There are over 400 House of Representatives who have not yet signed the FY 2011 Farr-Petri Peace Corps Funding Letter (Deadline 11 days away: March 15) requesting $465 million for the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. Please call them now to sign the Farr-Petri Dear Colleague Letter until March 15. Also, this weekend when your Representative comes home, make a visit to the district office! Look up your Representative below or call the capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Keep Calling
Ackerman, Gary, New York, 5th – (202)225-2601
Aderholt, Robert, Alabama, 4th – (202)225-4876
Adler, John, New Jersey, 3rd – (202)225-4765
Akin, Todd, Missouri, 2nd – (202)225-2561
Alexander, Rodney, Louisiana, 5th – (202)225-8490
Altmire, Jason, Pennsylvania, 4th – (202)225-2565
Andrews, Robert E., New Jersey, 1st – (202)225-6501
Arcuri, Michael A., New York, 24th – (202)225-3665
Austria, Steve, Ohio, 7th – (202)225-4324
Baca, Joe, California, 43rd – (202)225-6161
Bachmann, Michele, Minnesota, 6th – (202)225-2331
Bachus, Spencer, Alabama, 6th – (202)225-4921
Baird, Brian, Washington, 3rd – (202)225-3536
Barrett, J.Gresham, South Carolina, 3rd – (202)225-5301
Barrow, John, Georgia, 12th – (202)225-2823
Bartlett, Roscoe, Maryland, 6th – (202)225-2721
Barton, Joe, Texas, 6th – (202)225-2002
Bean, Melissa L., Illinois, 8th – (202)225-3711
Berman, Howard, California, 28th – (202)225-4695
Berry, Marion, Arkansas, 1st – (202)225-4096
Biggert, Judy, Illinois, 13th – (202)225-3515
Bilbray, Brian P., California, 50th – (202)225-0508
Bilirakis, Gus M., Florida, 9th – (202)225-5755
Bishop, Rob, Utah, 1st – (202)225-0453
Bishop Jr., Sanford D., Georgia, 2nd – (202)225-3631
Bishop, Timothy, New York, 1st – (202)225-3836
Blackburn, Marsha, Tennessee, 7th – (202)225-2811
Blumenauer, Earl, Oregon, 3rd – (202)225-4811
Blunt, Roy, Missouri, 7th – (202)225-6536
Boccieri, John A., Ohio, 16th – (202)225-3876
Boehner, John A., Ohio, 8th – (202)225-6205
Bonner, Jo, Alabama, 1st – (202)225-4931
Bono, Mary, California, 45th – (202)225-5330
Boozman, John, Arkansas, 3rd – (202)225-4301
Boren, Dan, Oklahoma, 2nd – (202)225-2701
Boswell, Leonard, Iowa, 3rd – (202)225-3806
Boucher, Rick, Virginia, 9th – (202)225-3861
Boustany Jr., Charles W., Louisiana, 7th – (202)225-2031
Boyd, Allen, Florida, 2nd – (202)225-5325
Brady, Kevin, Texas, 8th – (202)225-4901
Brady, Robert, Pennsylvania, 1st – (202)225-4731
Braley, Bruce L., Iowa, 1st – (202)225-2911
Bright, Bobby, Alabama, 2nd – (202)225-2901
Broun, Paul C., Georgia, 10th – (202)225-4101
Brown, Corrine, Florida, 3rd – (202)225-0123
Brown, Henry, South Carolina, 1st – (202)225-3176
Brown-Waite, Virginia, Florida, 5th – (202)225-1002
Buchanan, Vern, Florida, 13th – (202)225-5015
Burgess, Michael, Texas, 26th – (202)225-7772
Burton, Dan, Indiana, 5th – (202)225-2276
Butterfield, G.K., North Carolina, 1st – (202)225-3101
Buyer, Steve, Indiana, 4th – (202)225-5037
Calvert, Ken, California, 44th – (202)225-1896
Camp, Dave, Michigan, 4th – (202)225-3561
Campbell, John, California, 48th – (202)225-5611
Cantor, Eric, Virginia, 7th – (202)225-2815
Cao, Joseph, Louisiana, 2nd – (202)225-6636
Capito, Shelley Moore, West Virginia, 2nd – (202)225-2711
Capps, Lois, California, 23rd – (202)225-3601
Capuano, Michael E., Massachusetts, 8th – (202)225-5111
Cardoza, Dennis, California, 18th – (202)225-6131
Carnahan, Russ, Missouri, 3rd – (202)225-2671
Carney, Christopher P., Pennsylvania, 10th – (202)225-3731
Carson, André, Indiana, 7th – (202)225-4011
Carter, John, Texas, 31st – (202)225-3864
Cassidy, William “Bill”, Louisiana, 6th – (202)225-3901
Castle, Michael N., Delaware, At-Large – (202)225-4165
Castor, Kathy, Florida, 11th – (202)225-3376
Chaffetz, Jason, Utah, 3rd – (202)225-7751
Chandler, Ben, Kentucky, 6th – (202)225-4706
Childers, Travis, Mississippi, 1st – (202)225-4306
Christian-Christensen, Donna M., U.S. Virgin Islands – (202)225-1790
