[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3903-S3905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST (for himself and Mr. Lugar):
  S. 850. A bill to establish the Global Health Corps, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 850

       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 ``Global Health Corps Act of 
     2005''.

     SEC. 2. GLOBAL HEALTH CORPS.

       Title II of the Public Health Services Act (42 U.S.C. 202 
     et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                      Part D--Global Health Corps

     ``SEC. 271. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this part:
       ``(1) Agency.--The term `Agency' means the United States 
     Agency for International Development.
       ``(2) Candidate.--The term `candidate' means an individual 
     described in section 273(d).
       ``(3) Corps.--Except as otherwise provided, the term 
     `Corps' means the Global Health Corps established under 
     section 273(a).
       ``(4) Department.--Except as otherwise provided, the term 
     `Department' means the Department of Health and Human 
     Services.
       ``(5) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
     the Global Health Corps described in section 272(a)(3).
       ``(6) Office.--The term `Office' means the Office of the 
     Global Health Corps established under section 272(a)(1).
       ``(7) Participant.--The term `participant' means a member 
     of the Corps as described in section 273(e).

     ``SEC. 272. OFFICE OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH CORPS.

       ``(a) Office of the Global Health Corps.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Department an Office of the Global Health Corps to assist in 
     improving the health, welfare, and development of communities 
     in foreign countries and regions through the provision of 
     health care personnel, items, and related services.
       ``(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the Office are--
       ``(A) to expand the availability of health care personnel, 
     items, and related services to improve the health, welfare, 
     and development of communities in select foreign countries 
     and regions;
       ``(B) to promote United States public diplomacy in such 
     foreign countries and regions by matching the needs of such 
     communities with the services available from the Global 
     Health Corps;
       ``(C) to provide for the effective management and 
     administration of the Global Health Corps; and
       ``(D) to coordinate, unify, strengthen, and focus the 
     provision of health care personnel, items, and related 
     services to foreign countries and regions by departments, 
     agencies, and offices of the United States, by non-Federal 
     volunteers, and by private voluntary organizations.
       ``(3) Director.--The head of the Office shall be the 
     Director of the Global Health Corps, who shall be appointed 
     by, and report directly to, the Secretary.
       ``(b) Functions of the Office.--The functions of the Office 
     include the following:
       ``(1) Recruiting individuals to serve in the Corps, 
     including distributing recruiting information to colleges, 
     universities, hospitals, clinics, and nongovernmental 
     organizations. Such individuals may include those with 
     fellowship or scholarship support from private or public 
     institutions and organizations.
       ``(2) Processing applications for enrollment in the Corps.
       ``(3) Verifying the training and credentials of candidates 
     seeking to participate in the Corps
       ``(4) Reviewing requests for Corps personnel and services 
     made by the head of a United States mission, a foreign 
     country, a nongovernmental organization, an agency of the 
     Government of the United States or other person, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       ``(5) Matching the skills of participants with the requests 
     for health care personnel, items, and related services 
     described in paragraph (4) to provide such services 
     effectively and efficiently.
       ``(6) Providing administrative support and management for 
     the Corps, including--
       ``(A) assisting candidates in the application and training 
     process, as appropriate;
       ``(B) facilitating the travel of participants to foreign 
     countries and regions and the work of participants in foreign 
     countries and regions;
       ``(C) ensuring participants have appropriate legal 
     protections and immunities through mechanisms including 
     bilateral agreements with agencies, organizations, or 
     countries receiving participants, hiring non-Federal 
     volunteers as intermittent Federal employees, or providing 
     participants status as employees of the Government of the 
     United States for the purposes of such protections, as 
     appropriate;
       ``(D) providing strategic guidance and policy for the human 
     resources management of the Corps;
       ``(E) carrying out activities to retain participants in the 
     Corps, including maintaining a database of current and former 
     participants; and
       ``(F) ensuring participants have appropriate health, 
     security, and cultural training prior to arriving in a 
     foreign country.
       ``(7) Serving as a liaison between the Corps and other 
     appropriate persons or government agencies, including--
       ``(A) leading or participating in interagency working 
     groups, as appropriate;
       ``(B) coordinating the activities of the Corps with 
     activities carried out by other bureaus of the Department and 
     by the Agency, the Department of Defense, the Department of 
     State, the Peace Corps, and other executive department, as 
     appropriate, to advance and promote the purpose and 
     activities of the Corps as effectively and efficiently as 
     possible;
       ``(C) meeting routinely with representatives from the 
     Agency, the Peace Corps, the National Disaster Medical 
     System, the Medical Reserve Corps, the Office of Force 
     Readiness and Deployment, Volunteers for Prosperity, the 
     Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the Agency, the 
     Bureau of Global Health Affairs of the Agency, the 
     Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat 
     HIV/AIDS Globally, and others, as appropriate, to improve the 
     health, welfare, and development of communities in foreign 
     countries and regions through the provision of health care 
     personnel, items, and related services on a short-term or 
     long-term basis; and
       ``(D) maintaining contact with appropriate international 
     organizations to carry out the purpose of the Corps and with 
     foreign governments that are current or prospective 
     recipients of services provided by the Corps.
       ``(8) Providing participants with appropriate training and 
     equipment, including--
       ``(A) ensuring participants have the appropriate medical 
     equipment, supplies, and other resources necessary to provide 
     health care services under austere and challenging conditions 
     while serving in the Corps; and
       ``(B) establishing, managing, and directing any training 
     provided under section 274(e).
       ``(9) Maintaining contact with participants during their 
     service in the Corps.
       ``(10) Establishing performance objectives for the Corps, 
     and appropriate metrics to assess the performance of the 
     Corps in achieving its purposes, consistent with this part, 
     and assessing the performance of the Office in achieving its 
     purposes, consistent with section 272.
       ``(11) Submitting to Congress an annual report on the 
     objectives and metrics described in paragraph (10) and on the 
     Corps performance in meeting such objectives.

