,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eeba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ai1 #bjbe,ms4 ,mc,collum 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,rutherford1 ,mr4 ,garamendi1 ,mr4 ,bergman1 and ,mr4 ,landsman7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,to award a ,congressional ,gold ,medal to the ,peace ,corps volunteers1 in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments1 continuous dedication to world peace and friendship1 and their honorable service to the ,nation for #fe years4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,peace ,corps ,volunteers ,congressional ,gold ,medal ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,findings2 ,sense of ,congress related to recognition of ,peace ,corps ,volunteers 7a7 ,findings ,the ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in #bjbf1 our ,nation celebrates the #feth anniversary of the establishment of the ,peace ,corps1 one of the most beneficial and celebrated international assistance programs in the world4 7#b7 ,nearly #bej1jjj ,peace ,corps ,volunteers 7in this section referred to as the ,volunteers7 have served our ,nation with distinction4 ,volunteers have been integral in promoting world peace and friendship in more than #adj countries around the globe4 ,their expertise in a wide variety of sectors1 including agriculture1 community economic development1 education1 environment1 health1 and youth in development1 has contributed significantly to the needs of foreign countries on many levels4 7#c7 ,the ,congressional ,gold ,medal is intended to honor those ,volunteers who served between ,august #bh1 #aifa1 when the first ,volunteers departed from the ,united ,states for ,ghana1 and ,december #ca1 #bjbf4 7#d7 ,president ,john ,f4 ,kennedy expressed his call to service for ,americans during his inaugural address on ,january #bj1 #aifa1 when he said1 ,and so1 my fellow ,americans3 ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country4 ,my fellow citizens of the world3 ask not what ,america will do for you1 but what together we can do for the freedom of man44 7#e7 ,on ,march #a1 #aifa1 ,president ,kennedy signed ,executive ,order #ajibd 7#bf ,fed4 ,reg4 #aghi7 establishing the ,peace ,corps4 ,at a ,state ,department press conference after signing the ,executive order1 ,president ,kennedy said1 ,we will send those abroad who are committed to the concept which motivates the ,peace ,corps4 ,it will not be easy4 ,none of the men and women will be paid a salary4 ,they will live at the same level as the citizens of the country which they are sent to1 doing the same work1 eating the same food1 speaking the same language4 ,we are going to put particular emphasis on those men and women who have skills in teaching1 agriculture1 and in health4 ,i am hopeful it will be a source of satisfaction to ,americans and a contribution to world peace44 7#f7 ,when ,president ,kennedy signed the ,peace ,corps ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #beja et seq47 on ,september #bb1 #aifa1 providing the legislative foundation for the ,peace ,corps1 the ,white ,house released a statement saying1 ,with the enactment of this legislation1 an avenue is provided by which ,americans can serve their country in the cause of world peace and understanding and simultaneously assist other nations toward their legitimate goals of freedom and opportunity44 7#g7 ,individuals across our ,nation were inspired to serve as ,volunteers supported by the leadership and vision of ,sargent ,shriver1 who served as the first ,director of the ,peace ,corps from #aifa to #aiff4 ,the ,volunteers shared his vision1 which became the mission of the ,peace ,corps3 ,to promote world peace and friendship through community-based development and intercultural understanding44 ,volunteers were strongly encouraged to respect local customs1 learn the prevailing language1 and live in comparable conditions4 7#h7 ,volunteers' service is guided by the #c goals of the ,peace ,corps3 7,a7 ,to help the countries interested in meeting their need for trained people44 ,volunteers exchange skills and knowledge with community members in their welcoming host countries to help create sustainable change through work in the sectors described in paragraph 7#b74 7,b7 ,to help promote a better understanding of ,americans on the part of the peoples served44 ,through their service1 ,volunteers share the ,united ,states and its values4 ,their outstanding contributions to the nations of the world help promote cultural understanding4 7,c7 ,to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of ,americans44 ,volunteers immerse themselves in local cultures1 and learn about opportunities1 resources1 and people in their host countries4 ,when they return to the ,united ,states1 they share their experiences with family1 friends1 and the public1 which helps promote cultural understanding1 volunteerism1 and public service4 7#i7 ,during a ,rose ,garden ceremony at the ,white ,house on ,april #bc1 #aihe1 accompanied by ,vice ,president ,george ,h4,w4 ,bush and ,peace ,corps ,director ,loret ,miller ,ruppe1 ,president ,ronald ,reagan wished ,volunteers success for their assignments in ,africa1 saying1 ,soon you'll be in ,africa1 where you'll be a vital part of the relief aid to help the millions suffering from malnutrition and starvation4 ,you'll be living in some of the most impoverished countries of the world1 working in food production1 soil conservation1 fisheries production1 forest preservation1 and water supply development4 ,by bringing your training and skills to bear on the underlying problems of agricultural and economic development1 you can help your host nations make the difficult but vital journey from dependence on short-term aid to self-sufficiency4 ,vice ,president ,bush returned from his trip to the famine-stricken regions of ,africa1 he gave me a personal account of the heartbreaking conditions in that land4 ,while there1 he visited one ,peace ,corps project1 and he told me of the outstanding work of the ,peace ,corps volunteers4 ,the crisis in ,africa is severe and the problems deeply rooted1 but relief efforts are already making a great difference44 7#aj7 ,peace ,corps senior leaders1 staff1 and ,volunteers have honored ,president ,kennedy's vision for the ,peace ,corps and his legacy4 ,during a ,march #a1 #aiif1 speech for the #ceth anniversary of the ,peace ,corps1 ,sargent ,shriver said1 ,the ,peace ,corps represents some1 if not all1 of the best virtues in this society4 ,it stands for everything that ,america has ever stood for4 ,it stands for everything we believe in and hope to achieve in the world44 7#aa7 ,the ,peace ,corps1 since its pioneering creation by ,president ,kennedy and an ensuing #fe years of support by the ,federal ,government1 has proven to be one of the most successful ,united ,states foreign policy programs in the history of our ,nation4 ,the importance of the ,peace ,corps was reinforced in a ,may #bd1 #bjag1 opinion article by ,general ,colin ,powell1 retired ,secretary of ,state1 when he said1 ,indeed1 we're strongest when the face of ,america isn't only a soldier carrying a gun but a diplomat negotiating peace1 a ,peace ,corps ,volunteer bringing clean water to a village1 or a relief worker stepping off a cargo plane as floodwaters rise44 7#ab7 ,the global accomplishments of ,volunteers toward world peace and friendship and their resolute service to the ,united ,states are deserving of robust public recognition and respect4 ,as ,president ,kennedy said1 after signing ,executive ,order #ajibd 7#bf ,fed4 ,reg4 #aghi7 creating the ,peace ,corps1 ,the initial reactions to the ,peace ,corps proposal are convincing proof that we have1 in this country1 an immense reservoir of such men and women--anxious to sacrifice their energies and time and toil to the cause of world peace and human progress44 7#ac7 ,some ,volunteers made the ultimate sacrifice while in service4 ,according to the ,fallen ,peace ,corps ,volunteers ,memorial ,project1 more than #cjj ,volunteers have died in service1 or following close of service as a result of service-related causes1 since the ,peace ,corps began in #aifa4 ,their significant sacrifices and service to our ,nation and their host countries should be honored with reverence4 7#ad7 ,during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 over #g1jjj ,volunteers were recalled from their work in host countries4 ,though they were evacuated for health reasons from their assigned projects1 they continued to volunteer when they returned to the ,united ,states to support the national response to a global health crisis4 ,former ,peace ,corps ,director1 ,josephine 7,jody7 ,olsen1 who supervised the complex and immediate recall process1 wrote1 ,odysseys by individual ,peace ,corps ,volunteers forged over six decades made the total evacuation of seven thousand ,volunteers due of ,covid-#ai in #bjbj possible4 ,as ,i sent out the immediate evacuation order on ,march #ae1 ,i trusted that in sixty-one countries1 the thousands of host country families1 teachers1 clinic directors1 local taxi drivers1 community security officers1 airlines1 and