Chu, Judy, California, 32nd – (202)225-5464
Clay Jr., William “Lacy”, Missouri, 1st – (202)225-2406
Cleaver, Emanuel, Missouri, 5th – (202)225-4535
Clyburn, James E., South Carolina, 6th – (202)225-3315
Coble, Howard, North Carolina, 6th – (202)225-3065
Coffman, Mike, Colorado, 6th – (202)225-7882
Cohen, Steve, Tennessee, 9th – (202)225-3265
Cole, Tom, Oklahoma, 4th – (202)225-6165
Conaway, K. Michael, Texas, 11th – (202)225-3605
Cooper, Jim, Tennessee, 5th – (202)225-4311
Costa, Jim, California, 20th – (202)225-3341
Costello, Jerry, Illinois, 12th – (202)225-5661
Courtney, Joe, Connecticut, 2nd – (202)225-2076
Crenshaw, Ander, Florida, 4th – (202)225-2501
Crowley, Joseph, New York, 7th – (202)225-3965
Cuellar, Henry, Texas, 28th – (202)225-1640
Culberson, John, Texas, 7th – (202)225-2571
Cummings, Elijah, Maryland, 7th – (202)225-4741
Dahlkemper, Kathy, Pennsylvania, 3rd – (202)225-5406
Davis, Artur, Alabama, 7th – (202)225-2665
Davis, Danny K., Illinois, 7th – (202)225-5006
Davis, Geoff, Kentucky, 4th – (202)225-3465
Davis, Lincoln, Tennessee, 4th – (202)225-6831
Davis, Susan, California, 53rd – (202)225-2040
Deal, Nathan, Georgia, 9th – (202)225-5211
DeFazio, Peter, Oregon, 4th – (202)225-6416
Delahunt, William, Massachusetts, 10th – (202)225-3111
DeLauro, Rosa L., Connecticut, 3rd – (202)225-3661
Dent, Charles W., Pennsylvania, 15th – (202)225-6411
Diaz-Balart, Lincoln, Florida, 21st – (202)225-4211
Diaz-Balart, Mario, Florida, 25th – (202)225-2778
Dicks, Norman D., Washington, 6th – (202)225-5916
Dingell, John, Michigan, 15th – (202)225-4071
Doggett, Lloyd, Texas, 25th – (202)225-4865
Donnelly, Joe, Indiana, 2nd – (202)225-3915
Doyle, Mike, Pennsylvania, 14th – (202)225-2135
Dreier, David, California, 26th – (202)225-2305
Duncan Jr., John J., Tennessee, 2nd – (202)225-5435
Edwards, Chet, Texas, 17th – (202)225-6105
Ehlers, Vernon J., Michigan, 3rd – (202)225-3831
Ellsworth, Brad, Indiana, 8th – (202)255-4636
Emerson, Jo Ann, Missouri, 8th – (202)225-4404
Engel, Eliot, New York, 17th – (202)225-2464
Etheridge, Bob, North Carolina, 2nd – (202)225-4531
Faleomavaega, Eni F. H., American Samoa – (202)225-8577
Fallin, Mary, Oklahoma, 5th – (202)225-2132
Fattah, Chaka, Pennsylvania, 2nd – (202)225-4001
Filner, Bob, California, 51st – (202)225-8045
Flake, Jeff , Arizona, 6th – (202)225-2635
Fleming, John, Louisiana, 4th – (202)225-2777
Forbes, J. Randy, Virginia, 4th – (202)225-6365
Fortenberry, Jeff, Nebraska, 1st – (202)225-4806
Foster, Bill, Illinois, 14th – (202)225-2976
Foxx, Virginia, North Carolina, 5th – (202)225-2071
Franks, Trent, Arizona, 2nd – (202)225-4576
Frelinghuysen, Rodney, New Jersey, 11th – (202)225-5034
Fudge, Marcia L., Ohio, 11th – (202)225-7032
Gallegly, Elton, California, 24th – (202)225-5811
Garrett, Scott, New Jersey, 5th – (202)225-4465
Gerlach, Jim, Pennsylvania, 6th – (202)225-4315
Giffords, Gabrielle, Arizona, 8th – (202)225-2542
Gingrey, Phil, Georgia, 11th – (202)225-2931
Gohmert, Louie, Texas, 1st – (202)225-3035
Gonzalez, Charlie A., Texas, 20th – (202)225-3236
Goodlatte, Bob, Virginia, 6th – (202)225-5431
Gordon, Bart, Tennessee, 6th – (202)225-4231
Granger, Kay, Texas, 12th – (202)225-5071
Graves, Sam, Missouri, 6th – (202)225-7041
Grayson, Alan, Florida, 8th – (202)225-2176
Green, Al, Texas, 9th – (202)225-7508
Green, Gene, Texas, 29th – (202)225-1688
Griffith, Parker, Alabama, 5th – (202)225-4801
Grijalva, Raul, Arizona, 7th – (202)225-2435
Guthrie, S. Brett, Kentucky, 2nd – (202)225-3501
Hall, Ralph M., Texas, 4th – (202)225-6673
Halvorson, Deborah “Debbie”, Illinois, 11th – (202)225-3635
Hare, Phil, Illinois, 17th – (202)225-5905
Harman, Jane, California, 36th – (202)225-8220
Harper, Gregg, Mississippi, 3rd – (202)225-5031
Hastings, Alcee L., Florida, 23rd – (202)225-1313
Hastings, Doc, Washington, 4th – (202)225-5816
Heinrich, Martin T., New Mexico, 1st – (202)225-6316
Heller, Dean, Nevada, 2nd – (202)225-6155
