocacy for National Peace Corps Association.

A bipartisan letter from two members of Congress calls on colleagues to sign on to strong support for Peace Corps during this critical time.

By Jonathan Pearson

Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) and Garret Graves (R-LA), Co-Chairs of the House Peace Corps Caucus, have issued a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State/Foreign Operations for some long-needed support — and to bolster funding as the agency undertakes to send Volunteers back into the field. The letter calls for increasing Peace Corps funding for Fiscal Year 2022 from $410 million to $450 million.

You can read the final letter here, or see the list below for a state-by-state rundown of lawmakers who signed the letter.

Take Action

If your member of the House of Representatives is listed below, that means they signed onto the Peace Corps funding letter. If they signed the letter, send them a thank you message!

Take Action Now

Who Signed the Letter?

Here are the lawmakers who signed the Garamendi-Graves Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter for Fiscal Year 2022. 

DEADLINE to sign on: 10 AM Today, Monday, April 26, 2021

SIGNATURES as of Monday, April 26, 10:00 AM: 156 (THIS LETTER IS NOW CLOSED)

Alabama: Sewell

Alaska: Young

American Samoa: Radewagan

Arizona: Gallego, Grijalva

California: Barragan, Bass, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Cardenas, Chu, Costa, DeSaulniers, Eshoo, Garamendi (co-author), Jacobs, Khanna, Kim, LaMalfa, Barbara Lee, Mike Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Matsui, McNerney, Napolitano, Panetta, Peters, Sanchez, Speier, Swalwell, Takano, Vargas

Colorado: Crow, DeGette, Neguse

Connecticut: Courtney, Hayes, Himes, Larson

Delaware: Blunt Rochester

District of Columbia: Norton

Florida: Deutch, Lawson, Soto, Wilson

Georgia: Bishop, Hank Johnson, McBath, David Scott

Hawai'i: Kahele

Illinois: Bustos, Danny Davis, Rodney Davis, Foster, Chuy Garcia, Kelly, Rush, Schakowsky

Indiana: Carson

Iowa: Axne

Kansas: Davids

Kentucky: Barr, Yarmuth

Louisiana: Graves (co-author)

Maine: Golden, Pingree

Maryland: Brown, Raskin, Sarbanes

Massachusetts: Auchincloss, Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal, Pressley, Trahan

Michigan: Dingell, Kildee, Slotkin

Minnesota: Craig, Phillips

Missouri: Cleaver

Nevada: Horsford, Titus

New Hampshire: Kuster

New Jersey: Gottheimer, Kim, Malinowski, Norcross, Pallone, Pascrell, Payne, Sherrill, Sires, Van Drew

New Mexico: Leger Fernandez

New York: Clarke, Delgado, Jones, Higgins, Katko, Carolyn Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, Meeks, Morelle, Rice, Suozzi, Tonko, Torres, Velazquez

North Carolina: Adams, Manning

Northern Marianas: Sablan

Ohio: Beatty, Anthony Gonzalez

Oregon: Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio

Pennsylvania: Boyle, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Wild

Puerto Rico: Gonzalez-Colon

Rhode Island: Cicilline, Langevin

Tennessee: Cohen

Texas: Allred, Castro, Doggett, Escobar, Vicente Gonzalez, Green, Jackson-Lee, E.B. Johnson, Veasey, Vela

Vermont: Welch

Virginia: Beyer, Connolly, Luria, McEachin, Spanberger, Wexton

Virgin Islands: Plaskett

Washington: DelBene, Jayapal, Larsen, Schrier, Adam Smith, Strickland

Wisconsin: Kind, Moore

Don’t see your Representative listed yet? Then they need to hear from you! Thanks for rallying others to join you in supporting Peace Corps at this critical time.

Here’s the Text from the Letter

Read it below — or download the PDF.

April 28, 2021

The Honorable Barbara Lee, Chairwoman
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Hal Rogers, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Chairwoman Lee and Ranking Member Rogers:

Thank you for your commitment to the Peace Corps. Because of your efforts, the agency is poised for even greater impact at a time when the unique role of the Peace Corps is urgently needed. To ensure the Peace Corps has the resources needed to further its mission, we respectfully ask that you appropriate $450 million for fiscal year 2022.

