Millennium Challenge Account Authorization and Peace Corps Expansion Act of 2003 - Division A: Millennium Challenge Account - Title I: General Provisions - (Sec. 101) Sets forth definitions and the sunset date of this Act, October 1, 2007.
Title II: Millennium Challenge Assistance - (Sec. 201) Declares the policy of the United States to support a new compact for global development that: (1) increases support by donor countries to those developing countries that are fostering democracy and the rule of law, investing in their people, and promoting economic freedom for all their people; (2) recognizes, however, that it is the developing countries themselves that are primarily responsible for the achievement of those goals; (3) seeks to coordinate the disparate development assistance policies of donor countries, and to harmonize the trade and finance policies of donor countries with their respective development assistance programs; and (4) aims to reduce poverty by significantly increasing the economic growth trajectory of beneficiary countries through investing in the productive potential of the people of such countries.
(Sec. 202) Authorizes the President, acting through the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, to provide assistance to eligible low income and lower middle income countries to support policies and programs that advance their progress in: (1) achieving lasting economic growth and poverty reduction; and (2) promoting specified objectives fostering democratic societies, human rights, the rule of law, investment in education and health infrastructure and systems, economic freedom, broad-based economic growth, and free market systems.
(Sec. 203) Prescribes eligibility criteria for low income countries for FY 2004 through 2006 and for lower middle income countries for FY 2006. Prescribes specified criteria for FY 2004 through 2006 for any country to receive special assistance solely for the purpose of becoming eligible to receive low income country assistance.
(Sec. 204) Requires recipient countries to enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact with the United States establishing a multi-year plan for achieving shared development objectives. Prescribes the elements of such a compact, taking into consideration the country's national development strategy.
(Sec. 205) Specifies conditions for suspension or termination of assistance, as well as reinstatement.
(Sec. 207) Directs the President, acting through the CEO, to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that U.S. small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises fully participate in the provision of goods and services financed with funds made available under this title.
(Sec. 208) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2006.
Title III: Millennium Challenge Corporation - Establishes in the executive branch the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), headed by a CEO, to carry out such assistance program.
(Sec. 307) Authorizes agency heads, upon CEO request, to detail employees to the MCC on a reimbursable basis.
(Sec. 308) Establishes a Millennium Challenge Advisory Council to advise the MCC.
(Sec. 309) Authorizes the CEO to provide assistance (seed grants) in support of nongovernmental organizations (including universities and independent foundations and other organizations) in low income and lower middle income countries, which are undertaking research, education, and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting democratic societies, human rights, the rule of law, improved educational opportunities and health conditions, particularly for women and children, and economic freedom.
Title IV: Provisions Relating to United States Economic Assistance - (Sec. 402) Declares the sense of Congress that a coherent framework for U.S. bilateral economic assistance should be established, including specified elements.
Declares that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), under the Secretary of State's direction and foreign policy guidance, should be responsible for: (1) providing assistance to countries that face natural and man-made disasters in order to provide humanitarian relief to their peoples, in coordination with State Department refugee programs; (2) providing assistance to countries suffering from conflicts or in post-conflict situations in order to provide humanitarian relief, transition assistance, and reconstruction assistance; (3) providing assistance to help moderate-to-poorly performing countries achieve development progress in certain areas, and to promote international health worldwide, as well as assisting in the development of country and regional development strategies; (4) addressing transnational problems, such as environmental degradation, food insecurity, and health problems; and (5) assisting other Federal departments and agencies, including the MCC, to carry out assistance activities abroad.
Declares that the MCC should provide assistance to countries that have demonstrated a commitment to bolstering democracy, good governance, and the rule of law, to investing in the health and education of their people, and to promoting sound economic policies that foster economic opportunity for their people.
Declares that the State Department should be responsible for allocating security assistance to support U.S. key foreign policy objectives. Requires the State Department to administer assistance in such areas as nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, counter-narcotics, and relief for refugees.
Declares that other Federal agencies with expertise in international development-related activities should provide expertise in specific technical areas. Requires them to provide assistance, including assistance provided with funds made available from the MCC to assist U.S. Government international development activities.
(Sec. 403) Requires the President to report to Congress triennially, on a country-by-country basis, on the impact and effectiveness of U.S. bilateral assistance furnished under such framework.
Division B: Reauthorization and Expansion of the Peace Corps - Title X: General Provisions - (Sec. 1001) Sets forth definitions and findings.
Title XI: Amendments to Peace Corps Act; Related Provisions - (Sec. 1101) Amends the Peace Corps Act to make the Peace Corps, as an independent agency, responsible for recruiting all of its volunteers.
Requires any presidential detail or assignment of Peace Corps personnel to other Federal agencies to further the fulfillment of Peace Corps' development and public diplomacy goals.
(Sec. 1102) Requires the Director of the Peace Corps to report annually to Congress on: (1) efforts undertaken to improve coordination of Peace Corps activities with activities of international voluntary service organizations; (2) any major new initiatives that the Peace Corps has under review for the upcoming fiscal year, and any undertaken in the previous fiscal year not previously reported on; (3) plans to have 14,000 volunteers in service by 2007 while maintaining the quality of the volunteer experience, and ensuring the safety and security of all volunteers; and (4) standard security procedures for any country in which the Peace Corps operates programs or is considering doing so, including an assessment of whether security conditions would be enhanced by co-locating volunteers with international or local nongovernmental organizations, or with the placement of multiple volunteers in one location.
Requires the Director to consult with the appropriate congressional committees on any major new initiatives not previously discussed in the latest annual report or budget request to Congress.
Requires the Director to report to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) the student loan forgiveness programs currently available to Peace Corps volunteers upon completion of their service, recommending any additional such programs which could attract more applications from low- and middle-income individuals carrying considerable student-loan debt burdens; (2) progress in recruiting historically underrepresented groups; (3) the medical screening procedures and standards of the Peace Corps Office of Medical Services/Screening Unit to determine whether an applicant has worldwide clearance, limited clearance, a deferral period, or is not medically, including psychologically, qualified to serve in the Peace Corps as a volunteer; and (4) procedures and criteria for matching applicants for Peace Corps service with a host country to ensure that the applicant can complete at least two years of volunteer service without interruption to host country national projects due to foreseeable medical conditions.
(Sec. 1103) Requires the Director to report to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) recruitment strategies for recruiting and training volunteers with the appropriate language skills and interest in serving in host countries; and (2) the countries that should be priorities for special recruitment and placement of Peace Corps volunteers.
Authorizes and urges the Director to utilize the services of returned Peace Corps volunteers and former Peace Corps staff who have relevant language and cultural experience and may have served previously in countries with substantial Muslim populations, in order to open or reopen Peace Corps programs in such countries.
(Sec. 1104) Requires the Director to expand the training program for Peace Corps volunteers in the areas of education, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria) prevalent in host countries in order to ensure that the Peace Corps increases its contribution to the global campaign against such diseases.
Urges the Director to designate: (1) a Peace Corps officer or employee located in the United States to coordinate all HIV/AIDS activities within the Peace Corps; and (2) an individual within each country in sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Hemisphere, and Asia in which Peace Corps volunteers carry out HIV/AIDS activities to coordinate all such activities of the Peace Corps in such countries.
(Sec. 1105) Amends the Peace Corps Act to revise requirements for the Peace Corps National Advisory Council.
Reduces the number of Council members from 15 to 11, eliminating the requirement that they be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires that they be appointed by the Director.
Requires six of the members to be former Peace Corps volunteers, at least one of whom shall have been a former staff member abroad or in the Washington headquarters. Limits to six the number of members of the same political party.
Eliminates the position of Vice Chair. Limits the term of Chair to two years, renewable by the Director.
(Sec. 1106) Increases the readjustment allowance from $125 to $275 for each month of satisfactory service during FY 2004 and $300 for each such month afterwards.
(Sec. 1107) Authorizes the Director (or designee) to: (1) award grants on a competitive basis to private nonprofit corporations to enable returned Peace Corps volunteers to use their knowledge and expertise to develop and carry out the programs and projects to promote the objectives of the Peace Corps Act; and (2) transfer funds for such purpose to the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Permits such programs and projects to include: (1) educational programs designed to enrich the knowledge and interest of elementary school and secondary school students in the geography and cultures of other countries where the volunteers have served; (2) projects that involve partnerships with local libraries to enhance community knowledge about other peoples and countries; and (3) audiovisual projects that utilize materials collected by the volunteers during their service that would be of educational value to communities.
Limits the grant eligibility of private nonprofit corporations to those with a board of directors composed of returned Peace Corps volunteers and former Peace Corps staff with a background in community service, education, or health.
Limits grant amounts to an individual program or project to $50,000.
Authorizes appropriations for such grant program in addition to those made available to the Peace Corps under this division.
Declares that the Crisis Corps has been an effective tool in harnessing the skills and talents of returned Peace Corps volunteers. Requires the Director to increase the number of available Crisis Corps assignments for returned Peace Corps volunteers to at least 120 assignments in FY 2004, 140 assignments in FY 2005, 160 assignments in FY 2006, and 165 assignments in FY 2007.
(Sec. 1108) Declares the support of Congress for the goal announced by President Bush of doubling the number of Peace Corps volunteers to 14,000 by 2007 and for the funding levels necessary to accomplish this growth.
