Republicans in the House of Representatives want to defund EPCVs COVID-19 support

 

 

The NPCA is reporting this possible action and asking the RPCV Community to rally and contact their Congress Representative. From the NPCA Newsletter comes the alarming news:

“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.

“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.

Write to Congress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • The company we keep: Here is the list of funding which these Republicans want to eliminate. Peace Corps is under State Department.

    COMMERCE, JUSTICE, & SCIENCE

    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: $20,000,000

    NASA: $60,000,000

    Legal Services Corporation: $50,000,000

    INTERIOR

    Bureau of Reclamation: Water and Related Resources, $12,500,000

    Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Programs and Management: $3,910,000

    EPA, Buildings and Facilities, $300,000

    EPA Hazardous Substance Superfund: $770,000

    Forest and Rangeland Research: $3,000,000

    National Forest Service, Capital Improvement and Maintenance: $26,800,000

    HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

    Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development: $78,000

    Smithsonian Institution: $7,500,000

    John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: $25,000,000

    National Endowment for the Arts: $75,000,000

    National Endowment for the Humanities: $75,000,000

    EDUCATION

    Gallaudet University: $7,000,000

    Howard University: $13,000,000

    Corporation for Public Broadcasting: $75,000,000

    Institute for Museum and Library Services, $50,000,000

    LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    House, Salaries and Expenses: $25,000,000

    STATE

    International Disaster Assistance: $258,000,000

    Migration and Refugee Assistance: $350,000,000

    Peace Corps, $88,000,000

    TRANSPORTATION

    Northeast Corridor Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation: $492,000,000

    National Network Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation: $526,000,000

    Federal Transit Administration: $25,000,000,000

    Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS: $65,000,000

    HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

    Fair Housing Activities: $2,500,000

    Read the bill HERE. The link for the statement from Representative Duncan is in the above article.

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