Requires the Director of the Peace Corps to report to Congress on: (1) efforts undertaken to improve coordination of Peace Corps activities with activities of international voluntary service organizations, such as the United Nations (UN) volunteer program, and of host country voluntary service organizations; (2) any major new Peace Corps initiatives under review for the upcoming fiscal year or undertaken in the previous fiscal year; (3) the Peace Corp's plans for doubling the number of volunteers from 2002; (4) any standard or special security procedures for any country in which the Peace Corps operates programs or is considering doing so, including an assessment whether security conditions would be enhanced by colocating volunteers with international or local nongovernmental organizations or placing multiple volunteers in one location; (5) student loan forgiveness programs currently available to Peace Corps volunteers; and (6) initiatives the Peace Corps intends to pursue with eligible countries where the presence of volunteers would facilitate a greater understanding that there exists a universe of commonly shared human values and aspirations.
Requires the Director to develop a training program for all Peace Corps volunteers in the education, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases.
Increases Peace Corps volunteer readjustment allowances from $125 to $275 a month.
Establishes a program to award grants to private nonprofit corporations to enable returned Peace Corps volunteers to use their knowledge and expertise to develop and carry out programs and projects that promote the goals of the Peace Corps.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 250 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 250
To amend the Peace Corps Act to promote global acceptance of the
principles of international peace and nonviolent coexistence among
peoples of diverse cultures and systems of government, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 8, 2003
Mr. Farr (for himself, Mr. Udall of Colorado, and Mr. Honda) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Peace Corps Act to promote global acceptance of the
principles of international peace and nonviolent coexistence among
peoples of diverse cultures and systems of government, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Peace Corps Charter for the 21st
Century Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Peace Corps was established in 1961 to promote
world peace and friendship through the service of American
volunteers abroad.
(2) 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.
(3) The Peace Corps has operated in 135 countries with
165,000 Peace Corps volunteers since its establishment.
(4) The Peace Corps has sought to fulfill three goals, as
follows: to help people in developing nations meet basic needs,
to promote understanding of America's values and ideals abroad,
and to promote an understanding of other peoples by Americans.
(5) After more than 40 years of operation, the Peace Corps
remains the world's premier international service organization
dedicated to promoting grassroots development.
(6) The Peace Corps remains committed to sending well
trained and well supported Peace Corps volunteers overseas to
promote peace, friendship, and international understanding.
(7) The Peace Corps is an independent agency, and therefore
no Peace Corps personnel or volunteers should have any
relationship with any United States intelligence agency or be
used to accomplish any other goal than the goals established by
the Peace Corps Act.
(8) The Crisis Corps has been an effective tool in
harnessing the skills and talents for returned Peace Corps
volunteers and should be expanded to utilize to the maximum
extent the talent pool of returned Peace Corps volunteers.
(9) The Peace Corps is currently operating with an annual
budget of $275,000,000 in 70 countries, with 7,000 Peace Corps
volunteers.
(10) There is deep misunderstanding and misinformation
about American values and ideals in many parts of the world,
particularly those with substantial Muslim populations, and a
greater Peace Corps presence in such places could foster
greater understanding and tolerance.
(11) the Congress has declared that the Peace Corps should
be expanded to sponsor a minimum of 10,000 Peace Corps
volunteers.
(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 shall not jeopardize
the quality of the Peace Corps volunteer experience, and
therefore can only be accomplished by an appropriate increase
in field and headquarters support staff.
(14) In order to ensure that 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 National Peace Corps
Advisory Council composed of distinguished returned Peace Corps
volunteers 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 he discharges his
duties and responsibilities as head of the agency.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Peace Corps.
(3) Peace corps volunteer.--The term ``Peace Corps
volunteer'' means a volunteer or a volunteer leader under the
Peace Corps Act.
(4) 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. 4. RESTATEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE PEACE CORPS.
(a) In General.--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, all recruiting of volunteers shall be carried out
under the direction of the Director of the Peace Corps''.
(b) Details and Assignments.--Section 5(g) of the Peace Corps Act
(22 U.S.C. 2504(g)) is amended by inserting after ``Provided, That''
the following: ``such detail or assignment does not contradict the
standing of Peace Corps volunteers as being independent from foreign
policy-making and intelligence collection: Provided further, That''.