(Sec. 1109) Declares the sense of Congress that the Peace Corps should return its program to Sierra Leone as soon as security conditions are consistent with the safety and security of its volunteers.
(Sec. 1110) Amends the Peace Corps Act to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2007.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2441 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2441
To establish the Millennium Challenge Account to provide increased
support for developing countries that have fostered democracy and the
rule of law, invested in their citizens, and promoted economic freedom;
to assess the impact and effectiveness of United States economic
assistance; to authorize the expansion of the Peace Corps, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 2003
Mr. Hyde (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Green of Wisconsin, Ms. Harris,
Ms. Lee, Mr. Crowley, Mr. LaHood, and Mr. Janklow) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Millennium Challenge Account to provide increased
support for developing countries that have fostered democracy and the
rule of law, invested in their citizens, and promoted economic freedom;
to assess the impact and effectiveness of United States economic
assistance; to authorize the expansion of the Peace Corps, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Millennium
Challenge Account Authorization and Peace Corps Expansion Act of
2003''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
DIVISION A--MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT
TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Sunset.
TITLE II--MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ASSISTANCE
Sec. 201. Findings; statement of policy.
Sec. 202. Authorization of assistance.
Sec. 203. Eligibility and related requirements.
Sec. 204. Millennium Challenge Compact.
Sec. 205. Suspension and termination of assistance.
Sec. 206. Annual report.
Sec. 207. Authorization of appropriations; related authorities.
TITLE III--MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
Sec. 301. Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Sec. 302. Chief Executive Officer.
Sec. 303. Board of Directors.
Sec. 304. Interagency coordination.
Sec. 305. Powers of the Corporation; related provisions.
Sec. 306. Transparency and accountability of the Corporation.
Sec. 307. Detail of personnel to the Corporation; other authorities and
limitations.
Sec. 308. Millennium Challenge Advisory Council.
Sec. 309. Enhancing data collection and monitoring and evaluation
capabilities.
TITLE IV--PROVISIONS RELATING TO UNITED STATES ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
Sec. 401. Definition.
Sec. 402. Framework for assistance.
Sec. 403. Report relating to impact and effectiveness of assistance.
DIVISION B--REAUTHORIZATION AND EXPANSION OF THE PEACE CORPS
TITLE X--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 1001. Definitions.
Sec. 1002. Findings.
TITLE XI--AMENDMENTS TO PEACE CORPS ACT; RELATED PROVISIONS
Sec. 1101. Advancing the goals of the Peace Corps.
Sec. 1102. Reports and consultations.
Sec. 1103. Special volunteer recruitment and placement for certain
countries.
Sec. 1104. Global Infectious Diseases Initiative; coordination of HIV/
AIDS activities.
Sec. 1105. Peace Corps National Advisory Council.
Sec. 1106. Readjustment allowances.
Sec. 1107. Programs and projects of returned Peace Corps volunteers and
former staff.
Sec. 1108. Declaration of policy.
Sec. 1109. Authorization of appropriations.
DIVISION A--MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT
TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
In this division:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on International Relations and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Board of Directors
of the Corporation established pursuant to section 303 of this
Act.
(3) Compact.--The term ``Compact'' means the Millennium
Challenge Compact described in section 204 of this Act.
(4) Corporation.--The term ``Corporation'' means the
Millennium Challenge Corporation established under section 301
of this Act.
(5) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Millennium
Challenge Advisory Council established under section 308 of
this Act.
(6) Millennium development goals.--The term ``Millennium
Development Goals'' means the key objectives described in the
United Nations Millennium Declaration, as contained in United
Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/2 (September 2000),
which aim to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve
universal primary education, promote gender equality and
empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health,
combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases, ensure
environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership
for development.
SEC. 102. SUNSET.
All authorities under this division (other than title IV) shall
terminate on October 1, 2007.
TITLE II--MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ASSISTANCE
SEC. 201. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) A principal objective of United States foreign
assistance programs, as stated in section 101 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961, is the ``encouragement and sustained
support of the people of developing countries in their efforts
to acquire the knowledge and resources essential to development
and to build the economic, political, and social institutions
which will improve the quality of their lives''.
(2) The expanding acceptance of free trade and open markets
and the spread of democracy and the rule of law have brought a
better way of life to an increasing number of people in the
world.
(3) Inequalities between men and women undermine
development and poverty-reduction efforts in fundamental ways.
A woman's limited access to resources and restrictions on the
exercise of her rights, including the right to participate in
social and political processes, disables her from maximizing
her contribution to her family's health, education, and general
well-being.
(4) On March 14, 2002, the President noted the successes of
development assistance programs: ``The advances of free markets
and trade and democracy and rule of law have brought prosperity
to an ever-widening circle of people in this world. During our
lifetime, per capita income in the poorest countries has nearly
doubled. Illiteracy has been cut by one-third, giving more
children a chance to learn. Infant mortality has been almost
halved, giving more children a chance to live.''.
(5) Development is neither an easy process nor a linear
one. There are successes and there are failures. Today, too
many people are still living in poverty, disease has eroded
many of the economic and social gains of previous decades, and
many countries have not adopted policies, for a variety of
reasons, that would enable them to compete in an open and
equitable international economic system.
(6) More countries and more people will be able to
participate in and benefit from the opportunities afforded by
the global economy if the following conditions for sound and
sustainable economic development are met:
(A) Security.--Security is necessary for economic
development. Persistent poverty and oppression can lead
to hopelessness, despair, and to failed states that become havens for
terrorists.
(B) Policies that support broad-based economic
growth.--Successful long-term development can only
occur through broad-based economic growth that enables
the poor to increase their incomes and have access to
productive resources and services so that they can lead
lives of decency, dignity, and hope.
(C) Democracy and the rule of law.--Democratic
development, political pluralism, and respect for
internationally recognized human rights are
intrinsically linked to economic and social progress.
The ability of people to participate in the economic
and political processes affecting their lives is
essential to sustained growth. The rule of law and a
commitment to fight corruption is also critical to the
development of a prosperous society.
(D) Investments in people.--Economic growth and
democracy can be sustained only if both men and women
have the basic tools and capabilities that foster the
opportunity for participation in the economic, social,
and political life of their countries. Successful
development of countries requires citizens who are
literate, healthy, and prepared and able to work.
(7) Economic assistance programs authorized under part I of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as administered by the
United States Agency for International Development and other
Federal agencies, are of critical importance in assisting
countries to be in a position to maximize the effectiveness of
assistance authorized by this title.
(8) It is in the national interest of the United States to
help those countries that are implementing the economic and
political reforms necessary for development to occur.
(9) On March 14, 2002, the President stated that the
``growing divide between wealth and poverty, between
opportunity and misery, is both a challenge to our compassion
and a source of instability . . . [w]e must confront it . . .
[w]e must include every African, every Asian, every Latin
American, every Muslim, in an expanding circle of
development.''.
(10) The President has pledged that funds requested for the
Millennium Challenge Account shall be in addition to, and not a
substitute for, existing development and humanitarian programs.
(11) Development assistance alone is not sufficient to
stimulate economic growth and development. Assistance has been
shown to have a positive impact on growth and development in
developing countries with sound policies and institutions. If
countries have poor policies and institutions, however, it is
highly unlikely that assistance will have a net positive
effect.
(12) Economic development, and the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals, must be a shared responsibility
between donor and recipient countries.
(b) Statement of Policy Regarding a New Compact for Global
Development.--It is, therefore, the policy of the United States to
support a new compact for global development that--
(1) increases support by donor countries to those
developing countries that are fostering democracy and the rule
of law, investing in their people, and promoting economic
freedom for all their people;
(2) recognizes, however, that it is the developing
countries themselves that are primarily responsible for the
achievement of those goals;
(3) seeks to coordinate the disparate development
assistance policies of donor countries, and to harmonize the
trade and finance policies of donor countries with their
respective development assistance programs; and
(4) aims to reduce poverty by significantly increasing the
economic growth trajectory of beneficiary countries through
investing in the productive potential of the people of such
countries.
SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.
(a) Assistance.--The President, acting through the Chief Executive
Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, is authorized to
provide assistance to eligible countries to support policies and
programs that advance the progress of such countries in achieving
lasting economic growth and poverty reduction and are in furtherance of
the purposes of this title.
(b) Principal Objectives.--Assistance provided under subsection (a)
should advance a country's progress toward promoting the following
principal objectives:
(1) Fostering democratic societies, human rights, and the
rule of law.--The assistance should promote--
(A) political, social, and economic pluralism;
(B) respect for the rule of law;
(C) anti-corruption initiatives and law
enforcement;
(D) development of institutions of democratic
governance, including electoral and legislative
processes;
(E) transparent and accountable public
administration at all levels of government;
(F) a fair, competent, and independent judiciary;
and
(G) a free and independent media.
(2) Fostering investment in education and health
infrastructure and systems.--The assistance should foster
improved educational opportunities and health conditions,
particularly for women and children, including through--
(A) support for programs and personnel that promote
broad-based primary education, including through the
development of academic curricula, by making available
textbooks and other educational materials, and through
appropriate use of technology;
(B) support for programs to strengthen and build
institutions, including primary health care systems,
infrastructure, facilities, and personnel that provide
quality health care;
(C) support for improved systems for the delivery
of healthy water and sanitation services; and
(D) support for programs that reduce child
mortality (including those programs that combat HIV/
AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious
diseases, consistent with sections 104(c), 104A, 104B,
and 104C of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961).