medical officials that support ,volunteers would selflessly offer their help4 ,these thousands shared painful good-byes and supported the safe movement of all of the volunteers to capital cities1 international airports1 charter flights to the ,,us over the course of nine days without illness or accident44 ,when ,volunteers returned to the ,united ,states1 many shifted their work to support domestic initiatives1 including ,,covid-#ai surveillance and health programs in collaboration with the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 ,the ,,epa connected ,volunteers who returned to the ,united ,states with roles in public health for pandemic response efforts in the ,united ,states4 ,meanwhile1 the ,peace ,corps launched the ,virtual ,service ,pilot1 allowing ,volunteers who returned to the ,united ,states and other ,united ,states citizens to work remotely with international partners on community projects across sectors like health1 education1 and agriculture4 ,the ,virtual ,service ,pilot expanded rapidly1 demonstrating the potential for virtual service to complement traditional ,peace ,corps work1 providing flexible opportunities for such ,volunteers to contribute globally from home4 7#ae7 ,returned ,volunteers promote a better understanding of other peoples and cultures when they share their experiences and knowledge about their service overseas with ,americans at home1 the third goal of the ,peace ,corps described in paragraph #h7;,c74 ,with regard to the third goal1 the ,peace ,corps' ,congressional ,budget ,justification for ,fiscal ,year #bjbf states that by increasing mutual understanding and lasting ties between the people of the ,united ,states and other countries1 the ,peace ,corps helps create better trading partners1 strengthens relationships with allies1 inhibits extremism1 and counteracts the growing influence of ,america's adversaries4 ,volunteers strengthen ,u4,s4 national security through improved relations with host governments and by showcasing ,america as an international leader4 ,the agency also helps cultivate the next generation of ,u4,s4 civic and business leaders4 ,volunteers return home and1 for long after the conclusion of their service1 contribute the adaptive leadership and entrepreneurial skills they gained during service to ,american communities4 7#af7 ,on ,december #f1 #aihg1 about #abj1jjj ,volunteers and ,peace ,corps staff received the ,beyond ,war ,award4 ,the inscription on the poster for the recipients of the award reads1 ,presented to the #abj1jjj ,current and ,returned ,volunteers of the ,peace ,corps to learn peace1 to live peace1 and to labor for peace1 from the beginning of their service to the end of their lives4 ,a ,peace ,corps mission statement44 7#ag7 ,members of the #ajgth ,congress nominated the ,peace ,corps for the ,nobel ,peace ,prize4 ,in a ,june #bg1 #bjjb1 letter to the ,nobel ,peace ,prize ,committee1 #aj members of the #ajgth ,congress signed the letter saying1 ,the impact of ,volunteers on international peace through understanding and cooperation goes far beyond development projects4 ,volunteers bring people and cultures together4 ,they share ideas and ideals of their home community1 but they also learn to speak the language1 eat the food1 sing the songs1 and incorporate the qualities of their host communities into their own lives4 ,they travel overseas to represent the ,united ,states1 and they return home to represent the world within the ,united ,states4 ,the central mission of all ,volunteers1 both overseas and after they return home1 is peace4 ,the ,peace ,corps and the community of ,returned ,peace ,corps ,volunteers1 represented by the ,national ,peace ,corps ,association1 create the climate1 the conditions1 the momentum1 and the spirit of peace that is needed all over the world4 ,for this reason1 they deserve the ,nobel ,peace ,prize44 7#ah7 ,in ,february #bjaa1 ,members of the #aabth ,congress recommended to ,president ,barack ,obama that the ,peace ,corps should be nominated for a ,nobel ,peace ,prize4 ,the letter to ,president ,obama1 authored by ,congressman ,sam ,farr1 said1 ,for a half-century ,peace ,corps has served as a vehicle of peace and hope for impoverished communities around the world4 ,now more than ever1 as the world suffers from divisive transnational conflicts and escalating threats1 ,peace ,corps continues to stand as an unparalleled beacon of peace and optimism4 ,bestowing the ,peace ,corps with the ,nobel ,peace ,prize will undoubtedly work to promote volunteerism and inspire the next generation of ,americans to be peaceful stewards