[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2259 Engrossed in House (EH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 2259

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
   To amend the Peace Corps Act to expand services and benefits for 
                  volunteers, 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 ``Sam Farr and Nick 
Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
                 TITLE I--PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

Sec. 101. Peace Corps volunteer medical care reform.
Sec. 102. Post-service peace corps volunteer medical care reform.
Sec. 103. Peace Corps impact survey.
Sec. 104. Extension of positions for Peace Corps employees.
           TITLE II--PEACE CORPS OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Sec. 201. Peace Corps volunteer access to Inspector General.
Sec. 202. Publication requirement for volunteer surveys.
Sec. 203. Consultation with Congress required before opening or closing 
                            overseas offices and country programs.
              TITLE III--CRIME RISK REDUCTION ENHANCEMENTS

Sec. 301. Independent review of volunteer death.
Sec. 302. Additional disclosures to applicants for enrollment as 
                            volunteers.
Sec. 303. Additional protections against sexual misconduct.
Sec. 304. Extension of the office of victim advocacy.
Sec. 305. Reform and extension of the Sexual Assault Advisory Council.
Sec. 306. Definitions.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committee on Appropriations 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 an individual described in section 5(a) of 
        the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(a)).

                 TITLE I--PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

SEC. 101. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER MEDICAL CARE REFORM.

    (a) In General.--The Peace Corps Act is amended--
            (1) in section 5 (22 U.S.C. 2504)--
                    (A) in subsection (e), in the first sentence, by 
                striking ``receive such immunization and dental care 
                preparatory to their service'' and inserting ``receive, 
                preparatory to their service, such immunization, dental 
                care, and information on prescription options and 
                potential interactions, as necessary and appropriate 
                and in accordance with subsection (f)'';
                    (B) by re-designating subsections (f), (g), (h), 
                (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), and (n) as subsections (g), 
                (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), and (o);
                    (C) by inserting after subsection (e) the following 
                new subsection--
    ``(f) The Director of the Peace Corps shall consult with health 
experts outside the Peace Corps, including experts licensed in the 
field of mental health, and follow guidance by the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention regarding the prescription of medications to a 
volunteer.''; and
                    (D) in subsection (i), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``section, and'' and inserting ``section), 
                and''; and
            (2) by inserting after section 5 the following new section:

``SEC. 5A. HEALTH CARE FOR VOLUNTEERS AT PEACE CORPS POSTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The President shall ensure that each overseas 
post has the services of a medical office that is consistent in size 
and scope with the needs of the Peace Corps at such post, including, if 
necessary, by detailing to any such post the licensed medical staff of 
other United States departments, agencies, or establishments.
    ``(b) Hiring Criteria.--In selecting medical officers and support 
staff for overseas Peace Corps posts, the Director of the Peace Corps 
shall hire well-qualified and capable personnel to support the 
effectiveness of health care for Peace Corps volunteers by evaluating 
each candidate's--
            ``(1) medical training, experience, and accreditations or 
        other qualifications;
            ``(2) record of performance;
            ``(3) administrative capabilities;
            ``(4) understanding of the local language and culture;
            ``(5) ability to work in the English language;
            ``(6) interpersonal skills; and
            ``(7) such other factors that the Director determines 
        appropriate.
    ``(c) Certain Training.--The Director of the Peace Corps shall 
ensure that each Peace Corps medical officer serving in a malaria-
endemic country receives training in the recognition of the side 
effects of such medications.
    ``(d) Review and Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Peace Corps, acting 
        through the Associate Director of the Office of Health Services 
        and the country directors, shall review and evaluate the 
        performance and health care delivery of all Peace Corps medical 
        staff, including medical officers, to--
                    ``(A) ensure compliance with all relevant Peace 
                Corps policies, practices, and guidelines; and
                    ``(B) ensure that medical staff complete the 
                necessary continuing medical education to maintain 
                their skills and satisfy licensing and credentialing 
                standards, as designated by the Director.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--The Director of the Peace Corps 
        shall include, in the annual Peace Corps congressional budget 
        justification, a confirmation that the review and evaluation of 
        all Peace Corps medical staff required under paragraph (1) has 
        been completed.
    ``(e) Antimalarial Drugs.--The Director of the Peace Corps shall 
consult with experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
regarding recommendations for prescribing malaria prophylaxis, in order 
to provide the best standard of care within the context of the Peace 
Corps environment.''.
    (b) Implementation of Recommendations by the Inspector General of 
the Peace Corps.--
            (1) Inspector general report.--As promptly as practicable, 
        the Director shall implement the actions outlined in the agency 
        response for all open recommendations of the Inspector General 
        of the Peace Corps set forth in the report entitled ``Final 
        Program Evaluation Report: OIG Follow-up Evaluation of Issues 
        Identified in the 2010 Peace Corps/Morocco Assessment of 
        Medical Care'' (Report No. IG-16-01-E).
            (2) Semiannual reports.--
                    (A) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director 
                shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 
                committees that describes the Director's strategy for 
                implementing the recommendations referred to in 
                paragraph (1).
                    (B) Subsequent reports.--Not later than 180 days 
                after the submission of the report required under 
                subparagraph (A), and semiannually thereafter, the 
                Director shall submit a report to the appropriate 
                congressional committees that describes the progress in 
                implementing the recommendations referred to in 
                paragraph (1) until all such recommendations have been 
                implemented in accordance with the agency's response to 
                the report referred to in such paragraph.
            (3) Notification.--After the submission of each report 
        required under paragraph (2), the Inspector General of the 
        Peace Corps may notify the appropriate congressional committees 
        of any recommendations from the report referred to in paragraph 
        (1) that the Inspector General determines remain unresolved.

SEC. 102. POST-SERVICE PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER MEDICAL CARE REFORM.

    Section 8142 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) The Secretary shall authorize the Director of the Peace 
Corps to furnish medical benefits to a volunteer, who is injured during 
the volunteer's period of service, for a period of 120 days following 
the termination of such service if the Director certifies that the 
volunteer's injury probably meets the requirements under subsection 
(c)(3). The Secretary may then certify vouchers for these expenses for 
such volunteer out of the Employees' Compensation Fund.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall prescribe the form and content of the 
certification required under paragraph (1).
    ``(3) A certification under paragraph (1) will cease to be 
effective if the volunteer sustains compensable disability in 
connection with volunteer service.
    ``(4) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to authorize the 
furnishing of any medical benefit that the Secretary of Labor is not 
otherwise authorized to reimburse for former Peace Corps volunteers who 
receive treatment for injury or disease proximately caused by their 
service in the Peace Corps in accordance with this chapter.''.

SEC. 103. PEACE CORPS IMPACT SURVEY.

    (a) In General.--Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and once every 2 years thereafter for the 
following 6 years, the Director shall conduct a survey of former Peace 
Corps volunteers.
    (b) Scope of Survey.--The survey required under subsection (a) 
shall assess, with respect to each former Peace Corps volunteer 
completing the survey, the impact of the Peace Corps on the former 
volunteer, including the volunteer's--
            (1) well-being;
            (2) career;
            (3) civic engagement; and
            (4) commitment to public service.
    (c) Report.--The Director shall submit a report containing the 
results of the survey conducted under subsection (a) to--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
            (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.

SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF POSITIONS FOR PEACE CORPS EMPLOYEES.

    Section 7(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2506(a)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(8)(A) The Director of the Peace Corps may designate 
        Peace Corps positions as critical management or management 
        support positions that require specialized technical or 
        professional skills and knowledge of Peace Corps operations. 
        Such positions may include positions in the following fields:
                    ``(i) Volunteer health services.
                    ``(ii) Financial management.
                    ``(iii) Information technology.
                    ``(iv) Procurement.
                    ``(v) Personnel.
                    ``(vi) Legal services.
                    ``(vii) Safety and security.
            ``(B) Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), with respect to 
        positions designated pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Director 
        may make or extend renewable appointments or assignments under 
        paragraph (2) notwithstanding limitations under subparagraphs 
        (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (5).
            ``(C) In exercising authority under subparagraph (B), the 
        Director shall ensure that all decisions regarding the 
        appointment, assignment, or extension of employees to any 
        position designated pursuant to subparagraph (A)--
                    ``(i) are consistent with Federal law and Peace 
                Corps policy; and
                    ``(ii) are based upon operational and programmatic 
                factors.
            ``(D) The term of any appointment or assignment to any 
        position designated pursuant to subparagraph (A) may not exceed 
        5 years.''.