(3) Promoting economic freedom, broad-based economic
growth, and fostering free market systems.--The assistance
should foster the institutions and conditions needed to promote
free market systems, trade, and investment, including--
(A) the reform and restructuring of banking and
financial systems, including by allowing foreign
competition in the banking and financial sectors, where
appropriate;
(B) the development of transparent and efficient
commercial codes and reduction in the regulatory burden
on business;
(C) the protection of property rights, including
private property and intellectual property rights,
including through the adoption and effective
enforcement of intellectual property treaties or
international agreements;
(D) support for market-based policies that support
increased agricultural production;
(E) a strong commitment to sound monetary and
budgetary policies;
(F) the development of small businesses, private
cooperatives, credit unions, and trade and labor
unions;
(G) the protection of internationally recognized
workers' rights; and
(H) the capacity of eligible countries to
ameliorate damage to the environment and respect other
environmental standards.
SEC. 203. ELIGIBILITY AND RELATED REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Assistance for Low Income Countries.--
(1) Fiscal year 2004.--A country shall be eligible to
receive assistance under section 202 for fiscal year 2004 if--
(A) the country is eligible for assistance from the
International Development Association, and the per
capita income of the country is equal to or less than
the historical ceiling of the International Development
Association for that year, as defined by the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
(B) subject to paragraph (3), the country is not
ineligible to receive United States economic assistance
by reason of the application of section 116, 490, or
620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, or by
reason of the application of any other provision of
law; and
(C) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation
determines that the country has demonstrated a
commitment to--
(i) bolster democracy, human rights, good
governance and the rule of law;
(ii) invest in the health and education of
its citizens; and
(iii) promote sound economic policies that
promote economic freedom and opportunity.
(2) Fiscal years 2005 and 2006.--A country shall be
eligible to receive assistance under section 202 for fiscal
years 2005 and 2006 if--
(A) the per capita income of the country is equal
to or less than the historical ceiling of the
International Development Association for the fiscal
year involved, as defined by the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development;
(B) the country meets the requirements of paragraph
(1)(B); and
(C) the country meets the requirements of clauses
(i) through (iii) of paragraph (1)(C), as determined by
the Chief Executive Officer.
(3) Rule of construction.--For the purposes of determining
whether a country is eligible for receiving assistance under
section 202 pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the exercise by the
President, the Secretary of State, or any other officer or
employee of the United States of any waiver or suspension of
any provision of law referred to in such paragraph shall not be
construed as satisfying the requirement of such paragraph.
(b) Assistance for Lower Middle Income Countries.--
(1) In general.--In addition to countries described in
subsection (a), a country shall be eligible to receive
assistance under section 202 for fiscal year 2006 if the
country--
(A) is classified as a lower middle income country
in the then most recent edition of the World
Development Report for Reconstruction and Development
published by the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development;
(B) meets the requirements of subsection (a)(1)(B);
and
(C) meets the requirements of clauses (i) through
(iii) of subsection (a)(1)(C), as determined by the
Chief Executive Officer.
(2) Limitation.--The total amount of assistance provided to
countries under this subsection for fiscal year 2006 may not
exceed 20 percent of the total amount of assistance provided to
all countries under section 202 for fiscal year 2006.
(c) Assistance for Selected Low Income Countries.--
(1) In general.--A country shall be eligible to receive
assistance for any of fiscal years 2004 through 2006 solely for
the purpose of becoming eligible to receive assistance under
subsection (a) if the country--
(A) meets the requirements of paragraphs (1)(B) and
(2)(A) of subsection (a);
(B) demonstrates a commitment to meeting the
requirements of clauses (i) through (iii) of subsection
(a)(1)(C), as determined by the Chief Executive
Officer; but
(C) fails to meet the eligibility criteria
necessary to receive assistance under section 202, as
established under subsection (e).
(2) Administration.--Assistance for countries eligible by
reason of the application of this subsection shall be provided
through the United States Agency for International Development.
(3) Allocation of funds.--Of the amount authorized to be
appropriated under section 207(a) for a fiscal year, not more
than 15 percent of such amount is authorized to be appropriated
to the President for the fiscal year to carry out this
subsection.
(d) General Authority To Determine Eligibility.--
(1) General authority.--The Chief Executive Officer shall
determine whether or not a country is eligible to receive
assistance under section 202.
(2) Congressional notification.--Not later than 7 days
after making a determination of eligibility for a country under
paragraph (1), the Chief Executive Officer shall provide notice
thereof to the appropriate congressional committees. Such
notice shall include a certification of the determination of
the Chief Executive Officer that the country meets the
requirements of clauses (i) through (iii) of subsection
(a)(1)(C) in accordance with such subsection, subsection
(a)(2)(C), subsection (b)(1)(C), or subsection (c)(1)(B), as
the case may be.
(e) Eligibility Criteria.--
(1) Initial criteria and methodology.--At soon as
practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, but
not later than 30 days prior to making any determination of
eligibility for a country under this section, the Chief
Executive Officer--
(A) shall consult in-person with the appropriate
congressional committees with respect to the
establishment of eligibility criteria and methodology
that the Chief Executive Officer proposes to use for
purposes of determining eligibility under this section;
(B) shall establish such eligibility criteria and
methodology; and
(C) shall prepare and transmit to such committees a
written report that contains such eligibility criteria
and methodology.
(2) Revisions to criteria and methodology.--If the Chief
Executive Officer proposes to use revised or different criteria
from the criteria described in paragraph (1) in making a
determination of eligibility for a country under this section,
then, not later than 15 days prior to making such
determination, the Chief Executive Officer shall consult in-
person with the appropriate congressional committees with
respect to such revised or different criteria and methodology
in accordance with paragraph (1)(A) and shall prepare and
transmit a written report in accordance with paragraph (1)(C).
(f) Form of Assistance; Recipients.--
(1) Form of assistance.--Assistance provided under section
202 for a country shall be provided to one or more of the
entities described in paragraph (2) on a nonrepayable basis and
in accordance with a fair, open, and competitive selection
process that results in the awarding of such assistance on a
merit basis using selection criteria that are made public by
the Corporation in advance and are otherwise in accordance with
standard and customary best practices for the provision of
similar types of assistance.
(2) Recipients.--The entities referred to in paragraph (1)
are the following:
(A) The national government of the country.
(B) Regional or local governmental units of the
country.
(C) Nongovernmental organizations, including for-
profit, not-for-profit, and voluntary organizations.
(D) International organizations and trust funds.
(g) Congressional Notification.--The Chief Executive Officer may
not make any grant or enter into any contract for assistance for a
country under section 202 that exceeds $5,000,000 until 15 days after
the date on which the Chief Executive Officer provides notification of
the proposed grant or contract to the appropriate congressional
committees in accordance with the procedures applicable to
reprogramming notifications under section 634A of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961.
SEC. 204. MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE COMPACT.
(a) Compact.--The President, acting through the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation, may provide assistance to an eligible
country under section 202 only if the country enters into a contract
with the United States, to be known as a ``Millennium Challenge
Compact'', that establishes a multi-year plan for achieving shared
development objectives in furtherance of the purposes of this title,
and only if the President, acting through the Chief Executive Officer,
provides to Congress notice regarding such Compact pursuant to
subsection (h).
(b) Elements.--The Compact shall take into account the national
development strategy of the eligible country and shall contain--
(1) the specific objectives that the country and the United
States expect to achieve;
(2) the responsibilities of the country and the United
States in the achievement of such objectives;
(3) regular benchmarks to measure, where appropriate,
progress toward achieving such objectives;
(4) an identification of the intended beneficiaries,
disaggregated by income level, gender, and age, to the maximum
extent practicable;
(5) a multi-year financial plan, including the estimated
amount of contributions by the Corporation and the country and
proposed mechanisms to implement the plan and provide
oversight, that describes how the requirements of paragraphs
(1) through (4) will be met, including identifying the role of
civil society in the achievement of such requirements;
(6) where appropriate, a description of the responsibility
of other donors in the achievement of such objectives; and
(7) a plan to ensure appropriate fiscal accountability for
the use of assistance provided under section 202.
(c) Definition.--In subsection (b), the term ``national development
strategy'' means any strategy to achieve market-driven economic growth
that has been developed by the government of the country in
consultation with a wide variety of civic participation, including
nongovernmental organizations, private and voluntary organizations,
academia, women and student organizations, local trade and labor
unions, and the business community.
(d) Additional Provision Relating to Prohibition on Taxation.--In
addition to the elements described in subsection (b), each Compact
shall contain a provision that states that assistance provided by the
United States under the Compact shall be exempt from taxation by the
government of the eligible country.
(e) Local Input.--In entering into a Compact, the United States and
the eligible country--
(1) shall take into account the local-level perspectives of
the rural and urban poor in the eligible country; and
(2) should consult with private and voluntary
organizations, the business community, and other donors, in the
eligible country.
(f) Consultation.--During any discussions with a country for the
purpose of entering into a Compact with the country, officials of the
Corporation participating in such discussions shall, at a minimum,
consult with appropriate officials of the United States Agency for
International Development, particularly with those officials
responsible for the appropriate region or country on development issues
related to the Compact.