Public support for Peace Corps remains strong, and its programs continue to renew and expand, but the agency’s potential is severely limited by its essentially flat funding levels in the past six years. The agency’s budget allocation has not increased beyond $410.5 million since fiscal year 2016. Providing $450 million for fiscal year 2022 would allow the Peace Corps to resume in-country Volunteer activities once safe and prudent to do so, and support the longstanding goal of deploying of 10,000 volunteers worldwide.

More Americans want to serve than the Peace Corps has the funding to absorb. The ratio of annual applications to available Volunteer positions currently stands at over 4:1. Retired General Stanley McChrystal has called this gap between applicants and service opportunities “democratic energy wasted and a generation of patriotism needlessly squandered.” Additionally, six years of essentially flat funding has compelled the agency to cut both pre-service and in-service training days to meet budget restrictions, meaning Volunteers get less time for language, technical, and cross-cultural training.

The Peace Corps works to accomplish its legislative mandate within the context of unique security challenges, and the agency has taken steps to improve the health and safety of its Volunteers as it implements provisions within the Sam Farr Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-256). However, there remain residual health care policy issues within the agency that require increased budgetary support. In particular, we need increased funding and compensation levels for Volunteers temporarily or permanently disabled as a result of their service abroad.

Similar to members of our military and diplomatic corps, Peace Corps Volunteers take an oath to serve our country, and do so often in remote, challenging environments. Increased funding is necessary to ensure that Peace Corps can fulfill its commitment to the health and safety of American citizens who choose to serve.

We thank you for your efforts to provide Peace Corps with the resources it needs to fuel the next generation of American leadership, and we respectfully ask that you make this $450 million investment in the agency for fiscal year 2022.

Sincerely,

John Garamendi
Member of Congress

Garret Graves
Member of Congress

Story updated April 7, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. 

Jonathan Pearson is Director of Advocacy for National Peace Corps Association. Write him at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org

While action on the annual House Peace Corps funding letter has concluded, opportunities for Senators to sign onto their version of this important letter continues. However, this is the final week for Senators to sign the letter.

Senate

A bipartisan Senate letter asking for robust funding for Peace Corps in fiscal year 2021 is co-authored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

Take Action with your Senators**

• If you wish, you can read the Senate letter here.
• Ask your Senator(s) to "sign the Feinstein-Collins Peace Corps funding Dear Colleague letter that is now circulating".
• TAKE ACTION HERE: Write and ask you Senator(s) to sign the letter (or, thank them if they already signed! - see list below).
• Find the phone number of your Senators if you want to contact them by phone.

Deadline to sign on: Friday April 10th.

Signatures as of Tuesday, April 7, 9:00 AM: 27 (see list below)

Additional Signatures Needed to Reach Last Year's Record: 14

(** Along with the Peace Corps letter, we encourage you to urge your Senator(s) to also sign a similar letter - being circulated by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), requesting strong funding for all international affairs funding, including Peace Corps)

Senators who signed the Feinstein-Collins Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter (List of Current Signers Below)

California: Feinstein (co-author)

Connecticut: Blumenthal, Murphy

Colorado: Bennet

Delaware: Carper, Coons

Hawaii: Schatz

Illinois: Duckworth

Maine: Collins (co-author), King

Maryland: Cardin, Van Hollen

Massachusetts: Warren

Michigan: Peters, Stabenow

Minnesota: Klobuchar

Nevada: Rosen

New Hampshire: Hassan, Shaheen

North Carolina: Tillis

Ohio: Brown

Oregon: Wyden

Rhode Island: Reed, Whitehouse

Vermont: Sanders

Virginia: Kaine

Washington: Cantwell

House of Representatives

The co-chairs of the House of Representatives Peace Corps Caucus, RPCVs John Garamendi (D-CA) and Joe Kennedy (D-MA), and Representative Garrett Graves (R-LA) circulated a letter that their colleagues can sign, asking that Peace Corps funding for the fiscal year that begins this coming October (FY 2021) be increased to $450 million.

THIS LETTER IS NOW CLOSED.

Our thanks to all who reached out to their House Reps on this important action.

We await a final update on signers of this letter.

You can read the House letter here.