     ``SEC. 273. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH CORPS.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of State, shall establish a Global Health 
     Corps.
       ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Corps is to improve the 
     health, welfare, and development of communities in select 
     foreign countries and regions, to advance United States 
     public diplomacy in such locations, and to provide 
     individuals in the United States with the opportunity to 
     serve such communities by providing a broad range of needed 
     health care and related services in such communities.
       ``(c) Composition of the Corps.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Corps shall include the following 
     components:
       ``(A) Volunteers who are not employees of the Government of 
     the United States or enrolled in the Peace Corps.
       ``(B) Employees of the Government of the United States.
       ``(C) Peace Corps volunteers who participate in the Corps 
     under section 5A of the Peace Corps Act.
       ``(D) The Director and any staff of the Office.
       ``(E) Any other individual that the Director determines is 
     appropriate to include in the Corps.
       ``(d) Candidate.--An individual may be a candidate for the 
     Corps if such individual meets the following:
       ``(1) Non-federal volunteer.--A individual who--
       ``(A)(i) is citizen or national of the United States; or
       ``(ii) is a resident of the United States, at the 
     discretion of the Secretary;
       ``(B) is not an employee of the Government of the United 
     States;
       ``(C)(i) is a trained health care professional and meets 
     the educational and licensure requirements necessary to be 
     such a professional, including a physician, nurse, dentist, 
     veterinarian, or other professional determined to be 
     appropriate by the Director; or
       ``(ii) is a trained health care practitioner or other 
     professional that meets the educational requirements 
     determined to be appropriate by the Secretary; and

[[Page S3904]]

       ``(D) is seeking membership in the Corps and is willing to 
     work under austere and challenging conditions.
       ``(2) Federal employee.--A citizen, national, or resident 
     of the United States who--
       ``(A) is an employee of the Government of the United 
     States;
       ``(B) meets the requirements of clause (i) or (ii) of 
     paragraph (1)(C); and
       ``(C) is seeking membership in the Corps, or is designated 
     as a candidate by the head of the executive department that 
     employs such citizen, national, or resident.
       ``(3) Peace corps volunteer.--A citizen or national of the 
     United States who--
       ``(A) is a Peace Corp volunteer
       ``(B)(i) meets the requirements of clause (i) or (ii) of 
     paragraph (1)(C); or
       ``(ii) is qualified to participate in the comprehensive 
     training program established under section 274(e)(2), as 
     determined by the Director; and
       ``(C) is seeking enrollment in the Corps.
       ``(e) Membership in the Corps.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director may--
       ``(A) enroll and accept the services of candidates who are 
     not employees of the Government of the United States in the 
     Corps, without regard to section 1342 of title 31, United 
     States Code;
       ``(B) designate candidates who are employees of the 
     Government of the United States as members of the Corps, with 
     the approval of the head of the executive department that 
     employs such employee; and
       ``(C) accept details or assignments of employees of the 
     Government of the United States to serve in the Corps on a 
     reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis.
       ``(2) Application.--The Director shall establish procedures 
     for individuals to submit applications for enrollment in the 
     Corps.

