Congressman Albio Sires and Congressman Garret Graves Reintroduce Bill Honoring Peace Corps Volunteers

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ) and Representative Garret Graves (R-LA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Peace Corps Caucus, reintroduced H.R. 1411, the Respect for Peace Corps Volunteers Act. They are joined by former Peace Corps volunteers, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), and Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA), as original cosponsors.

“In recognition of the 58th anniversary of the Peace Corps, I am proud to once again reintroduce this commonsense legislation which will remove current restrictions on the use of the Peace Corps’ logo,” said Congressman Sires. “Thousands of New Jerseyans have proudly served in the Peace Corps since its inception and, from my work on the Foreign Affairs Committee, I know what an important contribution the work of these volunteers makes toward our global diplomacy efforts. The dedicated service of these individuals has earned them the right to proudly display their insignia.”

This commonsense, bipartisan bill is a simple fix that would allow former Peace Corps volunteers and staff to use the name and logo of the Peace Corps in an obituary or on their gravestone.

“Peace Corps Volunteers showcase some of the best our nation has to offer – let’s help their families highlight their service by passing the Respect for Peace Corps Volunteers Act,” said Congressman Graves.

Current law prohibits the unauthorized use of the Peace Corps logo, even for memorial purposes, and carries the risk of a $500 fine or jail time. The Respect for Peace Corps Volunteers Act repeals the unnecessary barriers to allow former Peace Corps volunteers and staff the ability to display their service for memorial purposes.

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