(g) Coordination With Other Donors.--To the maximum extent
feasible, activities undertaken to achieve the objectives of the
Compact shall be undertaken in coordination with the assistance
activities of other donors.
(h) Congressional and Public Notification.--Not later than 15 days
prior to entering into a Compact with an eligible country, the
President, acting through the Chief Executive Officer--
(1) shall consult in-person with the appropriate
congressional committees with respect to the proposed Compact;
(2) shall provide notification of the proposed Compact to
the appropriate congressional committees in accordance with the
procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under
section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961;
(3) shall prepare and transmit to such committees a written
report that contains a detailed summary of the proposed Compact
and a copy of the full text of the Compact; and
(4) shall publish such detailed summary and full text of
the proposed Compact in the Federal Register and on the
Internet website of the Corporation.
(i) Assistance for Development of Compact.--Notwithstanding
subsection (a), the Chief Executive Officer may enter into contracts or
make grants for any eligible country for the purpose of facilitating
the development of the Compact between the United States and the
country.
SEC. 205. SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE.
(a) Suspension of Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The President shall suspend assistance in
whole or in part for a country under this title if the
President determines that--
(A) the country is engaged in activities which are
contrary to the national security interests of the
United States;
(B) the elected head of state of the country or any
member of the country's highest judicial tribunal has
been removed from that office or forcibly detained
through extra-constitutional processes; or
(C) the country has failed to adhere to its
responsibilities under the Compact.
(2) Reinstatement.--The President may reinstate assistance
for a country under this title only if the President determines
that the country has demonstrated a commitment to correcting
each condition for which assistance was suspended under
paragraph (1).
(3) Congressional notification.--A suspension of assistance
under paragraph (1), or a reinstatement of assistance under
paragraph (2), shall be effective beginning 15 days after the
date on which the President transmits to the appropriate
congressional committees a report that contains the
determination of the President under paragraph (1) or paragraph
(2), as the case may be.
(b) Termination of Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The President, acting through the Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation, shall terminate all
assistance for a country under this title if the President
determines that the country has consistently failed to adhere
to its responsibilities under the Compact or has significantly
failed to meet the requirements of this title.
(2) Congressional notification.--A termination of
assistance under paragraph (1) shall be effective beginning 15
days after the date on which the President, acting through the
Chief Executive Officer, provides notification of the proposed
termination of assistance to the congressional committees
specified in section 634A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 in accordance with the procedures applicable to
reprogramming notifications under that section.
SEC. 206. ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) Report.--Not later than April 1, 2005, and not later than April
1 of each year thereafter, the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation shall prepare and transmit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report on the implementation of this title for the
preceding year.
(b) Contents.--The report shall include the following:
(1) A description and assessment of the eligibility
criteria and methodology utilized by the Chief Executive
Officer to determine eligibility for each country under section
203.
(2) A description of the agreed upon measures of progress
contained in each Compact.
(3)(A) An analysis, on a country-by-country, project-by-
project basis, of the impact of assistance provided under this
title on the economic development of each country.
(B) For each country, the analysis shall--
(i) to the maximum extent possible, be done on a
sector-by-sector basis, gender basis, and per capita
income basis, and identify trends within each of these
bases;
(ii) identify economic policy reforms conducive to
economic development that are supported by assistance
provided under this title;
(iii) describe, in quantified terms to the extent
practicable, the progress made in achieving assistance
objectives for the country;
(iv) describe the amount and nature of economic
assistance provided by other major donors which further
the purposes of this title; and
(v) discuss the commitment and contribution of the
country to achieving the assistance objectives
contained in its Compact.
SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RELATED AUTHORITIES.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the President, acting through the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation, to carry out this division (other than
title IV) $1,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, $3,000,000,000 for
fiscal year 2005, and $5,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
(b) Additional Authorities.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a)--
(1) may be referred to as the ``Millennium Challenge
Account'';
(2) are authorized to remain available until expended; and
(3) are in addition to amounts otherwise available for such
purposes.
TITLE III--MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
SEC. 301. MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the executive
branch a corporation to be known as the ``Millennium Challenge
Corporation'' that shall be responsible for carrying out title II.
(b) Government Corporation.--The Corporation shall be a Government
corporation, as defined in section 103 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 302. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
(a) Appointment.--The Corporation shall be headed by an individual
who shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, who
shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate.
(b) Compensation and Rank.--
(1) In general.--The Chief Executive Officer shall be
compensated at the rate provided for level II of the Executive
Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, and
shall have the equivalent rank of Deputy Secretary.
(2) Amendment.--Section 5313 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge
Corporation.''.
(c) Authorities and Duties.--The Chief Executive Officer shall
exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the Corporation and any
other duties, as conferred on the Chief Executive Officer by the
President.
(d) Authority To Appoint Officers.--The Chief Executive Officer
shall appoint all officers of the Corporation.
SEC. 303. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) In General.--There shall be in the Corporation a Board of
Directors.
(b) Duties.--The Board may prescribe, amend, and repeal bylaws,
rules, regulations, and procedures governing the manner in which the
business of the Corporation may be conducted and in which the powers
granted to it by law may be exercised.
(c) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Board shall consist of--
(A) the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
Treasury, the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development, the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation, and the United States Trade
Representative; and
(B) four other individuals who shall be appointed
by the President, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, of which--
(i) one individual shall be appointed from
among a list of individuals submitted by the
majority leader of the House of
Representatives;
(ii) one individual shall be appointed from
among a list of individuals submitted by the
minority leader of the House of
Representatives;
(iii) one individual shall be appointed
from among a list of individuals submitted by
the majority leader of the Senate; and
(iv) one individual shall be appointed from
among a list of individuals submitted by the
minority leader of the Senate.
(2) Ex-officio members.--In addition to members of the
Board described in paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the
Director of the Trade and Development Agency, and the Director
of the Peace Corps shall be non-voting members, ex officio, of
the Board.
(d) Terms.--
(1) Officers of federal government.--Each member of the
Board described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) of subsection (c)
shall serve for a term that is concurrent with the term of
service of the individual's position as an officer within the
other Federal department or agency.
(2) Other members.--Each member of the Board described in
subsection (c)(1)(B) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years
and may be reappointed for a term of an additional 2 years.
(3) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(e) Chairperson.--The Secretary of State shall serve as the
Chairperson of the Board.
(f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Board shall
constitute a quorum, which shall include at least one member of the
Board described in subsection (c)(1)(B).
(g) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
(h) Compensation.--
(1) Officers of federal government.--
(A) In general.--A member of the Board described in
paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) of subsection (c) may not
receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by
reason of their service on the Board.
(B) Travel expenses.--Each such member of the Board
shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable
provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code.
(2) Other members.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), a member of the Board described in subsection
(c)(1)(B)--
(i) shall be paid compensation out of funds
made available for the purposes of this title
at the daily equivalent of the highest rate
payable under section 5332 of title 5, United
States Code, for each day (including travel
time) during which the member is engaged in the
actual performance of duties as a member of the
Board; and
(ii) while away from the member's home or
regular place of business on necessary travel,
as determined by the Chief Executive Officer,
in the actual performance of duties as a member
of the Board, shall be paid per diem, travel,
and transportation expenses in the same manner
as is provided under subchapter I of chapter 57
of title 5, United States Code.
(B) Limitation.--A member of the Council may not be
paid compensation under subparagraph (A)(i) for more
than thirty days in any calendar year.
SEC. 304. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.
In carrying out the functions described in this title, and
consistent with section 101 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50
U.S.C. 402), the President shall ensure coordination of assistance
authorized under title II with foreign economic assistance programs and
activities carried out by other Federal departments and agencies.
SEC. 305. POWERS OF THE CORPORATION; RELATED PROVISIONS.
(a) Powers.--The Corporation--
(1) may adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall
be judicially noticed;
(2) may prescribe, amend, and repeal such rules,
regulations, and procedures as are necessary for carrying out
the functions of the Corporation and all Compacts;
(3) may make and perform such contracts, grants, and other
agreements with any individual, corporation, or other private
or public entity, however designated and wherever situated, as
may be necessary for carrying out the functions of the
Corporation;
(4) may determine and prescribe the manner in which its
obligations shall be incurred and its expenses allowed and
paid, including expenses for representation not exceeding
$95,000 in any fiscal year;
(5) may lease, purchase, or otherwise acquire, own, hold,
improve, use or otherwise deal in and with such property (real,
personal, or mixed) or any interest therein, wherever situated,
as may be necessary for carrying out the functions of the
Corporation;
(6) may accept gifts or donations of services or of
property (real, personal, or mixed), tangible or intangible, in
furtherance of the purposes of this division;
(7) may hire or obtain passenger motor vehicles;
(8) may use the United States mails in the same manner and
on the same conditions as the Executive departments (as defined
in section 101 of title 5, United States Code);
(9) may, with the consent of any Executive agency (as
defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code), use the
information, services, facilities, and personnel of that agency
on a full or partial reimbursement in carrying out the purposes
of this division; and
(10) may sue and be sued, complain, and defend, in its
corporate name in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) Offices.--
(1) Principal office.--The Corporation shall maintain its
principal office in the metropolitan area of Washington,
District of Columbia.
