[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.''.
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