Legislation would jeopardize funds that provided for health and safety of more than 7,300 evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers amid global pandemic. Let’s keep that from happening.
While there has been significant legislation introduced to support Peace Corps and evacuated volunteers, a South Carolina Congressman has announced legislation that would — in part — rescind the $88 million in emergency appropriations approved earlier for Peace Corps.
Congressman Jeff Duncan (R-SC) has introduced H.R. 6657, the Working Under Humanity’s Actual Needs (WUHAN) Rescissions Act, which calls for eliminating more than $27 billion from the CARES Act legislation that was overwhelmingly approved by Congress and signed by President Trump in late March. Included in the new legislation is the proposed return of the $88 million appropriated for Peace Corps which covered evacuation and initial support costs for 7,300 volunteers. Read Representative Duncan’s press release here.
The legislation “would seem to indicate that the health and safety of the 7,300 affected Peace Corps Volunteers was unrelated to the pandemic and that bringing them home safely was wasteful spending.”
—Glenn Blumhorst, National Peace Corps Association
“Through this action and his comments, Congressman Duncan would seem to indicate that the health and safety of the 7,300 affected Peace Corps Volunteers was unrelated to the pandemic and that bringing them home safely was wasteful spending,” said NPCA President Glenn Blumhorst. “This proposal is the height of irresponsibility and we are confident it will face a resounding, bi-partisan rejection in the House of Representatives.”
Many lawmakers – Democrats and Republicans – have been stepping up with legislation to show strong support for Peace Corps, the evacuees, and eventual redeployment. Follow this link for a summary of previous developments.
Along with Representative Jeff Duncan, these are the other ten original co-sponsors of the legislation: Bradley Byrne (R-AL), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Paul Gosar, (R-AZ), Ken Buck (R-CO), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Ross Spano (R-FL), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Scott Perry (R-PA), Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Alex Mooney (R-WV).
Take Action Now
Follow this link to express strong opposition to this proposal with your member of the House of Representatives.
You can also support our ongoing efforts to help evacuated Volunteers — and ensure they have the resources they need — by making a gift here.