(2) Other offices.--The Corporation may establish other
offices in any place or places outside the United States in
which the Corporation may carry out any or all of its
operations and business.
(c) Cooperation With Other Federal Departments and Agencies.--In
order to avoid unnecessary expense and duplication of functions,
efforts, and activities between the Corporation and other Federal
departments and agencies the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chief
Executive Officer's designee--
(1)(A) shall consult, to the maximum extent practicable,
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, or the Administrator's designee, in order to
coordinate the activities of the Corporation and the Agency for
International Development; and
(B) shall consult with the heads of other departments and
agencies to ensure similar coordination of activities;
(2)(A) shall ensure proper coordination of activities of
the Corporation with the provision of development assistance of
relevant international financial institutions, including the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the
International Monetary Fund, and the regional multilateral
development banks; and
(B) shall provide to each United States Executive Director
(or other United States representative) to the relevant
international financial institutions a copy of each proposed
Compact between the United States and an eligible country and a
copy of each such final Compact.
(d) Positions With Foreign Governments.--When approved by the
Corporation, in furtherance of its purposes, employees of the
Corporation (including individuals detailed to the Corporation) may
accept and hold offices or positions to which no compensation is
attached with governments or governmental agencies of foreign countries
or with international organizations.
SEC. 306. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE CORPORATION.
The Corporation and its officers and employees shall be subject to
the provisions of section 552 of title 5, United States Code (relating
to freedom of information).
SEC. 307. DETAIL OF PERSONNEL TO THE CORPORATION; OTHER AUTHORITIES AND
LIMITATIONS.
(a) Detail of Personnel.--Upon request of the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation, the head of an agency may detail any
employee of such agency to the Corporation on a fully or partially
reimbursable basis. Any employee so detailed remains, for the purpose
of preserving such employee's allowances, privileges, rights,
seniority, and other benefits, an employee of the agency from which
detailed.
(b) Limitation on Total Service.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no
individual may serve in or under the Corporation (whether as an
employee of the Corporation, a detailee to the Corporation, or
a combination thereof) for a total period exceeding 5 years.
(2) Exceptions.--
(A) Extension authority.--The Chief Executive
Officer may extend the 5-year period under paragraph
(1) for up to an additional 3 years, in the case of any
particular individual, if the Chief Executive Officer
determines that such extension is essential to the
achievement of the purposes of this division.
(B) Officers.--Nothing in this subsection shall
limit the period for which an individual may serve as
an officer of the Corporation appointed pursuant to
section 302(d) nor shall any period of service as such
an officer be taken into account for purposes of
applying this subsection.
(c) Reemployment Rights.--
(1) In general.--An employee of an agency who is serving
under a career or career conditional appointment (or the
equivalent), and who, with the consent of the head of such
agency, transfers to the Corporation, is entitled to be
reemployed in such employee's former position or a position of
like seniority, status, and pay in such agency, if such
employee--
(A) is separated from the Corporation--
(i) by reason of the application of
subsection (b); or
(ii) for any other reason, other than
misconduct, neglect of duty, or malfeasance;
and
(B) applies for reemployment not later than 90 days
after the date of separation from the Corporation.
(2) Specific rights.--An employee who satisfies paragraph
(1) is entitled to be reemployed (in accordance with such
paragraph) within 30 days after applying for reemployment and,
on reemployment, is entitled to at least the rate of basic pay
to which such employee would have been entitled had such
employee never transferred.
(d) Basic Pay.--The Chief Executive Officer may fix the rate of
basic pay of employees of the Corporation without regard to the
provisions of--
(1) chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code (relating to
the classification of positions), and
(2) subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title (relating to
General Schedule pay rates),
except that no employee of the Corporation may receive a rate of basic
pay that exceeds the rate for level II of the Executive Schedule under
section 5313 of such title.
(e) Assignment to United States Embassies.--An employee of the
Corporation, including an individual detailed to or contracted by the
Corporation, may be assigned to a United States diplomatic mission or
consular post, or United States Agency for International Development
field mission.
(f) Privileges and Immunities.--The Secretary of State shall seek
to ensure that an employee of the Corporation, including an individual
detailed to or contracted by the Corporation, and the members of the
family of such employee, while the employee is performing duties in any
country or place outside the United States, enjoy the privileges and
immunities that are enjoyed by a member of the Foreign Service, or the
family of a member of the Foreign Service, as appropriate, of
comparable rank and salary of such employee, if such employee or a
member of the family of such employee is not a national of or
permanently resident in such country or place.
(g) Responsibility of Chief of Mission.--An employee of the
Corporation, including an individual detailed to or contracted by the
Corporation, and a member of the family of such employee, shall be
subject to section 207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C.
3927) in the same manner as United States Government employees while
the employee is performing duties in any country or place outside the
United States if such employee or member of the family of such employee
is not a national of or permanently resident in such country or place.
(h) Allocation of Funds.--
(1) In general.--The Corporation may allocate or transfer
to the United States Agency for International Development or
any other agency any part of any funds available for carrying
out the purposes of this division. Such funds shall be
available for obligation and expenditure for the purposes for
which authorized, in accordance with authority granted in this
title or under authority governing the activities of the
agencies of the United States Government to which such funds
are allocated or transferred.
(2) Congressional notification.--The Chief Executive
Officer shall notify the appropriate congressional committees
not later than 15 days prior to a transfer of funds under
paragraph (1) that exceeds $5,000,000.
(3) Use of services.--For carrying out the purposes of this
division, the Corporation may utilize the services and
facilities of, or procure commodities from, any agency under
such terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the head of
the agency and the Corporation.
(i) Funding Limitation.--Of the funds allocated under subsection
(h) in any fiscal year, not more than 7 percent of such funds may be
used for administrative expenses.
(j) Other Authorities.--Except to the extent inconsistent with the
provisions of this division, the administrative authorities under
chapters 1 and 2 of part III of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
shall apply to the provision of assistance under this division to the
same extent and in the same manner as such authorities apply to the
provision of economic assistance under part I of such Act.
(k) Applicability of Government Corporation Control Act.--
(1) In general.--The Corporation shall be subject to the
provisions of chapter 91 of subtitle VI of title 31, United
States Code, except that the Corporation shall not be
authorized to issue obligations or offer obligations to the
public.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 9101(3) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(Q) the Millennium Challenge Corporation.''
(l) Inspector General.--
(1) In general.--The Inspector General of the United States
Agency for International Development shall serve as Inspector
General of the Corporation, and, in acting in such capacity,
may conduct reviews, investigations, and inspections of all
aspects of the operations and activities of the Corporation.
(2) Authority of the board.--In carrying out its
responsibilities under this subsection, the Inspector General
shall report to the Board of Directors.
(3) Reimbursement.--The Corporation shall reimburse the
United States Agency for International Development for all
expenses incurred by the Inspector General in connection with
the Inspector General's responsibilities under this subsection.
(m) Comptroller General.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General shall conduct
audits, evaluations, and investigations of the Corporation.
(2) Scope.--The activities and financial transactions of
the Corporation for any fiscal year during which Federal funds
are available to finance any portion of its operations may be
evaluated, investigated, or audited by the Comptroller General
in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be
prescribed by the Comptroller General.
(3) Access and records.--Any evaluation, investigation, or
audit shall be conducted at the place or places where pertinent
information of the Corporation is normally kept. The
representatives of the General Accounting Office shall have
access to all books, accounts, financial records, reports,
files, and other papers or property belonging to or in use by
the Corporation and necessary to facilitate the evaluation,
investigation, or audit; and full facilities for verifying
transactions with the balances and securities held by
depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians shall be afforded
to such representatives. All such books, accounts, financial
records, reports, files, and other papers or property of the
Corporation shall remain in the possession and custody of the
Corporation throughout the period beginning on the date such
possession or custody commences and ending three years after
such date, but the General Accounting Office may require the
retention of such books, accounts, financial records, reports,
files, papers, or property for a longer period under section
3523(c) of title 31, United States Code.
(4) Report.--A report of such audit, evaluation, or
investigation shall be made by the Comptroller General to the
appropriate congressional committees and to the President,
together with such recommendations with respect thereto as the
Comptroller General shall deem advisable.
(n) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
(1) the term ``agency'' means an Executive agency, as
defined by section 105 of title 5, United States Code; and
(2) the term ``detail'' means the assignment or loan of an
employee, without a change of position, from the agency by
which such employee is employed to the Corporation.
SEC. 308. MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the executive
branch an advisory council to the Corporation to be known as the
Millennium Challenge Advisory Council.
(b) Functions.--
(1) General functions.--The Council shall advise and
consult with the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and
the Board of Directors with respect to policies and programs
designed to further the purposes of this division and shall
periodically report to the Congress with respect to the
activities of the Corporation. In addition, the Council shall review on
an annual basis the criteria and methodology used to determine
eligibility of countries for assistance under title II and make
recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board to improve
the effectiveness of such criteria and methodology in order to achieve
the purposes of this division.