Hensarling, Jeb, Texas, 5th – (202)225-3484
Herger, Wally, California, 2nd – (202)225-3076
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie, South Dakota, At-Large – (202)225-2801
Higgins, Brian, New York, 27th – (202)225-3306
Hill, Baron, Indiana, 9th – (202)225-5315
Himes, Jim, Connecticut, 4th – (202)225-5541
Hinchey, Maurice, New York, 22nd – (202)225-6335
Hinojosa, Rubén, Texas, 15th – (202)225-2531
Hodes, Paul W., New Hampshire, 2nd – (202)225-5206
Hoekstra, Pete, Michigan, 2nd – (202)225-4401
Holden, Tim, Pennsylvania, 17th – (202)225-5546
Holt, Rush, New Jersey, 12th – (202)225-5801
Hoyer, Steny H., Maryland, 5th – (202)225-4131
Hunter, Duncan D., California, 52nd – (202)225-5672
Inglis, Bob, South Carolina, 4th – (202)225-6030
Inslee, Jay, Washington, 1st – (202)225-6311
Israel, Steve, New York, 2nd – (202)225-3335
Issa, Darrell, California, 49th – (202)225-3906
Jackson Jr., Jesse L., Illinois, 2nd – (202)225-0773
Jackson Lee, Sheila, Texas, 18th – (202)225-3816
Jenkins, Lynn, Kansas, 2nd – (202)225-6601
Johnson, Sam, Texas, 3rd – (202)225-4201
Johnson, Timothy V., Illinois, 15th – (202)225-2371
Jones, Walter B., North Carolina, 3rd – (202)225-3415
Jordan, Jim, Ohio, 4th – (202)225-2676
Kagen, Steve, Wisconsin, 8th – (202)225-5665
Kanjorski, Paul E., Pennsylvania, 11th – (202)225-6511
Kaptur, Marcy, Ohio, 9th – (202)225-4146
Kennedy, Patrick, Rhode Island, 1st – (202)225-4911
Kildee, Dale, Michigan, 5th – (202)225-3611
Kilpatrick, Carolyn, Michigan, 13th – (202)225-2261
Kind, Ron, Wisconsin, 3rd – (202)225-5506
King, Pete, New York, 3rd – (202)225-7896
King, Steve, Iowa, 5th – (202)225-4426
Kingston, Jack, Georgia, 1st – (202)225-5831
Kirk, Mark, Illinois, 10th – (202)225-4835
Kirkpatrick, Ann, Arizona, 1st – (202)225-2315
Kissell, Larry, North Carolina, 8th – (202)225-3715
Klein, Ron , Florida, 22nd – (202)225-3026
Kline, John, Minnesota, 2nd – (202)225-2271
Kosmas, Suzanne M., Florida, 24th – (202)225-2706
Kratovil, Jr., Frank M., Maryland, 1st – (202)225-5311
Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, 10th – (202)225-5871
Lamborn, Doug, Colorado, 5th – (202)225-4422
Lance, Leonard, New Jersey, 7th – (202)225-5361
Langevin, Jim, Rhode Island, 2nd – (202)225-2735
Larsen, Rick, Washington, 2nd – (202)225-2605
Larson, John B., Connecticut, 1st – (202)225-2265
Latham, Tom, Iowa, 4th – (202)225-5476
LaTourette, Steven C., Ohio, 14th – (202)225-5731
Latta, Robert E., Ohio, 5th – (202)225-6405
Lee, Barbara, California, 9th – (202)225-2661
Lee, Christopher J., New York, 26th – (202)225-5265
Levin, Sander, Michigan, 12th – (202)225-4961
Lewis, Jerry, California, 41st – (202)225-5861
Lewis, John, Georgia, 5th - (202)225-3801
Linder, John, Georgia, 7th – (202)225-4272
Lipinski, Daniel, Illinois, 3rd – (202)225-5701
LoBiondo, Frank, New Jersey, 2nd – (202)225-6572
Loebsack, David, Iowa, 2nd – (202)225-6576
Lofgren, Zoe, California, 16th – (202)225-3072
Lowey, Nita, New York, 18th – (202)225-6506
Lucas, Frank, Oklahoma, 3rd – (202)225-5565
Luetkemeyer, Blaine, Missouri, 9th – (202)225-2956
Lujan, Ben R., New Mexico, 3rd – (202)225-6190
Lummis, Cynthia M., Wyoming, At-Large – (202)225-2311
Lungren, Daniel E., California, 3rd – (202)225-5716
Lynch, Stephen F., Massachusetts, 9th – (202)225-8273
Mack, Connie, Florida, 14th – (202)225-2536
Maffei, Daniel B., New York, 25th – (202)225-3701
Maloney, Carolyn, New York, 14th – (202)225-7944
Manzullo, Donald, Illinois, 16th – (202)225-5676
Marchant, Kenny, Texas, 24th – (202)225-6605
Marshall, Jim, Georgia, 8th – (202)225-6531
Massa, Eric J.J., New York, 29th – (202)225-3161
Matheson, Jim, Utah, 2nd – (202)225-3011
Matsui, Doris O., California, 5th – (202)225-7163
McCarthy, Carolyn, New York, 4th – (202)225-5516
McCarthy, Kevin, California, 22nd – (202)225-2915
McCaul, Michael T., Texas, 10th – (202)225-2401
McClintock, Tom, California, 4th – (202)225-2511
McCollum, Betty, Minnesota, 4th – (202)225-6631
