H.R. 384House112th Congress (2011-2013)In Committee

Peace Stamp for the Peace Corps Act

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Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy .

February 8, 2011

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 20, 2011

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 20, 2011

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy .

February 8, 2011

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 384 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9 · Mar 2, 2011

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to honor the Peace Corps during this National Peace Corps Week. I would also like to thank Congressman Garamendi, a returned Peace Corps volunteer…

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to honor the Peace Corps during this National Peace Corps Week.

I would also like to thank Congressman Garamendi, a returned Peace Corps volunteer himself, for his leadership in organizing this special order on this historic occasion.

Today, March 1, 2011 the Peace Corps celebrates its 50th anniversary. It is with the historic contributions of this organization in mind, that I proudly acknowledge the important work of more than two hundred thousand Peace Corps volunteers since the agency's inception in 1961.

It is not surprising that year in and year out Americans are eager to do even more. While more than 13,000 Americans apply annually to serve their country in Peace Corps, serious budget constraints provide placements for roughly 30 percent of applicants.

President Obama has rightly called for doubling the size of the Peace Corps in order to meet this demand, as well as the overwhelming need for additional volunteers around the globe.

This is a pledge that we must keep.

I am proud to report that California has been and continues to be the largest producer of Peace Corps volunteers with more than 1,100 people currently serving abroad.

My home District, California's 9th Congressional District, can be called home by more than 20 current volunteers who have committed themselves to the Peace Corps mission of world peace and friendship through service.

The University of California, Berkeley located in my district has consistently received top or near top honors for producing the most Peace Corps Volunteers, producing 92 volunteers in 2010 alone.

In fact, UC Berkeley has contributed over 3,400 volunteers to the Peace Corps Program since 1961.

Through volunteer work abroad in fields including health education, food security, local business development, education about HIV/AIDS, and agricultural and environmental improvement, the work of the Peace Corps improves people's lives.

At the same time, this vital work enhances the credibility of the United States abroad, fostering the exchange of ideas, and uniting cultures around values of peace, tolerance, and prosperity.

That is why I have introduced H.R. 384, The Peace Stamp for the Peace Corps Act, which calls for the introduction of a semi-postal Peace Stamp, which will sell at a slightly higher rate than the normal 44 cents, in order to create additional revenues for the Peace Corps.

What better time to celebrate the legacy and significance of this great organization with a semi-postal stamp than on the occasion of the Peace Corps' historic 50th anniversary.

I encourage my colleagues to join as co-sponsors of H.R. 384, which most importantly, would generate additional resources for the work of the Peace Corps through the generous support of the American people.

There is no denying the impact of U.S. foreign assistance programs around the world, and the Peace Corps is a perfect example of our nation's will to promote peaceful relations, the exchange of ideas, and to assist and empower those who are most in need.

Before I finish, it should be noted that the Peace Corps enjoys bipartisan support in Congress, not the least of which from our four Returned Peace Corps Volunteers currently serving in the House: Reps. Garamendi, Farr, Petri, and Honda.

I would also like to take a moment to recognize a man who embodied the Peace Corps' mission of `peace and friendship through service', and that is Sargent Shriver.

Mr. Shriver, who passed away this January, was a true public servant who dedicated his life to promoting justice and creating opportunity not only in America but throughout the world.

In his work and personal life, and most notably as the first Director of the Peace Corps, Mr. Shriver's dedication to this cause has come to define generations of U.S. volunteers working at home and abroad for the betterment of society through the offering of a steady, helping hand.

During National Peace Corps Week we salute past and present Volunteers who selflessly serve abroad in support of the Peace Corps' vital mission.

Today we say happy 50th anniversary to the Peace Corps, and should similarly rededicate ourselves to supporting and strengthening the Peace Corps program for ours and future generations.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 20, 2011

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 384

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 20, 2011

Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Ms. Moore, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Faleomavaega, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Rush, Mr. Connolly of Virginia, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Mr. Moran, Ms. Norton, Ms. Richardson, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Holt, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Payne, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Towns, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Petri, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Honda, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Stark, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Polis, and Mrs. Maloney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide for the issuance of a semipostal to benefit the Peace Corps.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Peace Stamp for the Peace Corps Act.

Peace Corps stamp

(a)

In general

The United States Postal Service shall, for a 2-year period beginning no later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, issue a semipostal to benefit the Peace Corps.

(b)

Requirements and authorities

The issuance of such semipostal and the disposition of the amounts becoming available from the issuance of such semipostal shall be governed by section 416 of title 39, United States Code, subject to the following:

(1)

The differential included in the rate of postage established for such semipostal under section 416(c) of such title may not exceed 25 percent.

(2)

The Peace Corps shall be the sole agency to which any amounts becoming available from the sale of such semipostal may be transferred under section 416(d)(1) of such title.

(c)

Semipostal defined

For purposes of this section, the term semipostal has the meaning given such term by section 416(a)(1) of such title.