(2) Additional functions.--Members of the Council shall
(subject to subsection (d)(1)) conduct on-site inspections, and
make examinations, of the activities of the Corporation in the
United States and in other countries in order to--
(A) evaluate the accomplishments of the
Corporation;
(B) assess the potential capabilities and the
future role of the Corporation;
(C) make recommendations to the Chief Executive
Officer, the Board of Directors, and Congress, for the
purpose of guiding the future direction of the
Corporation and of helping to ensure that the purposes
and programs of the Corporation are carried out in ways
that are economical, efficient, responsive to changing
needs in developing countries and to changing
relationships among people, and in accordance with law;
(D) make such other evaluations, assessments, and
recommendations as the Council considers appropriate.
(3) Public participation.--The Council may provide for
public participation in its activities, consistent with section
552b of title 5, United States Code.
(c) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall consist of seven
individuals, who shall be appointed by the Chief Executive
Officer, and who shall be broadly representative of
nongovernmental entities with expertise and interest in
international trade and economic development, including
business and business associations, trade and labor unions,
private and voluntary organizations, foundations, public policy
organizations, academia, and other entities as the Chief
Executive Officer determines appropriate.
(2) Additional requirement.--No member appointed under
paragraph (1) may be an officer or employee of the United
States Government.
(d) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a
member of the Council--
(A) shall be paid compensation out of funds made
available for the purposes of this title at the daily
equivalent of the highest rate payable under section
5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day
(including travel time) during which the member is
engaged in the actual performance of duties as a member
of the Council; and
(B) while away from the member's home or regular
place of business on necessary travel, as determined by
the Chief Executive Officer, in the actual performance
of duties as a member of the Council, shall be paid per
diem, travel, and transportation expenses in the same
manner as is provided under subchapter I of chapter 57
of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Limitation.--A member of the Council may not be paid
compensation under paragraph (1)(A) for more than thirty days
in any calendar year.
(e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Council shall
constitute a quorum for the purposes of transacting any business.
(f) Financial Interests of Members.--A member of the Council shall
disclose to the Chairperson of the Council and the Chief Executive
Officer of the existence of any direct or indirect financial interest
of that member in any particular matter before the Council and may not
vote or otherwise participate as a Council member with respect to that
particular matter.
(g) Chairperson.--The Chief Executive Officer shall designate one
of the members of the Council as Chairperson, who shall serve in that
capacity for a term of two years. The Chief Executive Officer may renew
the term of the member appointed as Chairperson under the preceding
sentence.
(h) Meetings, Bylaws, and Regulations.--
(1) Meetings.--The Council shall hold a regular meeting
during each calendar quarter and shall meet at the call of the
President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairperson of the
Board, the Chairperson of the Council, or two members of the
Council.
(2) Bylaws and regulations.--The Council shall prescribe
such bylaws and regulations as it considers necessary to carry
out its functions. Such bylaws and regulations shall include
procedures for fixing the time and place of meetings, giving
or waiving of notice of meetings, and keeping of minutes of meetings.
(i) Report to the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board.--
(1) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2005, and not later
than January 1 of each year thereafter that the Corporation is
in existence, the Council shall submit to the President, the
Chief Executive Officer, and the Board a report on its views on
the programs and activities of the Corporation.
(2) Contents.--Each report shall contain a summary of the
advice and recommendations provided by the Council to the Chief
Executive Officer and the Board during the period covered by
the report and such recommendations (including recommendations
for administrative or legislative action) as the Council
considers appropriate to make to the Congress.
(3) Additional requirement.--Not later than 90 days after
receiving each such report, the Chief Executive Officer shall
transmit to Congress a copy of the report, together with any
comments concerning the report that the Chief Executive Officer
considers appropriate.
(j) Administrative Assistance.--The Chief Executive Officer shall
make available to the Council such personnel, administrative support
services, and technical assistance as are necessary to carry out its
functions effectively.
(k) Termination.--Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.; relating to the termination of advisory
committees) shall not apply to the Council. Notwithstanding section 102
of this Act, the authorities of the Council shall terminate on December
31, 2007.
SEC. 309. ENHANCING DATA COLLECTION AND MONITORING AND EVALUATION
CAPABILITIES.
(a) In General.--The President, acting through the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation, is authorized to provide assistance
(through grant, contract, and, where applicable, in coordination with
appropriate international organizations) to appropriate nongovernmental
organizations in order to assist the Corporation to improve the quality
and accuracy of the criteria that are utilized to determine a country's
eligibility for assistance under title II.
(b) Use of Assistance.--Assistance provided under subsection (a)
may be used to facilitate--
(1) data collection and research which are directly related
to the eligibility criteria used under section 203,
particularly as the criteria relate to women and children;
(2) the monitoring and evaluation capabilities of
recipients under section 203(f); and
(3) the strengthening of the trade index to access data on
actual trade barriers.
(c) Limitation.--Not more than $10,000,000 of the amount made
available to carry out this division for a fiscal year may be made
available to carry out this section.
TITLE IV--PROVISIONS RELATING TO UNITED STATES ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
SEC. 401. DEFINITION.
In this title, the term ``United States economic assistance'' means
any bilateral economic assistance, from any budget functional category,
that is provided by any department or agency of the United States to a
foreign country, including such assistance that is intended--
(1) to assist the development and economic advancement of
friendly foreign countries and peoples, including assistance
provided under title II (relating to the Millennium Challenge
Account);
(2) to promote the freedom, aspirations, or sustenance of
friendly peoples under oppressive rule by unfriendly
governments;
(3) to promote international trade and foreign direct
investment as a means of aiding economic growth;
(4) to save lives and alleviate suffering of foreign
peoples during or following war, natural disaster, or complex
crisis;
(5) to assist in recovery and rehabilitation of countries
or peoples following disaster or war;
(6) to protect refugees and promote durable solutions to
aid refugees;
(7) to promote sound environmental practices;
(8) to assist in development of democratic institutions and
good governance by the people of foreign countries;
(9) to promote peace and reconciliation or prevention of
conflict;
(10) to improve the technical capacities of governments to
reduce production of and demand for illicit narcotics; and
(11) to otherwise promote through bilateral foreign
economic assistance the national objectives of the United
States.
SEC. 402. FRAMEWORK FOR ASSISTANCE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a coherent
framework for United States economic assistance should be established
in accordance with this section.
(b) Elements.--The framework described in subsection (a) includes
the following elements:
(1) The United States Agency for International Development,
under the direction and foreign policy guidance of the
Secretary of State, should be responsible for--
(A) providing assistance to countries that face
natural and man-made disasters in order to provide
humanitarian relief to the peoples of such countries,
in coordination with refugee programs administered by
the Department of State;
(B) providing assistance to countries that are
suffering from conflicts or are in post-conflict
situations in order to provide humanitarian relief,
transition assistance, and reconstruction assistance;
(C) providing assistance to help moderate-to-poorly
performing countries achieve development progress in
the areas described in part I of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961, including progress toward becoming
eligible for assistance under this title, and to
promote international health worldwide, as well as
assisting in the development of country and regional
development strategies;
(D) addressing transnational problems, such as
environmental degradation, food insecurity, and health
problems; and
(E) assisting other Federal departments and
agencies, including the Corporation established under
title III, to carry out assistance activities abroad,
including providing technical assistance and advice to
such departments and agencies, coordinating its
assistance programs with such departments and agencies,
and using its field offices to help implement such
assistance.
(2) The Corporation established under title III should
provide assistance to countries that have demonstrated a
commitment to bolstering democracy, good governance, and the
rule of law, to investing in the health and educations of their
people, and to promoting sound economic policies that foster
economic opportunity for their people.
(3) The Department of State should be responsible for
allocating security assistance to support key foreign policy
objectives of the United States and shall administer assistance
in such areas as non-proliferation, anti-terrorism, counter-
narcotics, and relief for refugees.
(4) Other Federal departments and agencies with expertise
in international development-related activities, such as the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Trade and
Development Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, to the extent such departments
and agencies have the authority to carry out development-
related programs, and in coordination with the Department of
State and the United States Agency for International
Development, should provide expertise in specific technical
areas and shall provide assistance, including assistance
provided with funds made available from the Corporation to
assist United States Government international development
activities.
SEC. 403. REPORT RELATING TO IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ASSISTANCE.
(a) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2004, and December 31 of
each third year thereafter, the President shall transmit to Congress a
report which analyzes, on a country-by-country basis, the impact and
effectiveness of United States economic assistance furnished under the
framework established in section 402 to each country during the
preceding three fiscal years. The report shall include the following
for each recipient country:
(1) An analysis of the impact of United States economic
assistance during the preceding three fiscal years on economic
development in that country, with a discussion of the United
States interests that were served by the assistance. This
analysis shall be done on a sector-by-sector basis to the
extent possible and shall identify any economic policy reforms
which were promoted by the assistance. This analysis shall--
(A) include a description, quantified to the extent
practicable, of the specific objectives the United
States sought to achieve in providing economic
assistance for that country, and
(B) specify the extent to which those objectives
were not achieved, with an explanation of why they were
not achieved.
(2) A description of the amount and nature of economic
assistance provided by other donors during the preceding three
fiscal years, set forth by development sector to the extent
possible.
(3) A discussion of the commitment of the host government
to addressing the country's needs in each development sector,
including a description of the resources devoted by that
government to each development sector during the preceding
three fiscal years.
(4) A description of the trends, both favorable and
unfavorable, in each development sector.
