Rpcvw - Peace Corps Champion For The Year - Sam Farr

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release 09-2

CONTACT: Tamar Schiffman [email protected]

Washington, DC, December 7, 2009—The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC (RPCV/w), presented Congressman Sam Farr with the Peace Corps Champion award at the annual RPCV/w Holiday Party on December 4, 2009 at the Washington Post Conference Center. This is a new award presented to someone who has gone above and beyond to advocate for a bigger, better and bolder Peace Corps. Congressman Farr served in the US Peace Corps in Colombia from 1964-1966. He began his public service career in the 1960's when he worked as a staffer on budget issues for a decade. In 1975, he ran for and won a seat on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. In 1980, he was elected to California State Assembly where he became a champion of the organics industry. Since 1993 he has been a member of Congress representing Monterey County, California. In 2008, Congressman Farr introduced the Peace Corps Expansion Act 2009, HR 1066. This historic bill would increase the Peace Corps budget from $340 million to $450 million in 2010, $600 million in 2011, and $750 million in 2012. He was able to rally nearly one third of the House of Representatives to co-sponsor the act, and as a result, got approval for the full $110 million increase in the House Bill for 2010. When amendments were introduced to reduce this increase, Congressman Farr fought tirelessly against them, drafting letters, hand-written notes and calling meeting after meeting to ensure that the Peace Corps gets the full amount of funding that he proposed. To learn more visit: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1066 or http://www.morepeacecorps.org Founded in 1979 and incorporated in 1990 in the District of Columbia, RPCV/w represents returned Peace Corps volunteers, staff, and supporters in the Washington, DC metro area. RPCV/w sponsors educational and charitable activities and supports policies to maintain a strong and healthy Peace Corps. To learn more about RPCV/w visit: http://www.rpcvw.org