[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2667 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 700
107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2667

   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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 21, 2002

 Mr. Dodd (for himself, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Reed, 
   Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
     Wellstone, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Chafee) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

                            October 10, 2002

                Reported by Mr. Biden, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Peace Corps Charter for the 
21st Century Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Congress makes the following findings:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The Peace Corps was established in 1961 to 
        promote world peace and friendship through the service of 
        American volunteers abroad.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) The Peace Corps has operated in 135 countries 
        with 165,000 Peace Corps volunteers since its 
        establishment.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) After more than 40 years of operation, the 
        Peace Corps remains the world's premier international service 
        organization dedicated to promoting grassroots 
        development.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) The Peace Corps remains committed to sending 
        well trained and well supported Peace Corps volunteers overseas 
        to promote world peace, friendship, and grassroots 
        development.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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 pool of talent from the returned Peace Corps 
        volunteer community.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) The Peace Corps is currently operating with an 
        annual budget of $275,000,000 in 70 countries with 7,000 Peace 
        Corps volunteers.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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 of those 
        countries.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) Congress has declared that the Peace Corps 
        should be expanded to sponsor a minimum of 10,000 Peace Corps 
        volunteers.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (12) President George W. Bush has called for the 
        doubling of the number of Peace Corps volunteers in service in 
        a fiscal year to 15,000 volunteers in service by the end of 
        fiscal year 2007.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (14) It would be extremely useful for the Peace 
        Corps to establish an office of strategic planning to evaluate 
        existing programs and undertake long-term planning in order to 
        facilitate the orderly expansion of the Peace Corps from its 
        current size to the stated objective of 15,000 volunteers in 
        the field by the end of fiscal year 2007.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (15) The Peace Corps would benefit from the advice 
        and council of a streamlined bipartisan National Peace Corps 
        Advisory Council composed of distinguished returned Peace Corps 
        volunteers.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the 
        Director of the Peace Corps.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Peace corps volunteer.--The term ``Peace Corps 
        volunteer'' means a volunteer or a volunteer leader under the 
        Peace Corps Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. RESTATEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE PEACE 
              CORPS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (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 undertaken solely by the Peace Corps.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Consultations and Reports Concerning New 
Initiatives.--Section 11 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2510) is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by inserting ``(a) Annual Reports.--'' 
        immediately before ``The President shall transmit''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end thereof the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Consultations and Reports on New Initiatives.--
Thirty days prior to implementing any new initiative, the Director 
shall consult with the Peace Corps National Advisory Council 
established in section 12 and shall submit to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations of 
the House of Representatives a report describing the objectives that 
such initiative is intended to fulfill, an estimate of any costs that 
may be incurred as a result of the initiative, and an estimate of any 
impact on existing programs, including the impact on the safety of 
volunteers under this Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Country Security Reports.--Section 11 of the Peace 
Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2510), as amended by subsection (a), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Country Security Reports.--The Director of the Peace 
Corps shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on International Relations of the House of 
Representatives a report annually on the status of security procedures 
in any country in which the Peace Corps operates programs or is 
considering doing so. Each report shall include recommendations when 
appropriate as to whether security conditions would be enhanced by 
colocating volunteers with international or local nongovernmental 
organizations, or with the placement of multiple volunteers in one 
location.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Report on Student Loan Forgiveness Programs.--Not 
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the Peace Corps shall submit to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations of 
the House of Representatives a report--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) describing the student loan forgiveness 
        programs currently available to Peace Corps volunteers upon 
        completion of their service; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) comparing such programs with other Government-
        sponsored student loan forgiveness programs.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. SPECIAL VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT FOR 
              COUNTRIES WHOSE GOVERNMENTS ARE SEEKING TO FOSTER GREATER 
              UNDERSTANDING BY AND ABOUT THEIR CITIZENS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
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 in order to solicit requests from 
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 and would dispel unfounded 
fears and suspicion among peoples of diverse cultures and systems of 
government, including peoples from countries with substantial Muslim 
populations. Such report shall include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) a list of the countries that the Director has 
        determined should be priorities for special recruitment and 
        placement of Peace Corps volunteers.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Allocation of Funds.--In addition to amounts 
authorized to be appropriated to the Peace Corps by section 11 for the 
fiscal years 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, there is authorized to be 
appropriated for the Peace Corps $5,000,000 each such fiscal year 
solely for the recruitment, training, and placement of Peace Corps 
volunteers in countries whose governments are seeking to foster greater 
understanding by and about their citizens.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. GLOBAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES INITIATIVE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Director, in cooperation with the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of 
Health, the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health 
Organization, 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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) AIDS.--The term ``AIDS'' means the acquired 
        immune deficiency syndrome.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) HIV.--The term ``HIV'' means the human 
        immunodeficiency virus, the pathogen that causes 
        AIDS.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) HIV/AIDS.--The term ``HIV/AIDS'' means, with 
        respect to an individual, an individual who is infected with 
        HIV or living with AIDS.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Infectious diseases.--The term ``infectious 
        diseases'' means HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. PEACE CORPS ADVISORY COUNCIL.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2511; 