Lawmakers who Signed the Garamendi - Graves - Kennedy Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter (List of Current Signers Below)

Deadline to sign on: Thursday March 12, 2020 (a final signature count is still pending)

Signatures as of Thursday, March 12, 4:00 PM: 167

Additional Signatures Needed to Surpass Last Year's Record: 15

Alabama: Sewell

Alaska: Young

American Samoa: Radewagan

Arizona: Gallego, Grijalva

California: Barragan, Bass, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Chu, Cisneros, Costa, Susan Davis, DeSaulniers, Eshoo, Garamendi (co-author), Harder, Khanna, LaMalfa, Barbara Lee, Mike Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Matsui, McNerney, Napolitano, Panetta, Scott Peters, Porter, Rouda, Roybal-Allard, Sanchez, Schiff, Speier, Swalwell, Takano, Vargas, Waters

Colorado: DeGette, Neguse, Perlmutter, Tipton

Connecticut: Courtney, DeLauro, Hayes, Himes, Larson

Delaware: Blunt Rochester

District of Columbia: Norton

Florida: Castor, Deutch, Hastings, Murphy, Shalala

Georgia: Bishop, Hank Johnson, Lewis, David Scott

Hawaii: Gabbard

Illinois: Bustos, Casten, Davis, Foster, Garcia, Kelly, Lipinski, Rush, Schakowsky, Schneider

Indiana: Carson

Iowa: Steve King, Loebsack

Kansas: Davids

Kentucky: Barr, Yarmuth

Louisiana: Graves (co-author)

Maine: Golden, Pingree

Maryland: Brown, Raskin, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Trone

Massachusetts: Kennedy (co-author), Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Pressley, Trahan

Michigan: Dingell, Kildee, Andy Levin, Slotkin, Tlaib

Minnesota: Craig, Peterson, Phillips

Mississippi: Thompson

Nevada: Horsford, Lee, Titus

New Hampshire: Kuster, Pappas

New Jersey: Gottheimer, Kim, Malinowski, Pallone, Pascrell Jr., Payne Jr., Sires, Chris Smith, Van Drew

New Mexico: Haaland

New York: Clarke, Delgado, Engel, Espaillat, Higgins, Katko, Sean Patrick Maloney, Meeks, Morelle, Rice, Suozzi, Tonko, Velazquez

North Carolina: Adams, Butterfield

Northern Marianas: Sablan

Ohio: Beatty

Oregon: Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio

Pennsylvania: Boyle, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Wild

Puerto Rico: Gonzalez-Colon

Rhode Island: Ciciline

Tennessee: Cohen

Texas: Allred, Castro, Doggett, Escobar, Vicente Gonzalez, Green, Jackson-Lee, Veasey, Vela

Vermont: Welch

Virginia: Beyer, Connolly, Luria, McEachin, Spanberger, Wexton

Washington: DelBene, Heck, Jayapal, Larsen, Schrier, Adam Smith

Wisconsin: Kind, Moore

Each spring, the Peace Corps community mobilizes to support letters issued in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives urging robust funding for the Peace Corps.

Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) circulated a Dear Colleague letter asking for an increase in Peace Corps funding, and the Peace Corps community responded. The Dear Colleague letter, an official correspondence sent by Members of Congress to encourage others to support or oppose a bill, received a record 41 signatures this year. That number surpassed the previous high of 37 signatures, achieved in both 2009 and 2018. 

Coupled with a record breaking House Dear Colleague letter and its 181 signatures, a combined 222 lawmakers, representing 41 percent of Congress (also a new record), demonstrated strong support for the Peace Corps. With such a high number of signatures, it is more likely that Congress will include an increase in Peace Corps's budget for the 2020 Fiscal Year.

To read the Senate letter, follow this link.

If you Senator(s) are listed below, follow this link to call or write them to thank them for signing the bi-partisan Isakson-Feinstein Peace Corps funding letter!

