Congressman Kline Salutes St. Olaf, Carleton Colleges for Leading Nation in Peace Corps Service

Congressman John Kline congratulated St. Olaf College and Carleton College for being among the nation’s top small colleges for producing Peace Corps volunteers. St. Olaf was ranked second nationally among small colleges and Carleton was ranked eighth.

“The latest rankings clearly reflect the high caliber of alumni from St. Olaf and Carleton,” said Kline. “As a member of Congress representing Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, the proud home of both colleges, I congratulate both academic institutions for being among the nation’s best; not only in producing Peace Corps volunteers but each and every day in the classroom.”

A few years ago, it was brought to Kline’s attention by Peace Corps alumni and others, of a well-intentioned law that – in an effort to expand public service and the concept of national service – allowed military recruits to meet part of their service obligations by serving in the Peace Corps. To encourage military recruiting, military volunteers were being given the option of completing their military service in the Peace Corps. Peace Corps alumni were alarmed at this law because they believed it would jeopardize the safety of current Peace Corps volunteers. Peace Corps alumni and Kline agreed: both military and Peace Corps service are important to the country, but a clear line needed to be made keeping them separate and distinct.

Kline introduced bipartisan legislation – now law – which removes the Peace Corps as a military recruitment option and re-establishes the distinction between Peace Corps volunteers and our military service members. “This is a good example of bipartisan legislation that results when we in Congress listen to our constituents and learn about the issues important to them,” Kline said. “This law can serve as a reminder of what Washington can do when we work together – something currently foreign to many in the partisan environment of Congress.”

Today, more than 8,000 volunteers are working with local communities in 76 host countries in agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth in development. The Peace Corps is creating goodwill to build bridges between America and the world andI will continue to work on behalf of the interests of the Peace Corps and proudly support the important work they do.