     ``SEC. 274. FUNCTIONS AND TRAINING OF THE CORPS.

       ``(a) In General.--Participants shall be available to 
     provide the services described in subsection (b) to 
     individuals and communities in the locations described in 
     subsection (c).
       ``(b) Services.--Subject to subsection (f), the services 
     referred to in subsection (a) are services, including 
     assistance and training, provided to individuals and 
     communities to carry out the purpose of the Corps, including 
     the provision of--
       ``(1) health care items and related services, including 
     dental care;
       ``(2) preventive care, treatment, and services;
       ``(3) veterinary and related services;
       ``(4) sanitation, hygiene, food preparation, and clean 
     water training;
       ``(5) disease surveillance and basic health care services 
     to individuals and communities affected by diseases or 
     illnesses as identified by the Director;
       ``(6) education and training related to the services 
     described in paragraphs (1) through (5);
       ``(7) education and training to local persons to improve 
     health care outcomes, and to assist in the development of 
     local and indigenous health care delivery capacity and self-
     sufficiency; and
       ``(8) other health care items and related services 
     determined to be appropriate by the Director, including 
     health care training, health systems development, and 
     technical support.
       ``(c) Locations.--The Director is authorized to provide, 
     with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, the services 
     described in subsection (b) to individuals and communities in 
     a foreign country or region if--
       ``(1) the Secretary of State has determined that such 
     country or region is in need of such services; and
       ``(2) the Secretary of State has determined that the 
     provision of such services may help promote a better 
     understanding of the people of the United States on the part 
     of the peoples served in such a foreign country or region.
       ``(d) Placement of Participants.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director shall decide on the 
     placement of a participant in a foreign country or region 
     described in subsection (c) after--
       ``(A) determining that the location or organization is in 
     need of the services provided by the Corps in which the 
     participant has expertise and training;
       ``(B) consulting with the Secretary of State on the extent 
     to which the placement of the participant in a particular 
     location or organization advances the foreign policy and 
     public diplomacy objectives of the United States; and
       ``(C) considering the skills, qualifications, and 
     availability of the participant.
       ``(2) Required consultation.--The Director shall, prior to 
     placing a participant in a foreign country or region, consult 
     with--
       ``(A) the head of the executive department that employs the 
     participant, if the participant is an employee of the 
     Government of the United States;
       ``(B) the United States Ambassador to such foreign country; 
     and
       ``(C) the head of any executive department that is 
     providing health care or related services in such foreign 
     country.
       ``(e) Training.--
       ``(1) Requirement.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     appropriate training programs are available, including the 
     comprehensive training program described in paragraph (2) and 
     appropriate health, security, and cultural training for 
     participants, to prepare participants to provide the services 
     described in subsection (b).
       ``(2) Comprehensive training program.--
       ``(A) Establishment.--The Director shall establish and 
     carry out a program, either separately or jointly with a 
     Federal, public, or private sector health care provider or 
     health care institution, to provide members of Corps selected 
     by the Director training in a variety of health care 
     disciplines, including basic medical, dental, public health, 
     nursing, epidemiological services, and veterinary care.
       ``(B) Training provided.--The program established under 
     subparagraph (A) shall be designed by the Director, in 
     consultation with the Secretary, Administrator of the Agency, 
     the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Defense, the 
     Secretary of State and the Director of the Peace Corps, to 
     provide comprehensive basic training for a period of not more 
     than 6 months to each participant who is a member of the 
     Peace Corps and each other participant that the Director 
     determines is appropriate to enable such participant to 
     provide the services described in subsection (b), including 
     training in a variety of health care disciplines, including 
     basic medical, dental, public health, nursing, 
     epidemiological service, and veterinary care.
       ``(C) Reimbursement.--The Director is authorized to permit 
     a participant who is not a member of the Peace Corps to 
     receive training in the program established under 
     subparagraph (A) on a reimbursable basis, unless determined 
     otherwise by the Secretary.
       ``(D) Program model.--The program established under 
     subparagraph (A) should be modeled on successful public and 
     private programs, including the Joint Special Operations 
     Medical Training Center program conducted by the Department 
     of Defense and those conducted by various medical and nursing 
     schools around the country.
       ``(E) Prohibition on participation in similar training.--A 
     participant may not participate in the Joint Special 
     Operations Medical Training Center program conducted at Fort 
     Bragg, North Carolina.
       ``(3) Service requirement.--
       ``(A) Non-federal volunteers.--A participant who is not an 
     employee of the Government of the United States or a Peace 
     Corps volunteer and who attends a training program 
     established under paragraph (1), other than the training 
     program established under paragraph (2), shall be obligated 
     to complete the amount of service in the Corps, commensurate 
     with the type and amount of training received, that the 
     Secretary determines is appropriate.
       ``(B) All participants.--A participant who attends the 
     training program established under paragraph (2) shall be 
     obligated to complete the amount of service in the Corps, 
     commensurate with the type and amount of training received, 
     that the Secretary deems appropriate. Such service shall be 
     at the discretion of the Director, during any 5-year period, 
     and in a manner consistent with this part and with the 
     concurrence of the Director of the Peace Corps if such 
     participant is a Peace Corps volunteer.
       ``(f) Prohibition.--A member of the Corps may not carry out 
     an activity under this part if--
       ``(1) section 104(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2151b(f)) prohibits providing funding for such 
     activity; or
       ``(2) any provision of the annual Foreign Operations, 
     Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act 
     that relates to abortion prohibits providing assistance for 
     such activity.