Senators who signed the Isakson-Feinstein Peace Corps Funding Letter

ARIZONA

Kyrsten Sinema

CALIFORNIA

Dianne Feinstein (co-author)

COLORADO

Michael Bennet

CONNECTICUT

Richard Blumenthal

Chris Murphy

DELAWARE

Tom Carper

Chris Coons

GEORGIA

Johnny Isakson (co-author)

HAWAII

Mazie Hirono

Brian Schatz

ILLINOIS

Tammy Duckworth

MAINE

Susan Collins

Angus King

MARYLAND

Ben Cardin

Chris Van Hollen

MASSACHUSETTS

Ed Markey

Eliabeth Warren

MICHIGAN

Gary Peters

Debbie Stabenow

MINNESOTA

Amy Klobuchar

Tina Smith

MONTANA

Jon Tester

NEVADA 

Catherine Cortez Masto

Jacky Rosen

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Maggie Hassan

Jeanne Shaheen

NEW JERSEY

Cory Booker

Robert Menendez

NEW MEXICO

Martin Heinrich

NEW YORK

Kirsten Gillibrand

NORTH CAROLINA

Thom Tillis

OHIO

Sherrod Brown

OREGON

Jeff Merkley

Ron Wyden

RHODE ISLAND

Jack Reed

VERMONT

Bernie Sanders

VIRGINIA

Tim Kaine

Mark Warner

WASHINGTON

Maria Cantwell

WEST VIRGINIA

Joe Manchin

WISCONSIN

Tammy Baldwin

A record number of 181 members of the House of Representatives signed a letter calling for a $40 million increase for the Peace Corps!

The letter, which was drafted by National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), was circulated by the three co-chairs of the House Peace Corps Caucus: RPCV Congressmen John Garamendi (D-CA) and Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA), and fellow Congressman Garret Graves (R-LA).

172 Democrats (making up 73% of House Democrats) and nine Republicans signed the letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee for State/Foreign Operations requesting an increase in funding for the fiscal year that begins this coming October from $410.5 million currently to $450 million. Thirty-five new members of Congress also signed the letter.

NPCA advocates from all fifty states sent more than 2,000 messages to Congress in the past week, urging members to sign the letter.

Help keep our efforts going by investing in our advocacy program today!

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Take Action - Say Thank You!

The following members of the House of Representatives signed the Peace Corps funding Dear Colleague letter. If your representative is listed below, contact them and say "thank you for signing the Peace Corps funding Dear Colleague letter."
 

ALABAMA

• Terri Sewell

ALASKA

• Don Young

AMERICAN SAMOA

• Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen

ARIZONA

• Ruben Gallego
• Raul Grijalva

CALIFORNIA

• Karen Bass
• Ami Bera
• Julia Brownley
• Salud Carbajal
• Tony Cardenas
• Judy Chu
• Gilbert Cisneros
• Jim Costa
• Susan Davis
• Mark Desaulnier
• Anna Eshoo
• John Garamendi (co-author)
• Jimmy Gomez
• Katie Hill
• Ro Khanna
• Doug LaMalfa
• Barbara Lee
• Mike Levin
• Ted Lieu
• Zoe Lofgren
• Alan Lowenthal
• Doris Matsui
• Jerry McNerney
• Grace Napolitano
• Jimmy Panetta
• Scott Peters
• Katie Porter
• Harley Rouda
• Lucille Roybal-Allard
• Linda Sanchez
• Adam Schiff
• Jackie Speier
• Eric Swalwell
• Mark Takano
• Juan Vargas
• Maxine Waters

COLORADO

• Diana DeGette
• Joe Neguse
• Ed Perlmutter

CONNECTICUT

• Joe Courtney
• Rosa DeLauro
• Jahana Hayes
• Jim Himes
• John Larson

DELAWARE

• Lisa Blunt Rochester

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

• Eleanor Holmes Norton

FLORIDA

• Kathy Castor
• Ted Deutch
• Alcee Hastings
• Al Lawson
• Stephanie Murphy
• Donna Shalala
• Darren Soto
• Frederica Wilson

GEORGIA

• Sanford Bishop
• Hank Johnson
• John Lewis
• David Scott

GUAM

• Michael F.Q. San Nicolas

HAWAII

• Tulsi Gabbard

ILLINOIS

• Cheri Bustos
• Sean Casten
• Danny Davis
• Bill Foster
• Jesus Garcia
• Robin Kelly
• Daniel Lipinski
• Bobby Rush
• Jan Schakowsky
• Brad Schneider

