We are less than twenty days from Election Day, and for weeks, members of Congress have been back home campaigning. But that does not mean all has been quiet on Capitol Hill – at least as far as NPCA is concerned.
Our Advocacy team has been turning up the heat on the Hill, holding over 20 meetings with staff of both House and Senate members of the Appropriations Committees during the past 5 weeks. Led by Advocacy Director Jonathan Pearson (Micronesia 1987-89), and Advocacy Intern Cynthia Capurso (Madagascar 2019-2020), the team draws on their volunteer experiences, passion for global service, and realization of the importance of the Peace Corps.
Why are we focusing on the appropriations committees?
Because the U.S. House and Senate have a nearly $50 million difference in their recommendation for Peace Corps funding in the next Fiscal Year 2025 spending bill.
Because of this difference, NPCA’s Advocacy team is ramping up efforts with a new campaign to secure additional and necessary funding for the Peace Corps. Our goal is to send 20,000 letters to Congress by the end of the year. Over the past month, we’ve been laser-focused on pushing for more funding for the Peace Corps, which is crucial for expanding its global reach. Now, we’re turning passion into action—one letter at a time—but why does the Peace Corps need more funding?
Take a look at the chart below, which was created back in March, in conjunction with our annual Capitol Hill advocacy day.
The last significant funding increase for the Peace Corps was in Fiscal Year 2016, when the agency received a nearly eight percent funding increase. Over the next eight years, the agency only received a modest five percent bump in FY 2023. And, the hoped-for $448 million allocation recommended by the Senate for FY 2024 fell short, keeping funding at $430.5 million from 2023. When adjusted for inflation, the Peace Corps has lost 20% of its purchasing power since 2016. Peace Corps is hoping to do more than ever, but with less purchasing power.
It is up to us to reverse this course.
Why is this funding critical?
Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Pacific, five nations have requested Peace Corps’ presence in this arena— along with seven more countries in other parts of the world. Democrats and Republicans, Senators and Representatives agree – this form of soft diplomacy from America is needed. The agency has already announced plans to return to Palau next year. But, the Peace Corps cannot responsibly expand into more of these countries and proceed with the installment of volunteers safely and effectively without adequate funding.
Here are the countries that continue to request a Peace Corps presence:
– Bosnia and Herzegovina
– Cape Verde
– Côte d’Ivoire
– Federated States of Micronesia
– Honduras
– Kiribati
– Mauritania
– Republic of Congo
– Solomon Islands
– Suriname
– Marshall Islands
– Uzbekistan
Is there a country on this list, or somewhere else in the world, where you’d like to see more Peace Corps Volunteers?
Tell us which one and find out more about our campaign by emailing Cynthia at [email protected] and be one of the 20,000 voices calling for change.
Your participation is needed to expand soft diplomacy and Peace Corps presence globally.
The push for Peace Corps funding is on as the clock ticks toward the year’s end. Be part of the 20K United.
Take action here. Email [email protected] to learn more now.
Our mission is clear: 20,000 letters = more Peace Corps funding =a bigger global impact.