[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1688-S1693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NICK CASTLE PEACE CORPS REFORM ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 308, S. 2286.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2286) to amend the Peace Corps Act to provide 
     greater protection and services for Peace Corps volunteers, 
     and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with 
amendments, as follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface 
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in 
italics.)

                                S. 2286

       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 ``Nick 
     Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018''.

[[Page S1689]]

       (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. Consultation with Congress required before opening or closing 
              overseas offices and country programs.
Sec. 203. Publication requirement for volunteer surveys.

              TITLE III--CRIME RISK REDUCTION ENHANCEMENTS

Sec. 301. Independent review of volunteer death.
Sec. 302. Monitoring training records.
Sec. 303. Additional disclosures to applicants for enrollment as 
              volunteers.
Sec. 304. Additional protections against sexual misconduct.
Sec. 305. Immediate victim advocacy notification.
Sec. 306. Extension of the Office of Victim Advocacy.
Sec. 307. Reform and extension of the Sexual Assault Advisory Council.
Sec. 308. 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 (22 U.S.C. 2501 et 
     seq.) is amended by inserting after section 5 (22 U.S.C. 
     2504) the following:

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

       ``(a) Health Care Medical Officers Selection Criteria.--In 
     selecting medical officers and support staff for overseas 
     Peace Corps posts, the Director shall strive to 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 considers to be 
     appropriate.
       ``(b) Review and Evaluation.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director, 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--
       ``(A) to ensure compliance with all relevant Peace Corps 
     policies, practices, and guidelines; and
       ``(B) to 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 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.
       ``(c) Antimalarial Drugs.--The Director 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 6 months 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 6 months 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:
       ``(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 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.
       (d) Paperwork Reduction Act Exemption.--Subchapter I of 
     chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as 
     the ``Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980''), shall not apply to 
     the collection of information through the survey required 
     under this section.

     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:
       ``(8) Designation of critical positions.--
       ``(A) In general.--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) Authority.--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) Requirements.--In exercising authority under 
     subparagraph (B), the Director shall ensure that all 
     decisions regarding the appointment, assignment, or extension 
     of employees to any such position--
       ``(i) are consistent with Federal law and Peace Corps 
     policy; and
       ``(ii) are based upon operational and programmatic factors.
       ``(D) Duration of appointments.--The term of any 
     appointment or assignment to any position designated under 
     subparagraph (A) may not exceed 5 years.''.

[[Page S1690]]

  


           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), by striking ``he'' and inserting 
     ``the President''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Availability of the Office of Inspector General.--
       ``(1) Training requirement.--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--
       ``(A) information regarding the mandate of the Inspector 
     General and the availability of the Inspector General as a 
     resource for volunteers; [and
       [``(B) the contact information of the Inspector General.]
       ``(B) the contact information of the Inspector General;
       ``(C) information regarding the mandate of the Office of 
     Victim Advocacy and the availability of the Office of Victim 
     Advocacy as a resource for volunteers; and
       ``(D) the contact information of the Office of Victim 
     Advocacy.
       ``(2) Frequency of training.--The President shall ensure 
     that volunteers receive the information described in 
     paragraph (1) not less frequently than--
       ``(A) once during pre-enrollment training; and
       ``(B) once during each significant training provided by the 
     Peace Corps to volunteers after enrollment.''.

     SEC. 202. CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS REQUIRED BEFORE OPENING 
                   OR CLOSING OVERSEAS OFFICES AND COUNTRY 
                   PROGRAMS.

       The Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) is amended by 
     inserting after section 10 (22 U.S.C. 2509) the following:

     ``SEC. 10A. CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS REQUIRED BEFORE 
                   OPENING OR CLOSING OVERSEAS OFFICES AND COUNTRY 
                   PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 
     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 Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives.
       ``(b) Waiver.--The Director may waive the application of 
     subsection (a) if an action described in such subsection is 
     necessary to ameliorate a substantial security risk to Peace 
     Corps volunteers or other Peace Corps personnel.''.

     SEC. 203. PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR VOLUNTEER SURVEYS.

       Section 8E of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507e) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by inserting after the first 
     sentence the following: ``The President shall ensure that 
     each performance plan established under this subsection for a 
     Peace Corps representative includes a consideration of the 
     results, with respect to such representative and the country 
     of service of such representative, of each survey conducted 
     under subsection (c).''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``2018'' and 
     inserting ``2023''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following: ``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.''.

              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) is 
     amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d)(1) 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.
       ``(2) Not later than 10 days after receiving notification 
     of the death of a volunteer, the President shall provide a 
     briefing to the Inspector General, which shall include--
       ``(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 volunteer's death; and
       ``(ii) a description of any steps the Peace Corps plans to 
     take to inquire further into the cause or root cause of the 
     volunteer's death, 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 
     volunteer's death 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.
       ``(3) If the Peace Corps has performed or engaged another 
     entity to perform a root cause analysis or similar report 
     that describes the root cause or proximate 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.
       ``(4) 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 volunteer's death, 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.
       ``(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 shall 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 shall 
     not be considered a transfer of program operating 
     responsibilities to the Inspector General of the Peace 
     Corps.''.