     ``SEC. 275. PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

       ``(a) Compensation of Participants.--
       ``(1) Non-federal volunteers.--A participant who is not an 
     employee of the Government of the United States or a Peace 
     Corps volunteer shall serve in the Corps without compensation 
     from the Government of the United States to either the 
     participant or to any other person.
       ``(2) Federal employees.--A participant who is an officer 
     or employee of the Government of the United States shall 
     serve without compensation in addition to that received for 
     their services as officers or employees of the United States.
       ``(3) Peace corps volunteers.--A participant who is a Peace 
     Corps volunteer shall serve without compensation in addition 
     to that received for their services in the Peace Corps under 
     the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.).
       ``(b) Travel Expenses.--
       ``(1) Non-federal volunteers.--The Director may provide a 
     participant who is a not an employee of the Government of the 
     United States or a Peace Corps volunteer travel expenses, 
     excluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
     authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
     chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while such 
     participant is serving in the Corps.
       ``(2) Federal employees.--The Director shall provide a 
     participant who is an employee of the Government of the 
     United States travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of services for the Corps.
       ``(3) Peace corps volunteers.--The Director may not provide 
     a participant who is a Peace Corps volunteer travel expenses 
     in addition to such expenses provided for under the Peace 
     Corp Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.).
       ``(c) Applicability of Laws to Non-Federal Volunteers.--

[[Page S3905]]

       ``(1) In general.--A member of the Corps who is not an 
     employee of the Government of the United States or a Peace 
     Corps volunteer may not be considered an employee of the 
     Government of the United States, except for the purposes of--
       ``(A) section 272(b)(6)(C);
       ``(B) chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (relating 
     to compensation for work-related injuries); and
       ``(C) chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code (relating 
     to conflicts of interest).
       ``(2) Volunteer protection act of 1997.--
       ``(A) Volunteer status.--A member of the Corps who is not 
     an employee of the United States or a Peace Corps volunteer 
     shall be deemed to be a volunteer for a nonprofit 
     organization or governmental entity for the purposes of the 
     Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (42 U.S.C. 14501 et seq.).
       ``(B) Inapplicability of exceptions.--Section 4(d) of such 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 14503(d)) may not apply to a member of the 
     Corps who is not an employee of the United States or a Peace 
     Corps volunteer.
       ``(d) Terms and Conditions.--With respect to the membership 
     of a candidate in the Corps, the terms and conditions of the 
     enrollment, training, compensation, hours of work, benefits, 
     leave, termination, and all other terms and conditions of the 
     service of such participant shall be exclusively those set 
     forth in this part and those consistent with such terms and 
     conditions which the Secretary may prescribe.
       ``(e) Termination.--The membership in the Corps of a 
     participant may be terminated at any time at the pleasure of 
     the Director.

     ``SEC. 276. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE MEMBERS IN THE GLOBAL 
                   HEALTH CORPS.

