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Advocacy
As with all Federal agencies, the Peace Corps is funded through congress, so organizations like the NPCA must continuously advocate for a robust budget to support the Peace Corps and its mission.
Here's the latest Advocacy updates:
March 2026
MNRPCV's received a congratulations letter from Governor Walz The Minnesota Retuned Peace Corps Volunteers received a letter from Governor Walz today. It is addressed to all of us who served from Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz writes: "Dear Minnesota Returned Peace Corps Volunteers: I would like to congratulate you on the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps! Since 1961, the Peace Corps has been serving people globally with dignity, respect, and compassion. I would like to express my gratitude for your dedication to promoting a more prosperous and understanding world through fostering friendships and civic engagement. All the Peace Corps accomplishes in health, education, and community development exemplifies what can be achieved with mutual respect and cooperation. Through your service, you have not only improved the lives of countless people at home, but you have promoted peace and U.S interests abroad. Organizations like the Minnesota Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and particularly the approximately 7,000 individual volunteers from our state, make me proud to represent Minnesota. We look out and care for our neighbors here in Minnesota, something that we have demonstrated for the world to witness during difficult times. Volunteerism is interwoven in the fabric of our state, in large part due to passionate and caring people like you. On behalf of the people of Minnesota, I acknowledge the important services the Peace Corps has and will continue to provides, and once again congratulate you on the exciting occasion of you 65th anniversary. Sincerely, Tim Walz Governor" ******* June 2026 The National Peace Corps Association has shared an important update regarding a proposed amendment to House bill H.R. 8595, the international affairs appropriations bill. Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania introduced Amendment #137, which calls for eliminating all funding for the Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2027. NPCA is urging RPCVs and Peace Corps supporters to contact their representatives and ask them to oppose this amendment. The amendment was expected to be considered as part of debate on H.R. 8595. However, as of the evening of Tuesday, June 30, the House of Representatives canceled votes for the remainder of the week, and members were not expected to return until July 13. This means the bill and amendment have not yet moved forward, but the threat remains active. More than 7,500 messages have already been sent through the NPCA Action Center. MNRPCV members are encouraged to continue making their voices heard. Learn more and take action through the NPCA Action Center: https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/npca-advocacy/email-congress/ What can I do?Please contact your U.S. House Representative and ask them to oppose the Perry amendment, which would eliminate Peace Corps funding for Fiscal Year 2027. The NPCA Action Center will help direct your message to the correct representative based on your address: https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/npca-advocacy/email-congress/ If you prefer to contact your representative directly, you can look them up here: Find your U.S. House Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative/ MNRPCV members in Minnesota may wish to contact their U.S. House Representative: Brad Finstad, Angie Craig, Kelly Morrison, Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, or Pete Stauber. MNRPCV members in Wisconsin may wish to contact their U.S. House Representative: Bryan Steil, Mark Pocan, Derrick Van Orden, Gwen Moore, Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grothman, Tom Tiffany, or Tony Wied. You can also share the NPCA Action Center with friends, family, fellow RPCVs, and others who support Peace Corps so they can contact their representatives as well. Thank you for your advocacy and continued support of Peace Corps. |