     SEC. 302. MONITORING TRAINING RECORDS.

       Section 8 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507), as 
     amended by section 201, is further amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(d) Training Records.--The President shall implement 
     procedures to maintain a written record verifying the 
     attendance of each individual completing the training 
     required under this section and sections 8A, 8B, and 8F.''.

     SEC. 303. ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES TO APPLICANTS FOR ENROLLMENT 
                   AS VOLUNTEERS.

       Section 8A(d) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507a(d)) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Information Regarding Crimes and Risks.--Each 
     applicant for enrollment as a volunteer shall be provided, 
     with respect to the country in which the applicant has been 
     invited to serve, with information regarding crimes against 
     and risks to volunteers, including--
       ``(1) an overview of past crimes against volunteers in such 
     country;
       ``(2) the current early termination rate of volunteers 
     serving in such country;
       ``(3) health risks in such country; and
       ``(4) the level of satisfaction reported by volunteers 
     serving in such country.''.

     SEC. 304. ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

       Section 8B(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507b(a)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       [``(7) maintains a record of the resignation of any 
     employee or volunteer of the Peace Corps who resigns before a 
     determination has been made regarding an allegation that such 
     person committed a sexual assault or other serious 
     misconduct;]
       ``(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, is 
     enrolled, or otherwise work with the Peace Corps; and
       [``(9) provides orientation to families who host volunteers 
     regarding the awareness and prevention of sexual assault.]
       ``(9) provides orientation or information regarding the 
     awareness and prevention of sexual assault to--
       ``(A) Peace Corps-selected host families; and
       ``(B) a designated person of authority at the volunteer's 
     initial workplace.''.

[[Page S1691]]

  


     SEC. 305. IMMEDIATE VICTIM ADVOCACY NOTIFICATION.

       Section 8B(a)(3) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 
     2507b(a)(3)) is amended by striking ``SARLs to immediately 
     contact'' and inserting ``the Peace Corps to designate the 
     staff at each post who shall be responsible for providing the 
     services described in subsection (c) and for immediately 
     contacting''.

     SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF THE OFFICE OF VICTIM ADVOCACY.

       Section 8C of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507c) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the heading to subsection (a), by striking 
     ``Victims'' and inserting ``Victim''; and
       [(2) in subsection (e), by striking ``2018'' and inserting 
     ``2023''.]
       (2) by striking subsection (e).

     SEC. 307. 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), 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
       (2) in subsection (g), by striking ``2018'' and inserting 
     ``2023''.

     SEC. 308. 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.''.
  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported amendments be agreed to and the Corker amendment at 
the desk be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendments were agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2209) was agreed to, as follows:

  (Purpose: To require the Director of the Peace Corps to notify and 
consult with the Committees on Appropriations before opening, closing, 
significantly reducing, or suspending a domestic or oversees office or 
                            country program)

       On page 13, line 9, insert ``, the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the House of Representatives,'' after ``Senate''.

  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, as 
amended, be considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  If not, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, 
Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (S. 2286), as amended, was passed, as follows:

                                S. 2286

       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 ``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. Consultation with Congress required before opening or closing 
              overseas offices and country programs.
Sec. 203. Publication requirement for volunteer surveys.

              TITLE III--CRIME RISK REDUCTION ENHANCEMENTS

Sec. 301. Independent review of volunteer death.
Sec. 302. Monitoring training records.
Sec. 303. Additional disclosures to applicants for enrollment as 
              volunteers.
Sec. 304. Additional protections against sexual misconduct.
Sec. 305. Immediate victim advocacy notification.
Sec. 306. Extension of the Office of Victim Advocacy.
Sec. 307. Reform and extension of the Sexual Assault Advisory Council.
Sec. 308. 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 (22 U.S.C. 2501 et 
     seq.) is amended by inserting after section 5 (22 U.S.C. 
     2504) the following:

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

       ``(a) Health Care Medical Officers Selection Criteria.--In 
     selecting medical officers and support staff for overseas 
     Peace Corps posts, the Director shall strive to 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 considers to be 
     appropriate.
       ``(b) Review and Evaluation.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director, 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--
       ``(A) to ensure compliance with all relevant Peace Corps 
     policies, practices, and guidelines; and
       ``(B) to 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 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.
       ``(c) Antimalarial Drugs.--The Director 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 6 months 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 6 months 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.

[[Page S1692]]

  


     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:
       ``(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 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.
       (d) Paperwork Reduction Act Exemption.--Subchapter I of 
     chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as 
     the ``Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980''), shall not apply to 
     the collection of information through the survey required 
     under this section.