(5) Statistical and other information necessary to evaluate
the impact and effectiveness of United States economic
assistance on development in the country.
(6) A comparison of the analysis provided in the report
with relevant analyses by international financial institutions,
other international organizations, other donor countries, or
nongovernmental organizations.
(b) Listing of Most and Least Successful Assistance Programs.--The
report required by this section shall identify--
(1) each country in which United States economic assistance
has been most successful, as indicated by the extent to which
the specific objectives the United States sought to achieve in
providing the assistance for the country, as referred to in
subsection (a)(1)(A), were achieved; and
(2) each country in which United States economic assistance
has been least successful, as indicated by the extent to which
the specific objectives the United States sought to achieve in
providing the assistance for the country, as referred to in
subsection (a)(1)(A), were not achieved.
For each country listed pursuant to paragraph (2), the report shall
explain why the assistance was not more successful and shall specify
what the United States has done as a result.
(c) De Minimus Exception.--Information under subsections (a) and
(b) for a fiscal year shall not be required with respect to a country
for which United States economic assistance for the country for the
fiscal year is less than $5,000,000.
DIVISION B--REAUTHORIZATION AND EXPANSION OF THE PEACE CORPS
TITLE X--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 1001. DEFINITIONS.
In this division:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Peace Corps.
(3) Host country.--The term ``host country'' means a
country whose government has invited the Peace Corps to
establish a Peace Corps program within the territory of the
country.
(4) Peace corps volunteer.--The term ``Peace Corps
volunteer'' means a volunteer or a volunteer leader under the
Peace Corps Act.
(5) Returned peace corps volunteer.--The term ``returned
Peace Corps volunteer'' means a person who has been certified
by the Director as having served satisfactorily as a Peace
Corps volunteer.
SEC. 1002. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Peace Corps was established in 1961 to promote
world peace and friendship through the service abroad of
volunteers who are United States citizens. The spirit of
service and commitment to helping others is a fundamental
component of democracy.
(2) Since its establishment, more than 168,000 volunteers
have served in the Peace Corps in 136 countries throughout the
world.
(3) The three goals codified in the Peace Corps Act which
have guided the Peace Corps and its volunteers over the years,
can work in concert to promote global acceptance of the
principles of international peace and nonviolent coexistence
among peoples of diverse cultures and systems of government.
(4) The Peace Corps has sought to fulfill three goals--to
help people in developing countries meet basic needs, promote
understanding abroad of the values and ideals of the United
States, and promote an understanding of other peoples by the
people of the United States.
(5) After more than 40 years of operation, the Peace Corps
remains the world's premier international service organization
dedicated to promoting grassroots development by working with
families and communities to improve health care for children,
expand agricultural production, teach in schools, fight
infectious diseases, protect the environment, and initiate
small business opportunities.
(6) The Peace Corps remains committed to sending well
trained and well supported Peace Corps volunteers overseas to
promote international peace, cross-cultural awareness, and
mutual understanding between the United States and other
countries.
(7) The Peace Corps is an independent agency, and,
therefore, no Peace Corps personnel or volunteers should be
used to accomplish any goal other than the goals established by
the Peace Corps Act.
(8) The Crisis Corps has been an effective tool in
harnessing the skills and talents of returned Peace Corps
volunteers and should be expanded, to the maximum extent
practicable, to utilize the talent of returned Peace Corps
volunteers.
(9) In fiscal year 2003, the Peace Corps is operating with
an annual budget of $295,000,000 in 70 countries, with more
than 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers.
(10) There is deep misunderstanding and misinformation in
many parts of the world, particularly in countries with
substantial Muslim populations, with respect to United States
values and ideals. A new or expanded Peace Corps presence in
such places could foster better understanding between the
people of the United States and such countries.
(11) Congress has declared, and the Peace Corps Act
provides, that the Peace Corps shall maintain, to the maximum
extent practicable and appropriate, a volunteer corps of at
least 10,000 individuals.
(12) President George W. Bush has called for the doubling
of the number of Peace Corps volunteers in service.
(13) Any expansion of the Peace Corps should not jeopardize
the quality of the Peace Corps volunteer experience and,
therefore, necessitates, among other things, an appropriate
increase in field and headquarters support staff.
(14) In order to ensure that the proposed expansion of the
Peace Corps preserves the integrity of the program and the
security of volunteers, the integrated Planning and Budget
System supported by the Office of Planning and Policy Analysis
should continue its focus on strategic planning.
(15) A streamlined, bipartisan Peace Corps National
Advisory Council composed of distinguished returned Peace Corps
volunteers, former Peace Corps staff, and other individuals
with diverse backgrounds and expertise can be a source of ideas
and suggestions that may be useful to the Director of the Peace
Corps as the Director discharges the duties and
responsibilities as head of the agency.
TITLE XI--AMENDMENTS TO PEACE CORPS ACT; RELATED PROVISIONS
SEC. 1101. ADVANCING THE GOALS OF THE PEACE CORPS.
(a) Recruitment of Volunteers.--Section 2A of the Peace Corps Act
(22 U.S.C. 2501-1) is amended by adding at the end the following new
sentence: ``As an independent agency, the Peace Corps shall be
responsible for recruiting all of its volunteers.''.
(b) Details and Assignments.--Section 5(g) of the Peace Corps Act
(22 U.S.C. 2504(g)) is amended by striking ``Provided, That'' and
inserting ``Provided, That such detail or assignment furthers the
fulfillment of Peace Corps' development and public diplomacy goals as
described in section 2: Provided further, That''.
SEC. 1102. REPORTS AND CONSULTATIONS.
(a) Annual Reports; Consultations on New Initiatives.--Section 11
of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2510) is amended by striking the
section heading and the text of section 11 and inserting the following:
``SEC. 11. ANNUAL REPORTS; CONSULTATIONS ON NEW INITIATIVES.
``(a) Annual Reports.--The Director shall transmit to Congress, at
least once in each fiscal year, a report on operations under this Act.
Each report shall contain information--
``(1) describing efforts undertaken to improve coordination
of activities of the Peace Corps with activities of
international voluntary service organizations, such as the
United Nations volunteer program, and of host country voluntary
service organizations, including--
``(A) a description of the purpose and scope of any
development project which the Peace Corps undertook
during the preceding fiscal year as a joint venture
with any such international or host country voluntary
service organizations; and
``(B) recommendations for improving coordination of
development projects between the Peace Corps and any
such international or host country voluntary service
organizations;
``(2) describing--
``(A) any major new initiatives that the Peace
Corps has under review for the upcoming fiscal year,
and any major initiatives that were undertaken in the
previous fiscal year that were not included in prior
reports to the Congress;
``(B) the rationale for undertaking such new
initiatives;
``(C) an estimate of the cost of such initiatives;
and
``(D) the impact on the safety of volunteers;
``(3) describing in detail the Peace Corps plans, including
budgetary plans, to have 14,000 volunteers in service by 2007
while maintaining the quality of the volunteer experience,
ensuring the safety and security of all volunteers, and
providing for appropriate administrative and other support; and
``(4) describing standard security procedures for any
country in which the Peace Corps operates programs or is
considering doing so, as well as any special security
procedures contemplated because of changed circumstances in
specific countries, and assessing whether security conditions
would be enhanced--
``(A) by co-locating volunteers with international
or local nongovernmental organizations; or
``(B) with the placement of multiple volunteers in
one location.
``(b) Consultations on New Initiatives.--The Director of the Peace
Corps shall consult with the appropriate congressional committees with
respect to any major new initiatives not previously discussed in the
latest annual report submitted to Congress under subsection (a) or in
budget presentations. Whenever possible, such consultations should take
place prior to the initiation of such initiatives, or as soon as
practicable thereafter.''.
(b) One-Time Report on Student Loan Forgiveness Programs.--Not
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report--
(1) describing the student loan forgiveness programs
currently available to Peace Corps volunteers upon completion
of their service;
(2) comparing such programs with other Government-sponsored
student loan forgiveness programs; and
(3) recommending any additional student loan forgiveness
programs which could attract more applications from low- and
middle-income individuals who are carrying considerable
student-loan debt burdens.
(c) Annual Report to Congress on the Federal Equal Opportunity
Recruitment Program (FEORP).--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Director shall
report on the progress of the Peace Corps in recruiting historically
underrepresented groups. The Director shall prepare this report in
accordance with section 7201 of title 5, United States Code, and
subpart B of part 720 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.
(d) Report on Maintaining the Integrity of the Medical Screening
and Medical Placement Coordination Processes.--Not later than 120 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall prepare and
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that--
(1) describes the medical screening procedures and
standards of the Office of Medical Services/Screening Unit of
the Peace Corps to determine whether an applicant for Peace
Corps service has worldwide clearance, limited clearance, a
deferral period, or is not medically, including
psychologically, qualified to serve in the Peace Corps as a
volunteer;
(2) describes the procedures and criteria for matching
applicants for Peace Corps service with a host country to
ensure that the applicant, reasonable accommodations
notwithstanding, can complete at least two years of volunteer
service without interruption to host country national projects
due to foreseeable medical conditions; and
(3) with respect to each of fiscal years 2000 through 2002
and the first six months of fiscal year 2003, states the number
of--
(A) medical screenings conducted;
(B) applicants who have received worldwide
clearance, limited clearance, deferral periods, and
medical disqualifications to serve;
(C) Peace Corps volunteers who the agency has had
to separate from service due to the discovery of
undisclosed medical information; and
(D) Peace Corps volunteers who have terminated
their service early due to medical, including
psychological, reasons.