McCotter, Thaddeus, Michigan, 11th – (202)225-8171
McDermott, Jim, Washington, 7th – (202)225-3106
McHenry, Patrick T., North Carolina, 10th – (202)225-2576
McIntyre, Mike, North Carolina, 7th – (202)225-2731
McKeon, Buck, California, 25th – (202)225-1956
McMahon, Michael E., New York, 13th – (202)225-3371
McMorris Rodgers, Cathy, Washington, 5th – (202)225-2006
Meek, Kendrick, Florida, 17th – (202)225-4506
Meeks, Gregory W., New York, 6th – (202)225-3461
Melancon, Charlie, Louisiana, 3rd – (202)225-4031
Mica, John, Florida, 7th – (202)225-4035
Michaud, Michael, Maine, 2nd – (202)225-6306
Miller, Brad, North Carolina, 13th – (202)225-3032
Miller, Candice, Michigan, 10th – (202)225-2106
Miller, Gary, California, 42nd – (202)225-3201
Miller, George, California, 7th – (202)225-2095
Miller, Jeff, Florida, 1st – (202)225-4136
Minnick, Walt, Idaho, 1st – (202)225-6611
Mitchell, Harry E., Arizona, 5th – (202)225-2190
Mollohan, Alan B., West Virginia, 1st – (202)225-4172
Moran, Jerry, Kansas, 1st – (202)225-2715
Murphy, Christopher S., Connecticut, 5th – (202)225-4476
Murphy, Patrick J., Pennsylvania, 8th – (202)225-4276
Murphy, Scott, New York, 20th – (202)225-5614
Murphy, Tim, Pennsylvania, 18th – (202)225-2301
Myrick, Sue, North Carolina, 9th – (202)225-1976
Napolitano, Grace, California, 38th – (202)225-5256
Neal, Richard E., Massachusetts, 2nd – (202)225-5601
Neugebauer, Randy, Texas, 19th – (202)225-4005
Norton, Eleanor Holmes, District of Columbia – (202)225-8050
Nunes, Devin, California, 21st – (202)225-2523
Nye III, Glenn C., Virginia, 2nd – (202)225-4215
Oberstar, James L., Minnesota, 8th – (202)225-6211
Obey, David R., Wisconsin, 7th – (202)225-3365
Olson, Pete, Texas, 22nd – (202)225-5951
Olver, John, Massachusetts, 1st – (202)225-5335
Ortiz, Solomon P., Texas, 27th – (202)225-7742
Owens, Bill, New York, 23rd – (202)225-4611
Pallone Jr., Frank, New Jersey, 6th – (202)225-4671
Pastor, Ed , Arizona, 4th – (202)225-4065
Paul, Ron, Texas, 14th – (202)225-2831
Paulsen, Erik, Minnesota, 3rd – (202)225-2871
Pelosi, Nancy, California, 8th – (202)225-4965
Pence, Mike, Indiana, 6th – (202)225-3021
Perlmutter, Ed, Colorado, 7th – (202)225-2645
Perriello, Tom, Virginia, 5th – (202)225-4711
Peters, Gary, Michigan, 9th – (202)225-5802
Peterson, Collin C., Minnesota, 7th – (202)225-2165
Pierluisi, Pedro, Puerto Rico (Resident Commissioner) – (202)225-2615
Pitts, Joseph R., Pennsylvania, 16th – (202)225-2411
Platts, Todd, Pennsylvania, 19th – (202)225-5836
Poe, Ted, Texas, 2nd – (202)225-6565
Polis, Jared, Colorado, 2nd – (202)225-2161
Pomeroy, Earl, North Dakota, At-Large – (202)225-2611
Posey, Bill, Florida, 15th – (202)225-3671
Price, Tom, Georgia, 6th – (202)225-4501
Putnam, Adam, Florida, 12th – (202)225-1572
Quigley, Mike, Illinois, 5th – (202)225-4061
Radanovich, George P., California, 19th – (202)225-4540
Rahall, Nick, West Virginia, 3rd – (202)225-3452
Rangel, Charles B., New York, 15th – (202)225-4365
Rehberg, Dennis, Montana, At-Large – (202)225-3211
Reichert, David G., Washington, 8th – (202)225-7716
Richardson, Laura, California, 37th – (202)225-7924
Reyes, Silvestre, Texas, 16th – (202)225-4831
Rodriguez, Ciro, Texas, 23rd – (202)225-4511
Roe, Phil, Tennessee, 1st – (202)225-6356
Rogers, Harold, Kentucky, 5th – (202)225-4601
Rogers, Mike, Alabama, 3rd – (202)225-3261
Rogers, Mike, Michigan, 8th – (202)225-4872
Rohrabacher, Dana, California, 46th – (202)225-2415
Rooney, Tom, Florida, 16th – (202)225-5792
Roskam, Peter J., Illinois, 6th – (202)225-4561
Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana, Florida, 18th – (202)225-3931
Rothman, Steven, New Jersey, 9th – (202)225-5061
Roybal-Allard, Lucille, California, 34th – (202)225-1766
Royce, Ed, California, 40th – (202)225-4111
Ruppersberger, Dutch, Maryland, 2nd – (202)225-3061
Rush, Bobby L., Illinois, 1st – (202)225-4372
Ryan, Paul, Wisconsin, 1st – (202)225-3031