           TITLE II--PEACE CORPS OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

SEC. 201. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER ACCESS TO INSPECTOR GENERAL.

    Section 8 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the 
                President''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                sentences: ``As part of the training provided to all 
                volunteers under subsection (a), and in coordination 
                with the Inspector General of the Peace Corps, the 
                President shall provide all volunteers with information 
                regarding the mandate of the Inspector General and the 
                availability (including contact information) of the 
                Inspector General and the Office of Victim Advocacy as 
                a resource for volunteers. The President shall ensure 
                that volunteers receive such information at least once 
                during training that occurs prior to enrollment and at 
                least once during each significant instance of training 
                after enrollment.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) The President shall implement procedures to maintain a record 
verifying each individual completing training provided to meet each 
requirement in this section and sections 8A, 8B, 8F, and 8G(b).''.

SEC. 202. PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR VOLUNTEER SURVEYS.

    Section 8E of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507e) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), in the first sentence--
                    (A) by inserting ``, ensure that each such plan 
                includes a consideration of the results, with respect 
                to each such representative and the country of service 
                of each such representative, of each survey conducted 
                under subsection (c),'' after ``standards for Peace 
                Corps representatives''; and
                    (B) by striking ``and shall review'' and inserting 
                ``, and review''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``2018'' and 
                inserting ``2023''; and
                    (B) in the third sentence, by striking ``subsection 
                (a)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                sentences: ``The President shall publish, on a publicly 
                available website of the Peace Corps, a report 
                summarizing the results of each survey related to 
                volunteer satisfaction in each country in which 
                volunteers serve, and the early termination rate of 
                volunteers serving in each such country. The 
                information published shall be posted in an easily 
                accessible place near the description of the 
                appropriate country and shall be written in an easily 
                understood manner.''.

SEC. 203. CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS REQUIRED BEFORE OPENING OR CLOSING 
              OVERSEAS OFFICES AND COUNTRY PROGRAMS.

    Section 10 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2509) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(k)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Director of the 
Peace Corps may not open, close, significantly reduce, or suspend a 
domestic or overseas office or country program unless the Director has 
notified and consulted with the appropriate congressional committees at 
least 15 days in advance.
    ``(2) The Director of the Peace Corps may waive the application of 
paragraph (1) for a period of not more than 5 days after an action 
described in such paragraph if the Director determines such action is 
necessary to ameliorate a substantial security risk to Peace Corps 
volunteers or other Peace Corps personnel.
    ``(3) For the purposes of this subsection, the term `appropriate 
congressional committees' means--
            ``(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs 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.''.

              TITLE III--CRIME RISK REDUCTION ENHANCEMENTS

SEC. 301. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF VOLUNTEER DEATH.

