Salute to Advocacy Coordinators and new Senate Legislation

As September got underway, there was some big news on pending legislation in the House of Representatives and the role played by past and present National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) advocacy leaders. Meanwhile, another piece of legislation that would benefit serving volunteers is being introduced in the Senate.

Advocacy Coordinators Leading the Way

When 200 NPCA advocates descended on the U.S. Capitol for our July 21st Hill Day, included among them were a dozen of our state/regional advocacy coordinators. For Florida advocacy coordinator Ana Ciereszko, her itinerary included a meeting with Jacksonville area Congressman John Rutherford. That meeting, coupled with a more recent meeting in the district with former Jacksonville advocacy coordinator David Miron, led to Representative Rutherford agreeing to co-lead bipartisan Peace Corps Volunteer Congressional Gold Medal legislation, soon to be introduced in the House. 

Also in the past few weeks, San Diego advocacy coordinator Linda Vene organized a virtual meeting with the office of Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, and is pursuing a similar meeting with the office of Juan Vargas. Farther north, Frank Price, advocacy coordinator for northern California, was successful in getting his op-ed published on the need to recognize and support Peace Corps ideals. And, in northeast Indiana, advocacy co-coordinators Faith and David Van Gilder are planning an upcoming public show of support for the Peace Corps in the Fort Wayne area.

Whether it’s meeting with lawmakers, organizing letter writing gatherings, submitting op-eds, or mobilizing fellow RPCVs, the nearly 40 advocacy coordinators around the country are the circulatory system of National Peace Corps Association advocacy. Are you ready to join them?

Contact [email protected] for more information.

New Senate Legislation Supports Serving Volunteers 

Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) has introduced four bills as part of his “Answer the Call” agenda, one of which would provide additional benefits to serving Peace Corps Volunteers. 

Senator Kim’s “A Chance to Serve Act” has provisions that would recognize and support the service of both Americorps and Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). For PCVs, the legislation proposes to:

• Make volunteer readjustment allowance tax exempt.
• Increase federal Non-Competitive Eligibility for returning volunteers (and Americorps volunteers) to three years.
• Suspend student loan interest payments for PCVs during their time of service, and allow them (and Americorps Volunteers) to count their suspended monthly loan payments during service towards forgiveness.
• Grant both volunteer groups one year of free health insurance upon completion of their service.
• Remove barriers that prevent lawful permanent residents, refugees, and other lawfully admitted individuals to serve as AmeriCorps Members and Peace Corps Volunteers.

Senator Kim’s legislation does not yet have a bill number, but you can read his press release here. Stay tuned for upcoming action opportunities.

Andy Kim, Official portrait, 2024

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