Ryan, Tim, Ohio, 17th – (202)225-5261
Sablan, Gregorio, Northern Mariana Islands, At-Large – (202)225-2646
Salazar, John T., Colorado, 3rd – (202)225-4761
Sanchez, Linda, California, 39th – (202)225-6676
Sanchez, Loretta, California, 47th – (202)225-2965
Scalise, Steve, Louisiana, 1st – (202)225-3015
Schauer, Mark, Michigan, 7th – (202)225-6276
Schiff, Adam, California, 29th – (202)225-4176
Schmidt, Jean, Ohio, 2nd – (202)225-3164
Schock, Aaron, Illinois, 18th – (202)225-6201
Schrader, Kurt, Oregon, 5th – (202)225-5711
Schwartz, Allyson Y., Pennsylvania, 13th – (202)225-6111
Scott, David, Georgia, 13th – (202)225-2939
Scott, Robert C. “Bobby”, Virginia, 3rd – (202)225-8351
Sensenbrenner, F. James, Wisconsin, 5th – (202)225-5101
Serrano, José E., New York, 16th – (202)225-4361
Sessions, Pete, Texas, 32nd – (202)225-2231
Sestak, Joe, Pennsylvania, 7th – (202)225-2011
Shadegg, John, Arizona, 3rd – (202)225-3361
Sherman, Brad, California, 27th – (202)225-5911
Shimkus, John, Illinois, 19th – (202)225-5271
Shuler, Heath, North Carolina, 11th – (202)225-6401
Shuster, Bill, Pennsylvania, 9th – (202)225-2431
Simpson, Mike, Idaho, 2nd – (202)225-5531
Sires, Albio, New Jersey, 13th – (202)225-7919
Skelton, Ike, Missouri, 4th – (202)225-2876
Slaughter, Louise, New York, 28th – (202)225-3615
Smith, Adam, Washington, 9th – (202)225-8901
Smith, Adrian, Nebraska, 3rd – (202)225-6435
Smith, Chris, New Jersey, 4th – (202)225-3765
Smith, Lamar, Texas, 21st – (202)225-4236
Snyder, Vic, Arkansas, 2nd – (202)225-2506
Souder, Mark E., Indiana, 3rd – (202)225-4436
Space, Zachary T., Ohio, 18th – (202)225-6265
Speier, Jackie, California, 12th – (202)225-3531
Spratt, John, South Carolina, 5th – (202)225-5501
Stearns, Cliff, Florida, 6th – (202)225-5744
Stupak, Bart, Michigan, 1st – (202)225-4735
Sullivan, John, Oklahoma, 1st – (202)225-2211
Sutton, Betty, Ohio, 13th – (202)225-3401
Tanner, John, Tennessee, 8th – (202)225-4714
Taylor, Gene, Mississippi, 4th – (202)225-5772
Teague, Harry, New Mexico, 2nd – (202)225-2365
Terry, Lee, Nebraska, 2nd – (202)225-4155
Thompson, Bennie G., Mississippi, 2nd – (202)225-5876
Thompson, Glenn W., Pennsylvania, 5th – (202)225-5121
Thompson, Mike, California, 1st – (202)225-3311
Thornberry, Mac, Texas, 13th – (202)225-3706
Tiahrt, Todd, Kansas, 4th – (202)225-6216
Tiberi, Pat, Ohio, 12th – (202)225-5355
Tierney, John, Massachusetts, 6th – (202)255-8020
Titus, Dina, Nevada, 3rd – (202)225-3252
Tsongas, Niki, Massachusetts, 5th – (202)225-3411
Turner, Michael, Ohio, 3rd – (202)225-6465
Upton, Fred, Michigan, 6th – (202)225-3761
Velázquez, Nydia M., New York, 12th – (202)225-2361
Visclosky, Peter, Indiana, 1st – (202)225-2461
Walden, Greg, Oregon, 2nd – (202)225-6730
Walz, Timothy J., Minnesota, 1st – (202)225-2472
Wamp, Zach, Tennessee, 3rd – (202)225-3271
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, Florida, 20th – (202)225-7931
Waters, Maxine, California, 35th – (202)225-2201
Watson, Diane E., California, 33rd – (202)225-7084
Watt, Mel, North Carolina, 12th – (202)225-1510
Weiner, Anthony D., New York, 9th – (202)225-6616
Welch, Peter, Vermont, At-Large – (202)225-4115
Westmoreland, Lynn A., Georgia, 3rd – (202)225-5901
Wexler, Robert, Florida, 19th – Vacancy – (202)225-3001
Whitfield, Ed, Kentucky, 1st – (202)225-3115
Wilson, Charles A., Ohio, 6th – (202)225-5705
Wilson, Joe, South Carolina, 2nd – (202)225-2452
Wittman, Robert J., Virginia, 1st – (202)225-4261
Wolf, Frank, Virginia, 10th – (202)225-5136
Woolsey, Lynn, California, 6th – (202)225-5161
Wu, David, Oregon, 1st – (202)225-0855
Yarmuth, John A., Kentucky, 3rd – (202)225-5401
Young, C.W. Bill, Florida, 10th – (202)225-5961
Young, Don, Alaska, At-Large – (202)225-5765
Comments are closed or deactivated
Mine just wants to know how many new federal jobs we get out of PC like any other program or agency created or controlled at Congress. It’s 95% administration, which is all federal jobs.
