[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 116 (Wednesday, July 11, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SAM FARR AND NICK CASTLE PEACE CORPS REFORM ACT OF 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2018

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, about 15 years ago, I walked into a 
community in the Dominican Republic with a loose grasp of the Spanish 
language and little idea about the history or culture of those I would 
be living with for the next two years.
  For months, I worked hand in hand with that community to build 
sustainable ecotourism that continues to grow today.
  Wrestling with the existing industry there was hard.
  Battling with entrenched government interests was hard.
  But the hardest part, the one that took months to achieve, was 
earning the trust of those people. People who to this day I'm proud to 
call some of my closest friends.
  And that is what the Peace Corps is all about.
  Men and women, young and old, walking into foreign lands and remote 
neighborhoods offering their own helping hand on behalf of this nation.
  Diplomats of democracy and decency embedded in the farthest corners 
of our globe.
  Volunteers exporting our values and our ideals in search of a kinder, 
fairer world.
  American might can be found on battlefields and military bases, yes, 
but it can also be found in the college graduate teaching in a small 
village in India or the recent retiree teaching a stranger in Belize 
how to build a business.
  Enactment of this bill will allow current and future Peace Corps 
Volunteers to carry out their important duty while improving their 
access to care and ensuring their safety and security abroad.
  Before they even step foot on a plane, Volunteers will be made fully 
informed of the risks they face in the country in which they have been 
invited to serve.
  And once the jetlag has worn off and they've written their first 
letter home, we will guarantee that these Volunteers will have access 
to well-qualified medical officers and support staff at overseas Peace 
Corps posts.
  In addition, this bill promises to take a number of steps to address 
and combat instances of sexual assault by reauthorizing the Sexual 
Assault Advisory Council through 2023 and requiring the Peace Corps to 
provide information to host families regarding sexual assault 
prevention and awareness.
  And because we recognize that tragedies can occur and this service is 
not without risks, for any Volunteer who returns home with a service-
connected disability, this legislation will help minimize bureaucratic 
delay and work to ensure that they receive the medical care they 
deserve without delay.
  Through their selfless and tireless work, Peace Corps Volunteers 
leave lasting, positive impressions in countries all across the world 
that can endure generations.
  With the bipartisan passage of this bill, we are one step closer to 
protecting our Volunteers currently serving around the world and 
ensuring the Peace Corps' influence reaches new heights. I thank 
Congressman Poe for his advocacy and his staff for helping advance this 
important piece of legislation.
  Before concluding, I would like to offer one point of clarification.
  Under Section 102 of this bill, if the Director of Peace Corps 
determines that the injury or illness is probably related to their 
service outside of the U.S., a former Peace Corps Volunteer will be 
able to access health care for such condition for 120 days. During this 
120 period, the Department of Labor will provide a written 
authorization for physician or medical facility to provide medical 
treatment or examination to a former Peace Corps Volunteer. This 
authorization is referred to as a ``voucher'' under this legislation, 
and is the mechanism by which the Peace Corps Volunteer secures medical 
services from a medical provider when they seek medical services. For 
purposes of clarification, this voucher will be similar to Form CA-16 
issued by the U.S. Department of Labor provides medical coverage for a 
60 day period. Under FECA, a federal employee injured while in the 
performance of duty has the initial right to select a physician of his/
her choice to provide necessary treatment. These medical expenses will 
be paid out of the Employees' Compensation Fund established under the 
Federal Employees' Compensation Act.

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