    Section 5 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504), as amended by 
section 101 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(p)(1) Not later than 10 days after receiving notification of the 
death of a volunteer, the President shall provide a briefing to the 
Inspector General of the Peace Corps that includes--
            ``(A)(i) the available facts and circumstances surrounding 
        the death of the volunteer, including a preliminary timeline of 
        the events immediately preceding the death of the volunteer, 
        subsequent actions taken by the Peace Corps, and any 
        information available to the Peace Corps reflecting on the 
        cause or root cause of the death of the volunteer; and
            ``(ii) a description of any steps the Peace Corps plans to 
        take to inquire further into the cause or root cause of the 
        death of the volunteer, including the anticipated date of the 
        completion of such inquiry; or
            ``(B) an explanation of why the Peace Corps has determined 
        that no further inquiry into the cause or root cause of the 
        death of the volunteer is necessary, including--
                    ``(i) a description of the steps the Peace Corps 
                took to determine further inquiry was not necessary; 
                and
                    ``(ii) the basis for such determination.
    ``(2) If the Peace Corps has performed or engaged another entity to 
perform a root cause analysis or similar report that describes the 
cause or root cause of a volunteer death, the President shall provide 
the Inspector General of the Peace Corps with--
            ``(A) a copy of all information provided to such entity at 
        the time such information is provided to such entity or used by 
        the Peace Corps to perform the analysis;
            ``(B) a copy of any report or study received from the 
        entity or used by the Peace Corps to perform the analysis; and
            ``(C) any supporting documentation upon which the Peace 
        Corps or such entity relied to make its determination, 
        including the volunteer's complete medical record, as soon as 
        such information is available to the Peace Corps.
    ``(3) If a volunteer dies, the Peace Corps shall take reasonable 
measures, in accordance with local laws, to preserve any information or 
material, in any medium or format, that may be relevant to determining 
the cause or root cause of the death of the volunteer, including 
personal effects, medication, and other tangible items belonging to the 
volunteer, as long as such measures do not interfere with the legal 
procedures of the host country if the government of the host country is 
exercising jurisdiction over the investigation of such death. The 
Inspector General of the Peace Corps shall be provided an opportunity 
to inspect such items before their final disposition.
    ``(4) Consistent with the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
App.), the Inspector General of the Peace Corps may independently 
review the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of a volunteer 
and the actions taken by the Peace Corps in responding to such 
incident.
    ``(5) For the purposes of undertaking a review under this section, 
an officer or employee of the United States or a member of the Armed 
Forces may be detailed to the Inspector General of the Peace Corps from 
another department of the United States Government on a nonreimbursable 
basis, as jointly agreed to by the Inspector General and the detailing 
department, for a period not to exceed 1 year. This paragraph may not 
be construed to limit or modify any other source of authority for 
reimbursable or nonreimbursable details. A nonreimbursable detail made 
under this section may not be considered an augmentation of the 
appropriations of the Peace Corps.
    ``(6) Upon request, the Peace Corps may make available necessary 
funds to the Inspector General of the Peace Corps for reviews conducted 
by the Inspector General under this section. The request shall be 
limited to costs relating to hiring, procuring, or otherwise obtaining 
medical-related experts or expert services, and associated travel.
    ``(7) The undertaking of a review under this section may not be 
considered a transfer of program operating responsibilities to the 
Inspector General of the Peace Corps.''.

SEC. 302. ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES TO APPLICANTS FOR ENROLLMENT AS 
              VOLUNTEERS.

    Section 8A of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507a(d)) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Information Regarding Crimes and Risks.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each applicant for enrollment as a 
        volunteer shall be provided, with respect to each country in 
        which the applicant may be invited to serve, with specific, 
        aggregated, and easily accessible information regarding crimes 
        against and risks to volunteers, including--
                    ``(A) an overview of past crimes against volunteers 
                in such country, including statistics regarding 
                unreported crime collected through anonymous surveys;
                    ``(B) the current early termination rate of 
                volunteers serving in such country;
                    ``(C) health risks prevalent in such country;
                    ``(D) the nature and frequency of sexual harassment 
                reported by volunteers serving in such country;
                    ``(E) the extent and types of services provided by 
                the Peace Corps to volunteers serving in such country, 
                including access to medical care, counseling services, 
                and assistance from the Office of Victim Advocacy; and
                    ``(F) the level of satisfaction reported by 
                volunteers serving in such country.
            ``(2) Option to timely decline.--Upon receiving information 
        described in paragraph (1), the applicant shall have the option 
        to change the country of consideration and identify a 
        substitute country.''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)(2)(B)(iii), by striking ``victim 
        advocates'' and inserting ``Victim's Advocates,''.