Aside from saying we’re going to open up in new countries what is the plan? I went to university and got As and they said you need those for money.
JKU,
Your congressman does well to question what will the increased funding bring. Refer him to the budget just approved. There, Peace Corps did receive increased funding, but there was a mandate to review the operations of Peace Corps. Urge him to take that responsibility very seriously. Some of the functions I would like to see addressed include:
1) Why does Peace Corps have 25 or more poilitical appointees? Why is the top management structure outsourced to the prevailing political party?
2) How does the five year rule impact continuity of program and safety and security of serving Volunteers?
3) Why is successful service as a Peace Corps Volunteer NOT a prerequisite for employment in the Peace Corps?
4) What happened in the sixties when the Peace Corps doubled in size in a few years? How will those problems be avoided this time?
5) Will Congress do an in-depth evaluation of Peace Corps, or just a superficial glance?
That is a good beginning. I am sure that you have questions of your own.
It is simple. With so many issues before them, and in this year when everyone is looking to cut budgets, representatives will not sign unless they get CALLS OR LETTERS DIRECTLY FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS asking them to sign the Farr-Petri letter.
I called my representative, and I am encouraging my friends and family to make calls as well.
It only takes a minute-I hope more people will call over the next week!
The budget is just how much. Ask PC for a budget, like how the money is spent. How much goes to staff? How many new jobs do we create with the new budget?. How much goes to in country jobs, independent contractors in country? How many are HCNs?
The legislation to review PC was originally hidden as agency reviews. The review is for what? The cost per PC is now $58,000 a year per PC. Why is this so high? Is it worth it? Are we better off placing with NGOs like Americorps that place 80,000 vs. our 7,500? Why do we need the PCs at this cost? If I gave an NGO that per PC would they place them?
Congress should take PC very seriously because it is so expensive per PC. What are they for by signing on?
PC is political. It is an agency. What is PC planning when they open up a new country at Hillary’s request, not the country’s. Is this type of pressure on a country good? Are we violating our own rules? Is Obama happy that we are putting PCs in country at Hillary’s request and honoring him with a new USAID school for teachers that we’ll probably teach at? Will he be visiting his new school that we built? Is he happy with the payment for his schooling there? Why did we get the money we asked for when we cost so much per PC? RPCVs form groups and lobby countries for PC’s return. Is this okay and is Obama a good enough example?
Safety and Security of the PCs is an issue that really was jobs. After Walter Porrier was murdered PC created the Office of Safety and Security. What do they do when we break our own rules to keep a politician happy or open a country because some RPCVs want this? What are the rules for safety and security?
The five year rule is there because we are so political. We do the executives favors like Obama who are happy to take payment, like his trip there this month. Why were the doctors waived on the five year rule? Are they happy with what was done to PEPFAR? The OIG lobbied to have the five year rule removed and it wasn’t because PCs have a two year rule. OIG was made an independent agency right after. Are they happy with the new status and the results overseas?
The continuity of the program was the new ’sustainable budgets’ that came out after a survey of federal employees like PC that perform inherently government functions. The budgets are five years like PEPFAR and voted on just before the Presidential elections. Why aren’t the agencies budgets’ sustainable too? This was the plan.
Safety and Security was really jobs. After Walter Porrier was murdered Congress created the office. What is the real issue here? Is the Acceptance Model a failure? Is this why the PC is always blamed for what happens. ‘They weren’t liked enough.’ Is it really OIG worried about law suits and payments for injuries overseas?
Why require RPCV status for any job at PC? PC is supposed to be open. We are supposed to hire non PCs and get those third goals. At $58,000 per year per PC is it fair to require RPCV status or should we open up to more people who have to pay for those expensive PHDs? Are we focused on jobs at PC because other federal jobs don’t open up? Why don’t they? Are we too political? Are all the USAID jobs enough? The NSA jobs? The other cultural and linguistic work?
Did we require RPCV status for recruiters because this was going to be moved to CNCS? Is that right? Why not let CNCS combine the recruiting function? PC has a lot of requirements and CNCS has some programs that don’t. Why not combine PC with CNCS or USIP where we can get the cost per PC down?
PC doubled easily. There were no real problems except the cost now is related to how that’s done. For example, training was done at US universities. Costs were not that high because we didn’t get all those extras like training in country. Does anyone think we are actually going to double? Historically we never do. We increase by maybe 1,000 PCs and increase costs for admin. When will CNCS get there admin costs up to ours?
An in depth assessment at PC is not possible without a budget. Can anyone see this? At 58,000 per PC per year aren’t’ we better off just moving it somewhere responsible like CNCS or USIP? Why won’t we do this if we already do what they do like placing PCs at NGOS at a cost that is so high they can’t be compared.
Congressmen are requiring letters from constituents because giving PC more money is a mistake. They have to be able to account. Why would they give more money to an agency that costs so much per PC? There are better ways of doing the work and they know it. CNCS is an example and we already operate like them at a cost so high they can’t be compared. Do Congressmen know of a plan? Is it open up more countries and honor the President the plan or listen to more RPCVs pressure countries to open because they served there the plan? What about Safety and Security when we plan?
