Another nation with a rich Peace Corps history will soon see the return of volunteers after a nearly 30 year absence.

Peace Corps' announcement last week that volunteers will return to Colombia follows announcements late last year that volunteers will also be returning to Sierra Leone and Indonesia. Undoubtedly one of the most excited members of the Peace Corps-Colombia family is California Congressman Sam Farr (Colombia 62-64), a leading champion for increased funding for Peace Corps.

In February 2008, Congressman Farr was one of nearly 200 Colombia RPCVs who traveled to Cartegena for a three day conference organized by the Embassy of Colombia and the Friends of Colombia (FOC).  The RPCVs met with numerous government officials, including Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. 

The Senate Budget Committee recently recommended a $4 billion reduction in President Obama's original $58.8 billion International Affairs Budget request. If this recommendation is adopted, Peace Corps may not receive the increase in funding it needs to expand and improve. With final Senate action on a budget in doubt, the final determination would shift to the Senate Appropriations Committee, when it allocates binding overall funding levels for international assistance and other federal programs. 

You can help ensure that the Peace Corps and other important foreign assistance programs receive the funding they need! A Senate sign-on letter is circulating urging support for a funding allocation that meets or exceeds the President's full request.

Ask your Senators to sign the letter.