253 



Skills and knowledge required in the project ; 



Methods of organizing and communicating skills and knowledge to accomplish 

 project goals ; 



U.S. history, democratic institutions and international relations ; 



The geography, culture, and government of the host country ; 



Language training to enable the volunteer to manage his everyday living 

 requirements and to communicate with people with whom he would work ; 



Physical conditioning and training in health and personal adjustment to 

 different environments." 



Further appendixes to the report described medical training and 

 planned health care for volunteers (app. G) ; details of interagency 

 and field relationships (app, H) ; departmental personnel policies 

 (app. F) ; administrative support and cooperation with the Interna- 

 tional Cooperation Administration (app. I) ; and a detailed estimate 

 of annual cost per volunteer for training and field operations (app. A) . 



V — Congressional Hearings and Enactment of Legislation 



Each committee held 2 days of hearings on the administration bill. 

 Testimony was taken from Sargent Sliriver and other Peace Corps 

 officials, representatives of religious missions, labor unions, and other 

 groups with programs in international development. The only aca- 

 demic witness was Dr. Andrew E. Eice, of the Colorado State 

 University Eesearch Foundation, who briefly testified before the 

 Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In addition, numerous sup- 

 porting statements, supplementary memorandums from the Peace 

 Corps, and newspaper articles were inserted in the record of the hear- 

 ings. The majority of witnesses enthusiastically supported the proposal 

 and discussed how they might support the operation. 



Both committees favorably reported the legislation and recom- 

 mended a $40 million appropriation.^^ The committees commended the 

 spadework done by the Peace Corps, by the Colorado State University 

 Research Foundation, and by other students of the issue. Apparently 

 a consensus was reached regarding the experimental nature of the pro- 

 gram and the need for a flexible, experimental operation. For instance, 

 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee concluded : 



The committee strongly recommends the full .$40 million authorization. It is of 

 the opinion that the request is justified and that the Peace Corps should be 

 permitted enough flexibility to try the methods of approach it envisages. Only 

 in that way can it be known whether the program offers opportunity to assist in 

 the development of nations seeking assistance.^" 



Peace Corps authorization and appropriation was the subject of 

 several days of discussion on the floor of the House and Senate.^^ Con- 

 gressional reaction, both in the hearings and on the floor was generally 

 favorable. The record of both hearings and floor debate contained 

 voluminous testimonials from those wishing to serve, favorable re- 

 views of intensive training programs in progress at Putney, Va., 

 and Rutgers University, eyewitness accounts by legislators who had 



'■* Ibicl., pp. 6—7. The.se points are summarized. 



^3 U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations, "The Peace Corps : Report of 

 the * * * on S. 2000," Senate Kept. 706, 87th Cong., 1st se.ss., Aug. 10. 1961 (Washington. 

 U.S. Government Printing Office, 1961). 24 pages ; and U.S. Congress. House Committee on 

 Foreign Affairs. "Peace Corps Act : Report of the * * * on H.R. 7500, to provide for a 

 Peace Corps to help the peoples of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for 

 skilled manpower," House Rept. 111.5. S7th Cong., 1st sess., Sept. 5, 1961. (Washington. 

 U.S. Government Printins Office. 1961 ). 7iS pages. 



M The Peace Corps. Report of the * * • on S. 2000, op. eit., p. 18. 



"June 1 ; Aug. 23-25 ; Sept. 13-20, 1961. Congressional Record (1961). 