The Director was just lobbying RPCVs in Congress yesterday. What were they talking about and can we see the transcript like Americorps?
http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/manage/commcenter_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1668
Simple question from any Congressman, “Why Does It Cost $58,000 per year to keep a Peace Corps Volunteer who gets an allowance of maybe $500 a month in the field?”
Sorry about the repetition. I had a posting problem and ended up cut and pasting.
JKU. I am really ignorant of many of the terms which you used. Could I ask what the following mean? I am sorry to be so out of the loop.
PEPFAR
CNCS
USIP
Does OIG mean Office of the Inspector General?
Also, you say that Walter Porrier was murdered. When was that determined? I thought that he went missing over his Christmas vacation in 2000 and no one knew what had happened to him.
Thank you.
Thanks for your comment!
But Peace Corps deserves this $465 million appropriation.
If you question why it costs $50,000 per year to support a volunteer,
you should also ask why it costs a million dollars to support a US solider or $300,000 to support a State Department worker. Volunteers need support including medical care, programmatic guidance, and safety and security, and Peace Corps needs infrastructure in-country. Relative to other international programs, Peace Corps is exceedingly cost-effective.
Consider that Peace Corps is less than 1% of the US foreign affairs budget (which is 1% of the overall US budget). Until 1982, I believe, it was under the category “miscelleneous.” It is not a major recipient of funding and recognizing this many Presidents have pledged to double the Peace Corps budget but it has not happened. To say it is wasteful and expensive doesn’t strike me as true.
There are a lot of exciting things that can happen with more funding. Peace Corps needs to improve but so does every other agency and program.
On its 50th anniversary, the agency is half the size it was in 1966 - that is shameful. This $465 million is a pittance compared to what we spend on other international aide programs and volunteers deserve the support.
The Peace Corps experience is really like no other. You live immersed at the grassroots for 2 years. You learn the language and you live among the people. It’s a gem of a program and been underfunded and starved for resources for too long. That’s why we’re working so hard to get some more resources for the outstanding new director.
Thanks for your comment though.
-Rajeev
Nepal 01-03
Rajeev. You are comparing apples to oranges. The Peace Corps’ only product is a volunteer in the field. The US military provides defense which includes missiles, bombs, planes, ships, tanks, and more, as well as soldiers. The State Department administers our foreign policy which includes, foreign assistance, embassies, and sophisticated communications as well as providing staff for these.
My point is that the largest part of the Peace Corps cost goes to the elaborate staff in Washington rather than the volunteer in the field. To count, allowance is around $6000, health care maybe $1200, travel to and from post, $1000 each year, training $1000 per year - all in all perhaps $10,000 in direct costs for the volunteer. That leaves $48,000 for administration, planning, negotiating and so on in Washington. If a not-for-profit organization said that 18% of its income goes to services delivered, while 82% goes to overhead, it would see its donations rapidly dry up.
Leo makes a good point. I want funding to Peace Corps to increase, because the program needs it, but I also feel that the money they have isn’t used effectively. Peace Corps headquarters is bloated and difficult to deal with. I tell people that anything having to do with the office was the worst part of my service experience. If PC gets this money, how do we make sure the bulk of it goes to supporting current and additional volunteers, and not increasing office expenditures?
U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Corporation for National and Community Service
United States Institute of Peace
Office of Inspector General (independent agency at PC)
There have been several investigations of the Walter Porrier disappearance. The last few were done by Congress because PC refused. RPCVs ordered these and Congress had them done again. They found some information, but it was never published. Bolivia was closed shortly after the last one blaming a volunteer for spying, which may have been the case with Porrier, reporting to HCNs who work for their or other governments. There are lots of theories. PC refuses to publish under FOIA this and other PC deaths like Kate Puzey, who was supposedly murdered by three PC staff and So-Youn Kim who died in hospital after a month of an unknown disease. The problems here are the same as Porrier; PC may be liable and uses the privacy /family wishes excuses not to release dates and cause of death. Any information is difficult to find. More theories based on in country media. FOIA will never be released and appeals to OIG will never be published either. They are now an independent agency with no real appeal process. Congress is trying legislation like a commission or something, but it’s difficult to find the appeal process.
The military comparison costs us. It is counter productive. There is no way to justify 95% overhead. We used to do this by being independent and telling everyone we had everything we needed. Now, we ask to be placed at NGOs, etc. CNCS does the same job. There is no real difference. Most of what PC does can be done in country by an NGO. We need to partner more and we’ll be as efficient as CNCS. The costs aren’t justified or needed and, in fact, cost the in country PCs as we stay in more and more dangerous countries. They are not safe with PC.
CNCS is moving to more non member grants to Universities and cities to do the work CNCS’s do;now recruit and retrain other volunteers rather than just volunteering(member needed grants and non member grants). This was the plan for PC, get grants up without including the PCs and justify the cost per PC/CNCS as grants, etc. This works at CNCS and won’t at PC because we already get free university educations, etc. and CNCS just pays the CNCS’s university’s bill. Either way, the reasons for the existence of the programs is moved around to justify the cost per employee(CNCS’s/PCs). CNCS costs are doubling and ours are more difficult to justify as we ask for more admin. CNCS/PC are coming to realities that the reasons for their existence can no longer be justified. They’ve ‘grown’ into something bigger that; does third goals, etc. The reasons for their existence are still important, etc., but they do so much more……….