INDIANA

• Andre Carson

IOWA

• Cynthia Axne
• Dave Loebsack

KENTUCKY

• Andy Barr
• John Yarmuth

LOUISIANA

• Garrett Graves (co-author)
• Cedric Richmond

MAINE

• Jared Golden
• Chellie Pingree

MARYLAND

• Anthony Brown
• Elijah Cummings
• Jamie Raskin
• Dutch Ruppersberger
• John Sarbanes
• David Trone

MASSACHUSETTS

• William Keating
• Joseph Kennedy III (co-author)
• Stephen Lynch
• James McGovern
• Seth Moulton
• Richard Neal
• Ayanna Pressley
• Lori Trahan

MICHIGAN

• Debbie Dingell
• Dan Kildee
• Andy Levin
• Elissa Slotkin

MINNESOTA

• Angie Craig
• Jim Hagedorn
• Collin Peterson

MISSISSIPPI

• Bennie Thompson

MISSOURI

• Emanuel Cleaver

NEVADA

• Susie Lee
• Dina Titus

NEW HAMPSHIRE

• Ann McLane Kuster
• Chris Pappas

NEW JERSEY

• Josh Gottheimer
• Andy Kim
• Tom Malinowski
• Donald Norcross
• Bill Pascrell Jr.
• Frank Pallone Jr. 
• Donald Payne Jr.
• Mikie Sherrill
• Albio Sires
• Jeff Van Drew

NEW MEXICO

• Deb Haaland
• Ben Ray Lujan

NEW YORK

• Yvette Clarke
• Antonio Delgado
• Eliot Engel
• Adriano Espaillat
• Brian Higgins
• Hakeem Jeffries
• John Katko
• Carolyn Maloney
• Sean Patrick Maloney
• Gregory Meeks
• Joseph Morelle
• Jerry Nadler
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
• Kathleen Rice
• Thomas Suozzi
• Paul Tonko
• Nydia Velazquez

NORTH CAROLINA

• Alma Adams
• G.K. Butterfield

NORTHERN MARIANAS ISLANDS

• Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan

OHIO

• Joyce Beatty
• Marcia Fudge

OREGON

• Earl Blumenauer
• Suzanne Bonamici
• Peter DeFazio

PENNSYLVANIA

• Brendan Boyle
• Mike Doyle
• Dwight Evans
• Brian Fitzpatrick
• Susan Wild

PUERTO RICO

• Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon

RHODE ISLAND

• David Cicilline
• Jim Langevin

TENNESSEE

• Steve Cohen

TEXAS

• Colin Allred
• Joaquin Castro
• Lloyd Doggett
• Veronica Escobar
• Al Green
• Sheila Jackson Lee
• Eddie Bernice Johnson
• Marc Veasey
• Filemon Vela

VERMONT

• Peter Welch

VIRGINIA

• Don Beyer
• Gerald Connolly
• Donald McEachin
• Bobby Scott
• Abigail Spanberger
• Jennifer Wexton

WASHINGTON

• Suzan DelBene
• Denny Heck
• Pramila Jayapal
• Rick Larsen
• Kim Schrier
• Adam Smith

WISCONSIN

• Ron Kind
• Gwen Moore

A record-breaking 180 members of the House of Representatives signed the Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter, encouraging their colleagues to support Peace Corps funding! This bipartisan letter additionally hosts a record 13 signatures from House Republicans (versus nine House Republican signatures last year).

Our advocates have played a vital role in the success of the Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter. Over the last few weeks, many proponents have spent hours organizing and contacting legislators to lobby for support. NPCA is grateful for the dedicated efforts by our community that contributed to the submission of the Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague Letter.

The letter, authored by Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA), Garrett Graves (R-LA), and Joe Kennedy (D-MA), was dispersed to Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) of the House Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Problems requesting a $410 million appropriation for Peace Corps in FY2019.

With this level of funding the agency should be able to sustain the sending of approximately 3,400 new volunteers a year to serve.  As the letter stated, “Today, approximately 7,000 Volunteers serve in 64 countries to train, elevate, and inspire the next generation of global leaders.” These volunteers are fundamental representatives of our nation around the world. Supporting Peace Corps Volunteers is a cost-effective investment to address international issues. From combating infectious disease outbreaks to helping combat poverty through education, Peace Corps volunteers undertake pressing intersectional issues in innovative ways. Further, these volunteers return to the United States with unique skills that enrich their human capital in a competitive workforce.