[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 49 (Thursday, March 27, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1814-S1815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      EXECUTIVE CALENDAR OBJECTION

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I intend to object to any unanimous 
consent request at the present time relating to the nomination of 
Carolyn Hessler Radelet to be the Director of the Peace Corps.
  I will object because I am inquiring into the circumstances related 
to the refusal of the Peace Corps to grant the Peace Corps inspector 
general full and timely access to records to which the inspector 
general is entitled under the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer 
Protection Act of 2011 and the Inspector General Act of 1978.
  At a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform convened on January 15, 2014, Peace Corps inspector general 
Kathy Buller detailed difficulties she has encountered in accessing 
records which she deemed were directly relevant to her review of Peace 
Corps' handling of reports from its volunteers who claim that they have 
been sexually assaulted.
  According to Inspector General Buller's testimony, records were 
withheld based on reasoning that directly contravenes the Kate Puzey 
Act and the Inspector General Act.
  In addition, Inspector General Buller testified that even when 
limited access to records was later granted, most of the relevant 
information was withheld under an overbroad interpretation of what 
constitutes ``personally identifying information'' under 22 U.S.C. 
Sec. 2507a(f)(1)-(2). Inspector General Buller did clarify that, 
following objections from Congress, Peace Corps narrowed its 
interpretation of ``personally identifying information'' which allowed 
her to access slightly more information relating to the subject sexual 
assaults but not everything to which the inspector general is entitled.
  In order to exercise the oversight function envisioned by the Kate 
Puzey Act and the Inspector General Act, it is critical for the Peace 
Corps inspector general to have full and timely access to all Peace 
Corps records which she deems relevant to her review.
  The Peace Corps apparently withheld records from the inspector 
general during the nominee's tenure as the Acting Director, and I would 
like the opportunity to understand the circumstances more fully.

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                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       TRIBUTE TO SFC OLLEN HUNT

 Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to SFC 
retired Ollen Hunt for his exceptional dedication to duty and service 
to the U.S. Army and to the United States of America.
  A native of McLemoresville, TN, Sergeant Hunt was drafted into the 
U.S. Army in November of 1942. Sergeant Hunt was a part of the 92nd 
Infantry Division, which was also known as ``The Buffalo Division.'' 
Sergeant Hunt and his unit boarded troop ships at Camp Henry, VA, and 
survived the sea journey to their destination in Italy. The 92nd fought 
with distinction and divisiveness, and contributed to the eventual 
defeat of the Axis Powers.
  After returning from his deployment, Sergeant Hunt returned home for 
a short time before returning to assignments throughout Europe. He was 
responsible for the food and logistics operations at various military 
installations. He continued his military service until retiring as a 
Sergeant First Class in 1963. A year after retirement, Sergeant Hunt 
accepted a position as a flight kitchen chef in Anchorage, AK. Sergeant 
Hunt and his wife Hanna owned many small businesses, including the Hof 
Brau and Sandwich Deck. He also served on several downtown merchant and 
municipal committees and councils, receiving numerous awards for his 
contributions to the Anchorage community. After his ``second 
retirement'', Sergeant Hunt worked with the Veterans Administration's 
Oral History project writers to create an autobiography of his life. 
His work formed what would later become his book Buffalo Soldier: What 
I Did for My Country, What My Country Did for Me.
  Sergeant Hunt's leadership throughout his career has positively 
influenced his peers and superiors, soldiers, and civilians alike. As a 
hardworking and friendly man, he will be greatly missed by his family 
and those fortunate enough to have known him.
  On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in 
recognizing and commending SFC Ollen Hunt for his service to his 
country in the United States Army. We wish his wife, Hannelore, and 
their two children, Katherine and Ollen, all the best as they celebrate 
the life of this great man.

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