One of Obama's campaign promises was to create a bolder new Peace Corps doubling the size of the Peace Corps bringing the total number of volunteers to 16,000 by 2011. Unfortunately Obama did not follow through on his pledge and only recommended a $373 million dollar budget for the next fiscal year which does not provide enough money to substantially expand the Peace Corps.
As someone who has volunteered with the Peace Corps I was ecstatic to hear that Obama planned to double the Peace Corps and disappointed when he decided not to. But luckily the House has come through where Obama did not.
More below the fold.
Thanks to the work put in by the People at More Peace Corpsthe House State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee has decided to recommend that the Peace Corps receives a budget of $450 million for the next fiscal year. $77 million more than the recommendation of President Obama. This money will allow the Peace Corps to expand in size and begin to work in some of the 20 countries without volunteers that have requested the help of volunteers.
Below is a video of Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) Chairwoman of the House State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee announcing the increase on Hardball:
But the expansion is not a sure thing yet folks, as the budget still has to go through the Senate if you want to get involved and help expand the Peace Corps please go to More Peace Corps and find out how you can get involved to help make a bigger, bolder Peace Corps possible.