Congress needs to reauthorize the Peace Corps to further its mission around the world

On September 22, 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed the original Peace Corps Act into law. Since that beginning, over 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries around the world, fulfilling aid requests from country partners. Both authors of this op-ed and their spouses were teachers — Angene in Liberia 1962-64 and Will in Indonesia 2012-2014. Those experiences have shaped our lives. We believe it is critical that Congress update and reauthorize the Peace Corps Act.

Peace Corps is one of the least expensive programs in the US government. It is 1% of the International Affairs Budget and only about 0.01% of the federal budget. Such a tiny investment for a large global impact overseas and back in the US.

Elise Gurney, evacuated from Malawi in 2020 because of Covid and now a Project Manager for Council of State Governments in Lexington, says that her nine months in Malawi as a Peace Corps Volunteer Environment and Food Security Educator made her “realize the importance of community and friendship and working together to solve problems.”

Peace Corps has now returned to 30 countries. Jacob Silvernail, a Kentucky produce farmer, looks forward to leaving for Zambia next March to work in aquaculture. He says, “Food accessibility is dear to my heart, and we may be able to bring in ideas and methods to help in certain situations. But we can learn just as much from our international partners.”

Kentucky has a long history of connection with the Peace Corps. Since 1961, some 1,706 individuals have applied and served from Kentucky, and many others became Kentuckians after Peace Corps service. Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao served as the 12th Director of the Peace Corps 1991-92. Murray State University, Transylvania University, and the University of Kentucky have developed Peace Corps Prep programs for undergraduates. The Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky hosts about 100 oral histories of Kentucky Volunteers from the early 2000s and beginning in 2020 the growing Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) Archive with more than 600 video interviews of individuals from all over the country.

Over many decades, the International Book Project in Lexington has sent requested books to Peace Corps Volunteers in the field; currently they are working with a North Macedonia RPCV to pack a container of 40,000 books for schools in that country. Recently two Ukrainian RPCVs worked with the Louisville/Western Kentucky Rotary District to send $25,000 to Ukraine. Last spring Kentucky Peace Corps Association funded two $1000 scholarships through Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) for refugee students in Lexington and Louisville. Through KRM, several RPCVs in Lexington are working with Afghan refugee families, and another is serving as a mentor to a Ukrainian refugee.

To meet the challenges of today’s world, the Peace Corps needs to be updated. The Peace Corps Reauthorization Act (HR 1456) includes provisions to improve in-service and post-service health care, extend the critical mission of a Sexual Assault Advisory Council, and enhance several volunteer financial benefits. Those changes are critical for helping the Peace Corps become more equitable and better fulfill the health needs of its volunteers.

Last September Democrats and Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee came together and passed H.R. 1456 by a vote of 44 to 4. More recently members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed their version of the legislation (S 4466) by a voice vote with no opposition.

Now is the time to build on this bipartisan momentum, as the next generation of Peace Corps Volunteers begin or prepare for service. In Kentucky we have had strong bipartisan support from Members of Congress Andy Barr, Hal Rogers, and John Yarmuth. Senator Mitch McConnell has also been supportive. Coming together to support and improve the Peace Corps is an important step toward deepening our nation’s commitment to service and to peace.

Will Glasscock is president of Kentucky Peace Corps Association (KPCA). Angene Wilson is a member of the KPCA board.