       ``(a) Authority To Enroll.--A member of the Service may 
     enroll in the Corps and provide services as a member of the 
     Corps described in this part.
       ``(b) Minimum Number.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of enactment of the Global Health Corps Act of 2005, the 
     Secretary shall designate not less than 500 employees of the 
     Service as members of the Corps and make such employees 
     available to provide non-emergency, routine health care items 
     and related services in the Corps, as the Secretary and the 
     Secretary of State determine appropriate.
       ``(c) Rapid Response Capacity.--Not later than 2 years 
     after the date of enactment of the Global Health Corps Act of 
     2005, the Secretary shall establish within the Commissioned 
     Corps of the Service a rapid response capacity, consisting of 
     not less than 250 individuals, to provide health care items 
     and related services in foreign countries or regions to carry 
     out the purpose of the Corps on short notice, in coordination 
     with the Secretary of State. A member of the Commissioned 
     Corps who is included in such rapid response capacity shall--
       ``(1) be trained, equipped, and able to deploy to a foreign 
     country or region within 72 hours of notification of such 
     deployment; and
       ``(2) be considered a participant in the Corps.''.

     SEC. 3. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN THE CORPS.

       The Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501) is amended by 
     inserting after section 5 the following new section:


                    ``GLOBAL HEALTH CORPS VOLUNTEERS

       ``Sec. 5A. (a) Volunteers are authorized to participate in 
     the Global Health Corps, established in section 273 of the 
     Public Health Service Act.
       ``(b) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
     the Global Health Corps Act of 2005, the Director of the 
     Peace Corps shall make available not less than 250 positions 
     within the Peace Corps for volunteers to serve in the Global 
     Health Corps.
       ``(c) A volunteer may apply and be approved for enrollment 
     in the Global Health Corps at such time and in such manner as 
     the Director of the Peace Corps and the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services require.
       ``(d) A volunteer who is enrolled in the Global Health 
     Corps shall receive training under section 274(e)(2) of the 
     Public Health Service Act, unless such volunteer meets the 
     requirements of clause (i) or (ii) of section 273(d)(1)(C) of 
     such Act.
       ``(e) A volunteer who is enrolled in the Global Health 
     Corps shall provide services as a member of the Global Health 
     Corps as described in part D of title II of the Public Health 
     Service Act.
       ``(f) A volunteer who is enrolled in the Global Health 
     Corps shall be subject to all other terms and conditions of 
     service under this Act.''.

     SEC. 4. VOLUNTEERS FOR PROSPERITY.

       (a) Finding.--Congress finds that the Volunteers for 
     Prosperity program, organized pursuant to Executive Order 
     13317 (42 U.S.C. 12501 note), is a model to link non-Federal 
     volunteers with non-Federal organizations to carry out 
     important initiatives.
       (b) Requirement for Corps Initiative.--The head of the 
     Volunteers for Prosperity program shall establish an 
     initiative known as the Health Care for Peace initiative 
     within such program for the purpose of making available non-
     Federal volunteers to participate in the Global Health Corps 
     established under section 273 of the Public Health Service 
     Act.

     SEC. 5. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

       (a) In General.--Under the authority of subsections (a) and 
     (b) of section 601 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2351) and section 635(d) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 
     2395(d)), the Director of the Global Health Corps may 
     establish private-public partnerships in furtherance of the 
     purposes of this Act and the Global Health Corps. Such 
     partnerships may include activities such as--
       (1) corporate volunteer programs;
       (2) training;
       (3) transportation;
       (4) field support;
       (5) volunteer identification;
       (6) lodging;
       (7) communications;
       (8) fellowships and scholarships; and
       (9) other activities relevant to the mission of the Global 
     Health Corps or the operation of the Office of the Global 
     Health Corps, as determined by the Director of the Global 
     Health Corps.
       (b) Consultation.--The Director of the Global Health Corps 
     shall consult with the Global Development Alliance 
     Secretariat at the United States Agency for International 
     Development to develop a model for such public-private 
     partnerships and gain information on established best 
     practices.

     SEC. 6. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.

       Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit 
     to Congress a detailed plan for the implementation of this 
     Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such report shall 
     include recommendations for improving the functioning and 
     activities of the Global Health Corps, including the 
     feasibility, cost, utility, and desirability of establishing 
     incentives to recruit candidates into the Corps.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by 
     this Act.
                                 ______