SEC. 1103. SPECIAL VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT FOR CERTAIN
COUNTRIES.
(a) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that--
(1) describes the recruitment strategies to be employed by
the Peace Corps to recruit and train volunteers with the
appropriate language skills and interest in serving in host
countries; and
(2) lists the countries that the Director has determined
should be priorities for special recruitment and placement of
Peace Corps volunteers.
(b) Use of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff.--The
Director is authorized and strongly urged to utilize the services of
returned Peace Corps volunteers and former Peace Corps staff who have
relevant language and cultural experience and may have served
previously in countries with substantial Muslim populations, in order
to open or reopen Peace Corps programs in such countries.
SEC. 1104. GLOBAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES INITIATIVE; COORDINATION OF HIV/
AIDS ACTIVITIES.
(a) Initiative.--
(1) In general.--The Director, in cooperation with
international public health experts, such as the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of
Health, the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health
Organization, and local public health officials, shall expand
the Peace Corps' program of training for Peace Corps volunteers
in the areas of education, prevention, and treatment of
infectious diseases which are prevalent in host countries in
order to ensure that the Peace Corps increases its contribution
to the global campaign against such diseases.
(2) Additional requirement.--Activities for the education,
prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases in host
countries by the Peace Corps shall be undertaken in a manner
that is consistent with activities authorized under sections
104(c), 104A, 104B, and 104C of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961.
(b) Coordination of HIV/AIDS Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Director should designate an officer
or employee of the Peace Corps who is located in the United
States to coordinate all HIV/AIDS activities within the Peace
Corps. Such individual may be an individual who is an officer
or employee of the Peace Corps on the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(2) Field coordination.--In addition to the position
established under paragraph (1), the Director should designate
an individual within each country in sub-Saharan Africa, the
Western Hemisphere, and Asia in which Peace Corps volunteers
carry out HIV/AIDS activities to coordinate all such activities
of the Peace Corps in such countries.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) AIDS.--The term ``AIDS'' means the acquired immune
deficiency syndrome.
(2) HIV.--The term ``HIV'' means the human immunodeficiency
virus, the pathogen that causes AIDS.
(3) HIV/AIDS.--The term ``HIV/AIDS'' means, with respect to
an individual, an individual who is infected with HIV or living
with AIDS.
(4) Infectious diseases.--The term ``infectious diseases''
means HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
SEC. 1105. PEACE CORPS NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.
Section 12 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2511; relating to the
Peace Corps National Advisory Council) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the
following:
``(D) make recommendations for utilizing the expertise of
returned Peace Corps volunteers and former Peace Corps staff in
fulfilling the goals of the Peace Corps; and'';
(2) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the first sentence--
(I) by striking ``fifteen'' and
inserting ``eleven''; and
(II) by striking ``President, by
and with the advice and consent of the
Senate'' and inserting ``Director of
the Peace Corps'';
(ii) by striking the second sentence and
inserting the following: ``Six of the members
shall be former Peace Corps volunteers, at
least one of whom shall have been a former
staff member abroad or in the Washington
headquarters, and not more than six shall be
members of the same political party.'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B);
(C) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as
follows:
``(D) The members of the Council shall be appointed to 2-year
terms.'';
(D) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``nine'' and
inserting ``seven'';
(E) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``President
shall nominate'' and inserting ``Director shall
appoint''; and
(F) by redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), (E),
(F), (G), (H), and (I) as subparagraphs (B), (C), (D),
(E), (F), (G), and (H), respectively; and
(3) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
``(g) Chair.--The Director shall designate one of the voting
members of the Council as Chair, who shall serve in that capacity for a
term of two years. The Director may renew the term of a voting member
appointed as Chair under the preceding sentence.''.
SEC. 1106. READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCES.
The Peace Corps Act is amended--
(1) in section 5(c) (22 U.S.C. 2504(c)), by striking ``$125
for each month of satisfactory service'' and inserting ``$275
for each month of satisfactory service during fiscal year 2004
and $300 for each month of satisfactory service thereafter'';
and
(2) in section 6(1) (22 U.S.C. 2505(1)), by striking ``$125
for each month of satisfactory service'' and inserting ``$275
for each month of satisfactory service during fiscal year 2004
and $300 for each month of satisfactory service thereafter''.
SEC. 1107. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS AND
FORMER STAFF.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide support for
returned Peace Corps volunteers to develop and carry out programs and
projects to promote the objectives of the Peace Corps Act, as set forth
in section 2(a) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2501(a)).
(b) Grants to Certain Nonprofit Corporations.--
(1) Grant authority.--
(A) In general.--To carry out the purpose of this
section, and subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Director may award grants on a
competitive basis to private nonprofit corporations for
the purpose of enabling returned Peace Corps volunteers to use their
knowledge and expertise to develop and carry out the programs and
projects described in paragraph (2).
(B) Delegation of authority and transfer of
funds.--The Director may delegate the authority to
award grants under subparagraph (A) and may transfer
funds authorized under this section subject to the
notification procedures of section 634A of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 to the Chief Executive Officer
of the Corporation for National and Community Service
(referred to in this section as the ``Corporation'').
(2) Programs and projects.--Such programs and projects may
include--
(A) educational programs designed to enrich the
knowledge and interest of elementary school and
secondary school students in the geography and cultures
of other countries where the volunteers have served;
(B) projects that involve partnerships with local
libraries to enhance community knowledge about other
peoples and countries; and
(C) audio-visual projects that utilize materials
collected by the volunteers during their service that
would be of educational value to communities.
(3) Eligibility for grants.--To be eligible to compete for
grants under this section, a nonprofit corporation shall have a
board of directors composed of returned Peace Corps volunteers
and former Peace Corps staff with a background in community
service, education, or health. If the grants are made by the
Corporation, the nonprofit corporation shall meet all
appropriate Corporation management requirements, as determined
by the Corporation.
(c) Grant Requirements.--Such grants shall be made pursuant to a
grant agreement between the Peace Corps or the Corporation and the
nonprofit corporation that requires that--
(1) the grant funds will only be used to support programs
and projects described in subsection (a) pursuant to proposals
submitted by returned Peace Corps volunteers (either
individually or cooperatively with other returned volunteers);
(2) the nonprofit corporation will give consideration to
funding individual programs or projects by returned Peace Corps
volunteers, in amounts of not more than $50,000, under this
section;
(3) not more than 20 percent of the grant funds made
available to the nonprofit corporation will be used for the
salaries, overhead, or other administrative expenses of the
nonprofit corporation;
(4) the nonprofit corporation will not receive grant funds
for programs or projects under this section for a third or
subsequent year unless the nonprofit corporation makes
available, to carry out the programs or projects during that
year, non-Federal contributions--
(A) in an amount not less than $2 for every $3 of
Federal funds provided through the grant; and
(B) provided directly or through donations from
private entities, in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated,
including plant, equipment, or services; and
(5) the nonprofit corporation shall manage, monitor, and
submit reports to the Peace Corps or the Corporation, as the
case may be, on each program or project for which the nonprofit
corporation receives a grant under this section.
(d) Status of the Fund.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
to make any nonprofit corporation supported under this section an
agency or establishment of the Federal Government or to make the
members of the board of directors or any officer or employee of such
nonprofit corporation an officer or employee of the United States.
(e) Factors in Awarding Grants.--In determining the number of
nonprofit corporations to receive grants under this section for any
fiscal year, the Peace Corps or the Corporation--
(1) shall take into consideration the need to minimize
overhead costs that direct resources from the funding of
programs and projects; and
(2) shall seek to ensure a broad geographical distribution
of grants for programs and projects under this section.
(f) Congressional Oversight.--Grant recipients under this section
shall be subject to the appropriate oversight procedures of Congress.
(g) Funding.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section up to $10,000,000. Such sum shall be in
addition to funds made available to the Peace Corps under this
division.
(2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to
paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until
expended.
(h) Crisis Corps.--
(1) Statement of policy.--Congress states that the Crisis
Corps has been an effective tool in harnessing the skills and
talents of returned Peace Corps volunteers.
(2) Increase in number of crisis corps assignments.--The
Director, in consultation with the governments of host
countries and appropriate nongovernmental organizations, shall
increase the number of available Crisis Corps assignments for
returned Peace Corps volunteers to at least 120 assignments in
fiscal year 2004, 140 assignments in fiscal year 2005, 160
assignments in fiscal year 2006, and 165 assignments in fiscal
year 2007.
SEC. 1108. DECLARATION OF POLICY.
Congress declares its support for the goal announced by President
Bush of doubling the number of Peace Corps volunteers to 14,000 by 2007
and supports the funding levels necessary to accomplish this growth.
SEC. 1109. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 3(b)(1) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2502(b)(1)) is
amended by striking ``and $365,000,000 fiscal year 2003'' and inserting
``$365,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, $366,868,000 for fiscal year 2004,
$411,800,000 for fiscal year 2005, $455,930,000 for fiscal year 2006,
and $499,400,000 for fiscal year 2007''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 4.
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 108-205.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 108-205.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 112.
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