Congresswoman Laura Richardson Rises to Recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps and praise the generations of volunteers who have passed through the program, sharing American ideals with the world and promoting a greater understanding of world cultures on the part of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, there are currently 8,655 Peace Corps volunteers serving abroad, and the largest portion of them, 1,134, come from my home state of California. Right now, there are 336 volunteers from the Los Angeles-Long Beach Metropolitan Area, which encompasses my District. In fact, I am proud to say there only two metropolitan areas that produce more volunteers than my congressional district.

Since the beginning of the program, California has produced over 27,000 Peace Corps volunteers, who, driven by the same pioneering spirit for which California is famous, selflessly contributed a significant portion of their lives to serving others. My alma mater, UCLA, has produced 92 volunteers, ranking it among the top 10 universities that inspire recent graduates to join the program. I salute them all and thank them for the sacrifices they make every day to make the world a better place.

The history of the Peace Corps is tied to its founder, John F. Kennedy, when he was then a candidate for President. On October 14, 1960, he gave a speech at the University of Michigan and lingered afterwards with a group of students, the conversation lasting long into the night. During that meeting, they discussed the idea of a government program whereby young Americans would be sent to developing nations to aid in local projects, mostly centering on education, health, and agriculture. President Kennedy kept this idea and 50 years ago he signed Executive Order 10924, establishing the Peace Corps. It was one of his first acts as President.

Peace Corps volunteers are expected to work for 27 months, during which time they live and work in a developing nation with minimal comforts. After a training period, volunteers are placed in schools, community groups, and with other organizations that lack the capacity to acquire professional staff with specialized skills. Volunteers live on a small stipend and must adapt to the unique challenges posed by living in a different place with different cultures.

Volunteers started arriving in five countries through 1962. In just under six years under the leadership of its first Director, Sargent Shriver, the Peace Corps developed programs in 55 countries with a volunteer count of more than 15,000. As of now, over 200,000 Americans have served in 139 developing countries. Whole families have served in the program, which leads me to believe that the Peace Corps is an American institution, its value time-tested and its image recognized on a global scale.

As a Member of Congress dedicated to strengthening American security, at home and abroad, I can think of no other American program that does better work to promote peace and goodwill at the grassroots level among everyday people in the world's developing countries. Every Peace Corps volunteer is an ambassador, living simply and building lasting relationships with their community partners, day in and day out. Some of these partners have gone on to serve their own countries internationally as diplomats. Many more become teachers, businesspeople, and local leaders who invest in their country, continuing and improving upon the work inspired by a Peace Corps volunteer. In making more friends around the globe and helping people take the lead in solving their own problems through collaborative means, the Peace Corps makes the world safer.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to building institutional capacity and promoting a positive model of Americans abroad, the Peace Corps has a third component: It educates Americans about the world beyond our shores and promotes long-term cross-cultural understanding. Returned Peace Corps volunteers will talk about their experiences and offer insights into the cultures of their host countries for the rest of their lives. They will seek out public forums and encourage others interested in making the journey. They will possess a perspective of the world, and of its inhabitants, unattainable by any other means. They will also continue to serve the public interest. In this way, the Peace Corps improves America as it does any other country.

Mr. Speaker, since the age of 6 I have wanted to work for others, and though I was a little girl at the time, I was touched by the energy of President Kennedy and came of age as the Peace Corps flourished. The spirit of service has never left me. The ideals of the Peace Corps fell across a generation, and to all those volunteers who heeded the call, I thank you for your service.