of both their country and the world44 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,volunteers should be acknowledged and thanked publicly for their service to the ,united ,states and their host countries whenever the appropriate occasions arise4 ,retired ,united ,states ,navy ,admiral ,james ,stavridis1 former ,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization ,supreme ,allied ,commander1 said1 ,what someone brings when they come back from typically two years of ,peace ,corps service is just a remarkable sense of our nation and a remarkable sense of the world1 and really a ''' stronger sense of themselves and being part of those bigger things4 ,as a retired military guy ''' people constantly come up to me and say1 ,admiral1 thank you for your service4 ,and it means a lot to me4 ,it means a lot to every veteran to hear that4 ,so whenever ,i do an interview where ,i have a chance to1 ,i say to ,peace ,corps ,volunteers1 ,thank you for your service42 7#b7 the people of the ,united ,states are grateful and indebted to ,volunteers for their excellence in numerous professional fields1 their essential and dedicated contributions to communities of their host countries1 their effective means of communicating the ,american spirit of peace and friendship1 and for their sharing of their experiences overseas with individuals in the ,united ,states2 7#c7 on behalf of the ,united ,states1 ,congress expresses the highest public gratitude for the distinguished contributions of ,volunteers for #fe years4 ,the ,congressional ,gold ,medal is an appropriate award to recognize the outstanding achievements of ,volunteers for their valued service to the ,united ,states1 and their role in promoting world peace and friendship1 as a significant component of ,united ,states foreign policy2 and 7#d7 the production of the gold medal be expedited so that the medal can be presented to the ,peace ,corps at a respectful ceremony1 either at the ,capitol ,rotunda or at another suitable location1 not later than ,september #bb1 #bjbf4 #c4 ,congressional ,gold ,medal 7a7 ,presentation ,authorized ,the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,president pro tempore of the ,senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation1 on behalf of the ,congress1 of a single gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration to the ,director of the ,peace ,corps in the ,district of ,columbia1 in recognition of the ,peace ,corps volunteers and their dedicated and distinguished service to our ,nation and promotion of world peace and friendship4 7b7 ,design and ,striking ,for purposes of the presentation described in subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of the ,treasury 7in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary7 shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems1 devices1 and inscriptions1 to be determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,the ,peace ,corps 7#a7 ,in ,general ,following the award of the gold medal under subsection 7a71 the gold medal shall be given to the ,peace ,corps headquarters1 where it shall be available for display as appropriate and made available for research4 7#b7 ,sense ,of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,director of the ,peace ,corps should make the gold medal1 awarded pursuant to this ,act1 available for display elsewhere1 particularly at appropriate locations associated with ,peace ,corps volunteers and that preference should be given to locations affiliated with the ,peace ,corps4 #d4 ,duplicate medals ,the ,secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section #c1 at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the bronze medals1 including labor1 materials1 dies1 use of machinery1 and overhead expenses4 #e4 ,status of medals 7a7 ,national ,medals ,the medals struck pursuant to this ,act are national medals for purposes of chapter #ea of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,numismatic ,items ,for purposes of sections #eacd and #eacf of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 all medals struck under this ,act shall be considered to be numismatic items4 #f4 ,authority to use fund amounts2 ,proceeds of sale 7a7 ,authority ,to ,use ,fund ,amounts ,there is authorized to be charged against the ,united ,states ,mint ,public ,enterprise ,fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck pursuant to this ,act4 7b7 ,proceeds of ,sales ,amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section #d shall be deposited into the ,united ,states ,mint ,public ,enterprise ,fund4