relating to the Peace Corps National Advisory Council) is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by amending subsection (b)(2)(D) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) make recommendations for utilizing 
                the expertise of returned Peace Corps volunteers in 
                fulfilling the goals of the Peace Corps.'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (c)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking paragraph (1);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
                (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) in paragraph (1) (as so 
                redesignated)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) by striking 
                                ``fifteen'' and inserting 
                                ``seven'';</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) by striking the 
                                second sentence and inserting the 
                                following: ``All of the members shall 
                                be former Peace Corps volunteers, and 
                                not more than four shall be members of 
                                the same political party.'';</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) by amending subparagraph (D) 
                        to read as follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) The members of the Council shall be 
                appointed to 2-year terms.'';</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) by striking subparagraphs 
                        (B), (E), and (H); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) by redesignating 
                        subparagraphs (C), (D), (F), (G), and (I) as 
                        subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F), 
                        respectively;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by amending subsection (g) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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.'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) by amending subsection (h) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) by amending subsection (i) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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).''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Peace Corps Act is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in section 5(c) (22 U.S.C. 2504(c)), by 
        striking ``$125'' and inserting ``$275''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in section 6(1) (22 U.S.C. 2505(1)), by 
        striking ``$125'' and inserting ``$275''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 10. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF RETURNED PEACE CORPS 
              VOLUNTEERS TO PROMOTE THE GOALS OF THE PEACE 
              CORPS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide 
support for returned Peace Corps volunteers to develop programs and 
projects to promote the objectives of the Peace Corps, as set forth in 
section 2 of the Peace Corps Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Grants to Certain Nonprofit Corporations.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Grant authority.--To carry out the purpose of 
        this section, and subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Director of the Corporation for National 
        and Community Service shall award grants on a competitive basis 
        to private nonprofit corporations that are established in the 
        District of Columbia for the purpose of serving as incubators 
        for returned Peace Corps volunteers seeking to use their 
        knowledge and expertise to undertake community-based projects 
        to carry out the goals of the Peace Corps Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Eligibility for grants.--To be eligible to 
        compete for grants under this section, a nonprofit corporation 
        must have a board of directors composed of returned Peace Corps 
        volunteers with a background in community service, education, 
        or health. The director of the corporation (who may also be a 
        board member of the nonprofit corporation) shall also be a 
        returned Peace Corps volunteer with demonstrated management 
        expertise in operating a nonprofit corporation. The stated 
        purpose of the nonprofit corporation shall be to act solely as 
        an intermediary between the Corporation for National and 
        Community Service and individual returned Peace Corps 
        volunteers seeking funding for projects consistent with the 
        goals of the Peace Corps. The nonprofit corporation may act as 
        the accountant for individual volunteers for purposes of tax 
        filing and audit responsibilities.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Grant Requirements.--Such grants shall be made 
pursuant to a grant agreement between the Director and the nonprofit 
corporation that requires that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) 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);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the nonprofit corporation give consideration 
        to funding individual projects or programs by returned Peace 
        Corps volunteers up to $100,000;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) not more than 20 percent of funds made 
        available to the nonprofit corporation will be used for the 
        salaries, overhead, or other administrative expenses of the 
        nonprofit corporation; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) the nonprofit corporation will not receive 
        grant funds under this section for more than two years unless 
        the corporation has raised private funds, either in cash or in 
        kind for up to 40 percent of its annual budget.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Funding.--Of the funds available to the Corporation 
for National and Community Service for fiscal year 2003 or any fiscal 
year thereafter, not to exceed $10,000,000 shall be available for each 
such fiscal year to carry out the grant program established under this 
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) 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 United States Government or 
to make the members of the board of directors or any officer or 
employee of such corporation an officer or employee of the United 
States.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Factors in Awarding Grants.--In determining the number 
of private nonprofit corporations to award grants to in any fiscal 
years, the Director should balance the number of organizations against 
the overhead costs that divert resources from project 
funding.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Congressional Oversight.--Grant recipients under this 
section shall be subject to the appropriate oversight procedures of 
Congress.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 3(b)(1) of the Peace Corps Act 
(22 U.S.C. 2502(b)(1)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking ``2002, and'' and inserting 
        ``2002,''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Increase in Peace Corps Volunteer Strength.--Section 
3(c) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2502(c)) is amended by adding 
the following new subsection at the end thereof:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) In addition to the amounts authorized to be 
appropriated in this section, there are authorized to be appropriated 
such additional sums as may be necessary to achieve a volunteer corps 
of 15,000 as soon as practicable taking into account the security of 
volunteers and the effectiveness of country programs.''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Peace Corps Charter for the 21st 
Century Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    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 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) 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 undertaken 
primarily by 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: 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 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 
        five-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 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 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; and
            (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 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 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 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''.




                                                       Calendar No. 700

107th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2667

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            October 10, 2002

                       Reported with an amendment