[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 151 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11736-S11738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD:
  S. 12. A bill to amend the Peace Corps Act to promote global 
acceptance of the principles of international peace and nonviolent 
coexistence among peoples of divers cultures and systems of government; 
considered and passed.

                                 S. 12

       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.

       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

[[Page S11737]]

     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.

[[Page S11738]]

       (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: ``, 
     $362,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, $404,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 2005, $446,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and 
     $488,000,000 for fiscal year 2007''.

       New bill to provide a Peace Corps Charter for the 21st 
     Century introduced by Senator Dodd:
       This bill is identical to S. 2667 which passed the Senate 
     on October 16, 2002 except in section 11 where the 
     President's authorizing requested numbers are substituted for 
     the higher numbers included in S. 2667.
                                 ______