So, when we look at the entirty of CNCS/PC- we see that both pay below poverty wages(I think CNCS pays like a dollar above it if you add it right, someone might have lobbied) CNCS/PC should be paying what everyone else pays. At least a minimum wage,etc. Living in poverty and getting a ‘big’ payoff at the end like a check for your university, etc. can’t be justified. There is no point in keeping these people poor as they were when they went in. It’s not the right thing to do using these people. It can also be argued this is the worst kind of neo colonialism as countries go on there 50th year of no real improvement, like in cash and work, etc. and the PCs and CNCSs get done with their service and stay poor. Maybe we need a study here like, I think it was Kevin or some real smart, what happens when their done with service. Income, jobs, life, etc.
PC and CNCS are getting bigger, richer and more political. Filing FOIAs last few years and this year have changed. Some times they want to make deals for the information, then abuse it, putting people in danger. Some times they just don’t respond to simple FOIAs, not even a denial. So, as we ask for all this money for admin we can’t even justify it with the services. The smart people get the message and move on. The other ones get problems. Some people just keep coming ’cause that’s what they do.
PC is having big problems and they are evident when you deal with them. PC often harasses Congress this way: ‘I’m a problem, please help me.’ They will put people in danger to do this. So, we pay people to ask for more money; PC has at least two lobbyists(I think one got fired for not explaining simple details) at Congress like other agencies and pays NPCA, etc to do their work. Not a problem, but everyone is starting to notice and it just doesn’t seem right. Anyone can take a look at see what the problems are; no business could survive like this and the cash would be much more efficient with NGOs, etc.
There is a lot more information if you have the time to check. Getting the message can be a problem, though.
JKU: Thank you very much for the IDs and the information.
I would like to make these observations. PC is simply not the same agency through time. Many of its HQ staff and procedures are a function of which political party is in charge. The five year rule means that the staff turns over all the time. It is not a constant. There is no Peace Corps. There is an agency in a constant state of flux. This frustrates everyone trying to get information or to work with the agency.
I dealt with PC./Bush-Vasquez; PC/Bush -Tschetter; and now, PC/Obama- Williams. I found myself talking with well intentioned people who were not RPCVs, for the most part, and who had no institutional memory of the Peace Corps, and could not respond to requests for information, because they simply did not know, not because they were trying to hide anything. During the Bush era, my impression is that the staff was dominated by retired military.
As far as I can tell, all the Bush political appointees, including the Director, resigned and left on January 20, 2009. Williams was not sworn in until August of 2009. Those political positions were still not totally fulfilled, according to Wikipedia, by last November. Three of the five staff people I talked with around FOIA requests were civil service appointees who have now left because of the five-year rule. It is like starting all over again.
The responsibility for this situation lies with Congress.
The institutional memory is an old issue at PC. This is the excuse for the five year rule and partly creating NPCA. The creation of PC is to not be a constant, but changing and evolving with the world. Of course there are different ways to do this. For me, changing S&S and putting PCs in more danger isn’t one of these ways. The frustration might be with getting and keeping a federal job rather than running PC. This has become a game and getting clearances like the Doctors or lobbying Congress like the OIG have become ways around the five year law. The law shouldn’t be changed until we equal the PCs who do the actual work.
Non RPCVs are the answer to keeping PC fresh. These people are equally or more qualified. We need to hire more non RPCVs. The institutional memory really doesn’t exist at NPCA, one of the reasons it was created. If RPCVs won’t do that work there, then where will they? After they get the job at PC? After they get work at NPCA? After they get all involved with lobbying and budgeting? After we lobby for more jobs a NSA or civilian DoD? RPCVs are supposed to do this on their own and not just salute the PC, hoping to get work. NPCA has failed at this and this is one of the reasons it’s difficult to get ahead.
The RPCV issue is work when we’re done. Maybe we need some more studies like CNCS?
MOst politicians not knowing PC is common and constant lobbying won’t educate them. Maybe a website with documents they can study and learn without any opinioning? It’s easy to trap them. If we won’t be honest with everything then there are problems. They should be able to look up most questions on the internet or ask an RPCV and get an honest answer, not one for budgets or expansions. RPCVs should be educating politicians on their own, not have it all wrapped up in lobbying and budgeting.
PC is an executive agency and the responsibility should be with the President, not Congress. Congress wants people to believe their supposed to run agencies because it’s federal jobs and money, something they always want to control.
FOIA requests were encouraged 20 years ago before and after service. The PC would query over themselves. PC also wanted a lot of queries. They lead in FOIAs, lobbying for easier access. What’s happened is a bunch of requests were made and people found out nothing is released over a death or accident. That is unfortunate as this is one of the main reasons for querying. What happened to my fellow PC? They just came out with new reason for denials on the website. The first one is national security, which really is a privacy issue. FOIAs have become more difficult because of the queries, which is how an RPCV can educate everyone easily.
We need to start a new thread! This type of exchange is rare at PC and it’s needed more.
An article/legislation on limiting Executive appointments(Congress created a lot of new ones):
washingtonwatch.com/blog/2010/03/09/perhaps-if-there-were-a-czars-czar/
washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_3088.html
Feature at GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE on FOIA:
govexec.com/features/0409-01/0409-01s1.htm
PCs new FOIA denials. Notice internal rules and practices:
peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=pchq.policies.foia.faq
Orry guys, but you lost me a few thousand words ago.