SEC. 303. ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

    Section 8B(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507b(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``SARLs'' and inserting ``any 
                employee of the Peace Corps'';
                    (B) by striking ``Victim Advocate'' and inserting 
                ``Victim's Advocate''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``and require the Peace Corps to 
                designate the staff at each post who shall be 
                responsible for providing the services described in 
                subsection (c)'' before the semicolon at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(7) maintains a record documenting the resignation of any 
employee or volunteer of the Peace Corps who resigns before a 
determination has been made regarding an alleged violation of the 
sexual misconduct policy or other serious policy violations;
    ``(8) takes into account the record maintained under paragraph (7) 
before such employee or volunteer is hired, enrolled, or otherwise 
invited to work with the Peace Corps;
    ``(9) provides orientation or information regarding the awareness 
and prevention of sexual assault and sexual harassment to--
            ``(A) Peace Corps-selected host families; and
            ``(B) a designated person of authority at the volunteer's 
        initial workplace; and
    ``(10) ensures, to the extent practicable and appropriate, that any 
assault on, or any harm or injury to, a volunteer that is committed by 
any member of a host family or any national of a host country that was 
assigned by the Peace Corps to facilitate volunteer work is--
            ``(A) documented in an appropriate site history file and in 
        the global tracking and recording system established pursuant 
        to section 8H(c); and
            ``(B) taken into account with respect to determinations 
        regarding placements of future volunteers at such post and the 
        provision of any funds or other benefit by the Peace Corps.''.

SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF THE OFFICE OF VICTIM ADVOCACY.

    Section 8C of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507c) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``victim advocate'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``Victim's Advocate'';
            (2) by striking ``victim advocates'' each place it occurs 
        and inserting ``Victim's Advocates''; and
            (3) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
    ``(e) The Director of the Peace Corps shall include the head of the 
Office of Victim Advocacy in agency-wide policymaking processes in the 
same manner and to the same extent as the directors or associate 
directors of other offices within the Peace Corps.''.

SEC. 305. REFORM AND EXTENSION OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    Section 8D of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507d) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``not less than 8 individuals 
                selected by the President, not later than 180 days 
                after the date of the enactment of this section,'' and 
                inserting ``not fewer than 8 and not more than 14 
                individuals selected by the President''; and
                    (B) by inserting after the first sentence the 
                following new sentence: ``At least one member should be 
                licensed in the field of mental health and have prior 
                experience working as a counselor or therapist 
                providing mental health care to survivors of sexual 
                assault in a victim services agency or organization.''; 
                and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and implemented'' after ``sexual 
                assault policy developed''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                sentence: ``To carry out this subsection, the Council 
                may conduct case reviews and is authorized to have 
                access, including through interviews, to current and 
                former volunteers (to the extent that such volunteers 
                provide the Peace Corps express consent to be 
                interviewed by the Council), to volunteer surveys under 
                section 8E, to all data collected from restricted 
                reporting, and to any other information necessary to 
                conduct case reviews, except that the Council may not 
                have access to any personally identifying information 
                associated with such surveys, data, or information.''; 
                and
            (3) in subsection (g), by striking ``2018'' and inserting 
        ``2023''.

SEC. 306. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 26 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2522) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), 
        (f), and (g) as paragraphs (1), (6), (2), (3), (8), (7), and 
        (5), respectively, by arranging such redesignated paragraphs in 
        numerical order, and by moving such paragraphs 2 ems to the 
        right;
            (2) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by striking ``(1)'' 
        and inserting the following:
    ``In this Act:
            ``(1)''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (3), as redesignated, the 
        following:
            ``(4) The term `medical officer' means a physician, nurse 
        practitioner, physician's assistant, or registered nurse with 
        the professional qualifications, expertise, and abilities 
        consistent with the needs of the Peace Corps and the post to 
        which he or she is assigned, as determined by the Director of 
        the Peace Corps.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 10, 2018.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
115th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 2259

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

   To amend the Peace Corps Act to expand services and benefits for 
                  volunteers, and for other purposes.