Advocacy News from Push for Peace Corps  July 29, 2010  www.pushforpeacecorps.org

Thank you for your great advocacy. The crucial vote on the Peace Corps budget in the key Senate committee is just four days from today, on Thursday, July 29th. As you know, we are pushing for the President's requested budget of $446 million in FY 2011, which represents a $46 million or 11.5% increase over the current budget. We already passed it in the House on June 30th but more pressure is needed in the Senate. The desired increase represents less than a tenth of a percentage point in the State and Foreign Operations bill, but it would add 1,000 new Peace Corps trainees and open several new countries, including Vietnam, for the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps!

There are many accounts in the $50 billion bill, such as the Foreign Military Financing Program (FMF), which is getting a $1.251 billion increase, where taking a small amount to meet President Obama's full request for Peace Corps, would not have a consequential impact. The Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Program with a budget of $900 million is another place where a small sum for the Peace Corps could be found.

This week, we need you to call Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) at 202-224-5842 and say, "I'm calling to ask Senator Johnson to vocally champion $446 million for Peace Corps when it comes to vote this Thursday. This small increase would create jobs by adding 1,000 Peace Corps positions for a bargain cost and open new programs in countries like Haiti." Sen. Johnson has been a big supporter of Peace Corps, and along with Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), he could help lead this on the Majority side. Among Republicans, we already have very strong champions in Senators Kit Bond (MO), Bob Bennett (UT), and George Voinovich (OH). If you can also call Senator Bond to thank him for championing $446 million this Thursday, the number is 202-224-5721.

In addition to calling Senator Johnson this week, we need thousands of calls to First Lady Michelle Obama, a key Peace Corps supporter, at 202-456-1111. Call now and say:

"I AM CALLING TO REQUEST FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA TO HELP PASS AT LEAST PRESIDENT OBAMA'S $446 MILLION BUDGET FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PEACE CORPS THIS THURSDAY WHEN IT COMES TO VOTE IN THE SENATE TO HONOR PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND SARGENT SHRIVER. THIS INCREASE, WHICH IS LESS THAN .1% OF THE STATE AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS BILL, WOULD ADD A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS AND OPEN 3 NEW COUNTRIES, INCLUDING VIETNAM. PEACE CORPS NEEDS THE FIRST LADY'S HELP IN REACHING KEY SENATE APPROPRIATORS BEFORE THE VOTE NEXT THURSDAY, JULY 29TH."

You can also e-mail an adapted version of this message by clicking here. www.WhiteHouse.gov/Contact

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www.morepeacecorps.org

Dear Colorado RPCV’s-

As you all may or may not have heard, in May of this year Rep. Michael McMahon  (D-NY) co-sponsored the Future Physicians Serving America Act of 2009 with the goal of providing affordable medical education to the thousands of RPCV’s compelled to a life in medicine. The bill, as currently proposed, would provide 50% to 100% of the cost of tuition during the first four years of medical school, not only placing medical education within the reach of more RPCV’s than ever before, but also helping to alleviate the projected physician shortfall that our country will face in the near future.

Unfortunately, since June 4^th, H.R. 2332 has been stuck in the Committee on Education and Labor’s 'Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.' Many bills that make it to committees like these never see the light of day, because the representatives involved don’t know how much Americans care about initiatives like this!

Fortunately for Colorado RPCV’s, Colorado’s own Jared Polis is currently serving on this subcommittee and can make a very real difference in getting this bill passed! If you support the Future Physicians Serving American Act of 2009 and want to see more medical educational opportunities for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, please contact Rep. Polis at http://polis.house.gov and voice your support for H.R. 2332!

For more information on the Future Physicians Serving America Act of 2009, visit:  http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2332