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Greetings!
Peace Corps funding faces a major hurdle in the House of Representatives in the next few weeks.
Take action in support of the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act.
Are you signed up to participate in our first ever August District Meeting Days?
All this and much more in July advocacy update.
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District Advocacy Meetings Initiative Nears
A growing number of Peace Corps advocacy meetings with members of Congress are being planned during the first two weeks in August in states and congressional districts across the nation.
Is one being planned near you?
Read more about our August District Meeting Days initiative.
Look to see if there is a meeting coordinator near you. Then, contact him/her if you are interested in participating.
Or...contact us if you want to coordinate a meeting where you live.
There's still time to coordinate a meeting...but the time to start planning your August meetings is now.
>>Read More
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Fiscal Year 2012 Peace Corps Funding Faces First Major Hurdle in Congress
In the next several weeks, the House Appropriations State/Foreign Operations Subcommittee is expected to make its recommendations on how much funding to allocate for the Peace Corps and other portions of the International Affairs Budget. Those recommendations will then go to the full House Appropriations Committee for consideration.
The challenges are huge, as the Subcommittee has been given a total allocation for international affairs programs that is significantly less than what they had to work with during the previous two years. There is serious concern that many programs - including Peace Corps - will face funding cuts.
Peace Corps has already seen its funding reduced from $400 million last fiscal year to $374 million in the current fiscal year. That's why we need you to take action!
TAKE ACTION NOW: If you Congressman/woman is a member of the House Appropriations Committee (and especially the State/Foreign Operations Committee), the next two weeks is a very important time to write/call them. Follow the link below for lists of who those lawmakers are, contact information and key talking points so you can take action.
(Photo Above: Supporters of the Peace Corps in Houston write to congressional leaders during NPCA's recent advocacy tour through Texas) |
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Kate Puzey Legislation Introduced in Senate and House
Legislation named after a slain Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Benin has been introduced by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Ted Poe (R-TX).
The Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011 includes a number of provisions designed to improve monitoring, training, support and reporting in relation to Peace Corps Volunteers who have been subjected to sexual assault and other violent crimes.
NPCA has written to leading lawmakers expressing support for the legislation. The letter also outlines several recommendations for possible improvements to the legislation, and expresses concern about the need to provide adequate resources for the agency.
Follow this link to read NPCA's letter.
Follow this link to read Peace Corps' statement on the legislation.
>>Learn More and Take Action
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 September 21 - 22
Deadline Approaches to Register for Capitol Hill 50th Advocacy Day
NPCA's 50th anniversary activities in September may still seem a ways off - but with a lot of preparation ahead it is closing in fast!
More than 400 people are registered for our September 21st advocacy orientation session and our September 22nd Capitol Hill advocacy day.
If you haven't registered yet, we strongly encourage you to register no later than August 15th. After that date, we will not be able to guarantee having an advocacy day packet available for you. And, we need to let congressional offices know how many constituents they can expect, as we begin to schedule meetings.
Follow this link to read more about 50th anniversary events in September.
>>Sign Up Now for Advocacy and other 50th Events |
Texas Trip Includes Advocacy Workshops
A week-long June trip through central and eastern Texas included advocacy workshops in Fort Worth, Austin and College Station, as well as informal get-togethers in San Antonio (pictured above), Dallas, Houston and Beaumont.
Much thanks to our Texas advocates, who generated fifty hand-written letters urging strong support for Peace Corps funding!
Our blog posts celebrated some of the people we met along the way, from the couple planning a return trip to their country of service, to an Iraqi war veteran who is planning to join the Peace Corps, to an NPCA chapter's ongoing commitment to a community service project they helped launch twenty-five years ago.
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Why Donate to NPCA?
Here's Another Reason!
We're helping to mobilize district advocacy meetings in August, and coordinating a major 50th anniversary Capitol Hill gathering in September. Our recent swing through Texas was the latest outreach this year to connect face-to-face with advocates.
Our National Day of Action every March continues to grow in numbers and impact. We regularly feature and highlight the fabulous contributions of the Peace Corps community and hold meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to promote Peace Corps funding, establishment of a Peace Corps commemorative and more. And, we keep you in the loop every month with this update, interspersed with other information notices and action alerts as needed.
That's just a sliver of the work we do at the NPCA to connect, inform and engage the Peace Corps community. We cannot do this without your financial support.
And...Hooray! NPCA has received the highest rating of four stars from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator which analyses non-profits' financial health and efficiencies.
Please give generously with the knowledge that you are sustaining the NPCA and its many programs that are designed to help you take your next steps in changing the world.
>>Donate to NPCA Today |
Featured Advocate
Dan Luckey
Reading, PA
Members of the Peace Corps community from around the country are stepping up to help organize district advocacy meetings in August.
Dan Luckey, who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji and the Cook Islands from 1979 through 1982, was one of the first to answer the call.
Dan's day job gives him a good understanding of both the challenges and the importance of advocating for causes you believe in. "These are tough times...there is a need to advocate for funding and to keep at it."
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You still want to make a difference. Be a member to continue serving, connect with others, and support the legacy of the Peace Corps.
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This Month's Featured Advocate...
Dan Luckey
Fiji/Cook Islands
1979 - 1982
Reading, PA
Read More Below
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SUBSCRIBE TO NPCA
ADVOCACY NEWS
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Congressman Honda at the Folklife Festival
A number of leaders from the Peace Corps community have been featured guests on the "Peace Porch" at the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC.
Events on July 4th included RPCV Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), talking about his Peace Corps experience.
Read our blog about Congressman Honda's remarks.
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A New Online Store
With Lots of New Items!
Check out our new online store ! We offer a wide selection of Peace Corps and NPCA logo merchandise--from t-shirts and coffee mugs, to pins and license plate frames.
A portion of your purchase supports the efforts of the National Peace Corps Association.
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Our Next Advocacy Trip??
We're starting to plan a mid-October trip to connect with you. Expected stops include Buffalo, Ithaca and Syracuse New York, and Erie and State College Pennsylvania
Want to help us in our planning of the trip?
Contact us today.
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