SEC. 5. 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 the 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 Corp's plans for
doubling the number of volunteers from 2002 levels, including a
5-year budget plan for reaching that goal; 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 colocating 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 should consult with the appropriate congressional committees with
respect to any major new initiatives not previously discussed in the
latest annual report submitted to the Congress under subsection (a) or
in budget presentations. Wherever possible, such consultations should
take place prior to the initiation of such initiatives, but in any
event as soon as practicable thereafter.''.
(b) One Time Report on Student Loan Forgiveness Programs.--Not
later than 30 days after the date of the 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 applicants from more low and
middle income applicants facing high student loan obligations.
SEC. 6. SPECIAL VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT FOR COUNTRIES WHOSE
GOVERNMENTS ARE SEEKING TO FOSTER GREATER UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THEIR CITIZENS AND THE UNITED STATES.
(a) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Director shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees describing the initiatives that the Peace
Corps intends to pursue with eligible countries where the presence of
Peace Corps volunteers would facilitate a greater understanding that
there exists a universe of commonly shared human values and
aspirations. Such report shall include--
(1) a description of 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
such countries; and
(2) a list of 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.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, the Director is authorized and strongly urged
to utilize the services of returned Peace Corps volunteers having
language and cultural expertise, including those returned Peace Corps
volunteers who may have served previously in countries with substantial
Muslim populations, in order to open or reopen Peace Corps programs in
such countries.
SEC. 7. GLOBAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES INITIATIVE.
(a) 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 develop a program of training for all Peace
Corps volunteers in the areas of education, prevention, and treatment
of infectious diseases in order to ensure that all Peace Corps
volunteers make a contribution to the global campaign against such
diseases.
(b) 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. 8. PEACE CORPS 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) by amending subsection (b)(2)(D) to read as follows:
``(D) make recommendations for utilizing the
expertise of returned Peace Corps volunteers in
fulfilling the goals of the Peace Corps.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(A)--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking
``fifteen'' and inserting ``seven''; and
(ii) by striking the second sentence and
inserting the following: ``Four 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 four of the
members shall be members of the same political
party.'';
(B) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as
follows:
``(D) The members of the council shall be appointed to 2-year
terms.'';
(C) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (H); and
(D) by redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), (E),
(F), (G), and (I) as subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (E),
(F), and (G), respectively;
(3) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
``(g) Chair.--The President shall designate one of the voting
members of the Council as Chair, who shall serve in that capacity for a
period not to exceed two years.'';
(4) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
``(h) Meetings.--The Council shall hold a regular meeting during
each calendar quarter at a date and time to be determined by the Chair
of the Council.''; and
(5) by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:
``(i) Report.--Not later than July 30, 2003, and annually
thereafter, the Council shall submit a report to the President and the
Director of the Peace Corps describing how the Council has carried out
its functions under subsection (b)(2).''.
SEC. 9. READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCES.
The Peace Corps Act is amended--
(1) in section 5(c) (22 U.S.C. 2504(c)), by striking
``$125'' and inserting ``$275''; and
(2) in section 6(1) (22 U.S.C. 2505(1)), by striking
``$125'' and inserting ``$275''.
SEC. 10. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS TO
PROMOTE THE GOALS OF THE PEACE CORPS.
(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 third purpose of the Peace Corps Act, as set
forth in section 2(a) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2501(a)), by promoting a
better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American
people.
(b) Grants to Certain Nonprofit Corporations.--
(1) Grant authority.--To carry out the purpose of this
section, and subject to the availability of appropriations, the
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and
Community Service (referred to in this section as the
``Corporation'') shall 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 subsection (a).
(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
with a background in community service, education, or health.
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 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 $100,000, 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 Corporation 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 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 the
Congress.
(g) Funding.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $10,000,000. Such sum shall be in
addition to funds made available to the Corporation under
Federal law other than this section.
(2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to
paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until
expended.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 3(b)(1) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2502(b)(1)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``2002, and'' and inserting ``2002,''; and
(2) by inserting before the period the following: ``,
$465,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, $500,000,000 for fiscal year
2005, $560,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $560,000,000 for
fiscal year 2007''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E57-58)
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
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