     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:
       ``(8) Designation of critical positions.--
       ``(A) In general.--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) Authority.--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) Requirements.--In exercising authority under 
     subparagraph (B), the Director shall ensure that all 
     decisions regarding the appointment, assignment, or extension 
     of employees to any such position--
       ``(i) are consistent with Federal law and Peace Corps 
     policy; and
       ``(ii) are based upon operational and programmatic factors.
       ``(D) Duration of appointments.--The term of any 
     appointment or assignment to any position designated under 
     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), by striking ``he'' and inserting 
     ``the President''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Availability of the Office of Inspector General.--
       ``(1) Training requirement.--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--
       ``(A) information regarding the mandate of the Inspector 
     General and the availability of the Inspector General as a 
     resource for volunteers;
       ``(B) the contact information of the Inspector General;
       ``(C) information regarding the mandate of the Office of 
     Victim Advocacy and the availability of the Office of Victim 
     Advocacy as a resource for volunteers; and
       ``(D) the contact information of the Office of Victim 
     Advocacy.
       ``(2) Frequency of training.--The President shall ensure 
     that volunteers receive the information described in 
     paragraph (1) not less frequently than--
       ``(A) once during pre-enrollment training; and
       ``(B) once during each significant training provided by the 
     Peace Corps to volunteers after enrollment.''.

     SEC. 202. CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS REQUIRED BEFORE OPENING 
                   OR CLOSING OVERSEAS OFFICES AND COUNTRY 
                   PROGRAMS.

       The Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) is amended by 
     inserting after section 10 (22 U.S.C. 2509) the following:

     ``SEC. 10A. CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS REQUIRED BEFORE 
                   OPENING OR CLOSING OVERSEAS OFFICES AND COUNTRY 
                   PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 
     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 Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, 
     and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives.
       ``(b) Waiver.--The Director may waive the application of 
     subsection (a) if an action described in such subsection is 
     necessary to ameliorate a substantial security risk to Peace 
     Corps volunteers or other Peace Corps personnel.''.

     SEC. 203. PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR VOLUNTEER SURVEYS.

       Section 8E of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507e) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by inserting after the first 
     sentence the following: ``The President shall ensure that 
     each performance plan established under this subsection for a 
     Peace Corps representative includes a consideration of the 
     results, with respect to such representative and the country 
     of service of such representative, of each survey conducted 
     under subsection (c).''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``2018'' and 
     inserting ``2023''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following: ``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.''.

              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) is 
     amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d)(1) 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.
       ``(2) Not later than 10 days after receiving notification 
     of the death of a volunteer, the President shall provide a 
     briefing to the Inspector General, which shall include--
       ``(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 volunteer's death; and
       ``(ii) a description of any steps the Peace Corps plans to 
     take to inquire further into the cause or root cause of the 
     volunteer's death, 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 
     volunteer's death 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.
       ``(3) If the Peace Corps has performed or engaged another 
     entity to perform a root cause analysis or similar report 
     that describes the root cause or proximate 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.

[[Page S1693]]

       ``(4) 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 volunteer's death, 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.
       ``(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 shall 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 shall 
     not be considered a transfer of program operating 
     responsibilities to the Inspector General of the Peace 
     Corps.''.

     SEC. 302. MONITORING TRAINING RECORDS.

       Section 8 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507), as 
     amended by section 201, is further amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(d) Training Records.--The President shall implement 
     procedures to maintain a written record verifying the 
     attendance of each individual completing the training 
     required under this section and sections 8A, 8B, and 8F.''.

     SEC. 303. ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES TO APPLICANTS FOR ENROLLMENT 
                   AS VOLUNTEERS.

       Section 8A(d) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507a(d)) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Information Regarding Crimes and Risks.--Each 
     applicant for enrollment as a volunteer shall be provided, 
     with respect to the country in which the applicant has been 
     invited to serve, with information regarding crimes against 
     and risks to volunteers, including--
       ``(1) an overview of past crimes against volunteers in such 
     country;
       ``(2) the current early termination rate of volunteers 
     serving in such country;
       ``(3) health risks in such country; and
       ``(4) the level of satisfaction reported by volunteers 
     serving in such country.''.

     SEC. 304. ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

       Section 8B(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507b(a)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(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, is 
     enrolled, or otherwise work with the Peace Corps; and
       ``(9) provides orientation or information regarding the 
     awareness and prevention of sexual assault to--
       ``(A) Peace Corps-selected host families; and
       ``(B) a designated person of authority at the volunteer's 
     initial workplace.''.

     SEC. 305. IMMEDIATE VICTIM ADVOCACY NOTIFICATION.

       Section 8B(a)(3) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 
     2507b(a)(3)) is amended by striking ``SARLs to immediately 
     contact'' and inserting ``the Peace Corps to designate the 
     staff at each post who shall be responsible for providing the 
     services described in subsection (c) and for immediately 
     contacting''.

     SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF THE OFFICE OF VICTIM ADVOCACY.

       Section 8C of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507c) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the heading to subsection (a), by striking 
     ``Victims'' and inserting ``Victim''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (e).

     SEC. 307. 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), 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
       (2) in subsection (g), by striking ``2018'' and inserting 
     ``2023''.

     SEC. 308. 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.''.

                          ____________________