PUBLIC LAW 112–57—NOV. 21, 2011 

KATE PUZEY PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER 

PROTECTION ACT OF 2011 


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125 STAT. 736 PUBLIC LAW 112–57—NOV. 21, 2011 

Public Law 112–57 

112th Congress 

An Act 

To amend the Peace Corps Act to require sexual assault risk-reduction and response 

training, the development of a sexual assault policy, the establishment of an 

Office of Victim Advocacy, the establishment of a Sexual Assault Advisory Council, 

and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer 

Protection Act of 2011’’. 

SEC. 2. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER PROTECTION. 

The Peace Corps Act is amended by inserting after section 

8 (22 U.S.C. 2507) the following new sections: 

‘‘SEXUAL ASSAULT RISK-REDUCTION AND RESPONSE TRAINING

‘‘SEC. 8A. (a) IN GENERAL.—As part of the training provided 

to all volunteers under section 8(a), the President shall develop 

and implement comprehensive sexual assault risk-reduction and 

response training that, to the extent practicable, conforms to best 

practices in the sexual assault field. 

‘‘(b) DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS.—In 

developing the sexual assault risk-reduction and response training 

under subsection (a), the President shall consult with and incorporate, as appropriate, the recommendations and views of experts 

in the sexual assault field. 

‘‘(c) SUBSEQUENT TRAINING.—Once a volunteer has arrived in 

his or her country of service, the President shall provide the volunteer with training tailored to the country of service that includes 

cultural training relating to gender relations, risk-reduction strategies, treatment available in such country (including sexual assault 

forensic exams, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV exposure, 

screening for sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy testing), 

MedEvac procedures, and information regarding a victim’s right 

to pursue legal action against a perpetrator. 

‘‘(d) INFORMATION REGARDING CRIMES AND RISKS.—Each 

applicant for enrollment as a volunteer shall be provided with 

information regarding crimes against and risks to volunteers in 

the country in which the applicant has been invited to serve, 

including an overview of past crimes against volunteers in the 

country. 

‘‘(e) CONTACT INFORMATION.—The President shall provide each 

applicant, before the applicant enrolls as a volunteer, with— 

22 USC 2507a. 

President. 

Kate Puzey 

Peace Corps 

Volunteer 

Protection Act 

of 2011. 

22 USC 2501 

note. 

Nov. 21, 2011 

[S. 1280] 


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‘‘(1) the contact information of the Inspector General of 

the Peace Corps for purposes of reporting sexual assault mismanagement or any other mismanagement, misconduct, wrongdoing, or violations of law or policy whenever it involves a 

Peace Corps employee, volunteer, contractor, or outside party 

that receives funds from the Peace Corps; 

‘‘(2) clear, written guidelines regarding whom to contact, 

including the direct telephone number for the designated Sexual 

Assault Response Liaison (SARL) and the Office of Victim 

Advocacy and what steps to take in the event of a sexual 

assault or other crime; and 

‘‘(3) contact information for a 24-hour sexual assault hotline 

to be established for the purpose of providing volunteers a 

mechanism to anonymously— 

‘‘(A) report sexual assault; 

‘‘(B) receive crisis counseling in the event of a sexual 

assault; and 

‘‘(C) seek information about Peace Corps sexual assault 

reporting and response procedures. 

‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section and sections 8B through 8G: 

‘‘(1) PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.—The term 

‘personally identifying information’ means individually identifying information for or about a volunteer who is a victim 

of sexual assault, including information likely to disclose the 

location of such victim, including the following: 

‘‘(A) A first and last name. 

‘‘(B) A home or other physical address. 

‘‘(C) Contact information (including a postal, email, 

or Internet protocol address, or telephone or facsimile 

number). 

‘‘(D) A social security number. 

‘‘(E) Any other information, including date of birth, 

racial or ethnic background, or religious affiliation, that, 

in combination with information described in subparagraphs (A) through (D), would serve to identify the victim. 

‘‘(2) RESTRICTED REPORTING.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘restricted reporting’ 

means a system of reporting that allows a volunteer who 

is sexually assaulted to confidentially disclose the details 

of his or her assault to specified individuals and receive 

the services outlined in section 8B(c) without the dissemination of his or her personally identifying information 

except as necessary for the provision of such services, and 

without automatically triggering an official investigative 

process. 

‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.—In cases in which volunteers elect 

restricted reporting, disclosure of their personally identifying information is authorized to the following persons 

or organizations when disclosure would be for the following 

reasons: 

‘‘(i) Peace Corps staff or law enforcement when 

authorized by the victim in writing. 

‘‘(ii) Peace Corps staff or law enforcement to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to the 

health or safety of the victim or another person. 

Guidelines. 


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125 STAT. 738 PUBLIC LAW 112–57—NOV. 21, 2011 

‘‘(iii) SARLs, victim advocates or healthcare providers when required for the provision of victim services. 

‘‘(iv) State and Federal courts when ordered, or 

if disclosure is required by Federal or State statute. 

‘‘(C) NOTICE OF DISCLOSURE AND PRIVACY PROTEC- TION.—In cases in which information is disclosed pursuant 

to subparagraph (B), the President shall— 

‘‘(i) make reasonable attempts to provide notice 

to the volunteer with respect to whom such information 

is being released; and 

‘‘(ii) take such action as is necessary to protect 

the privacy and safety of the volunteer. 

‘‘(3) SEXUAL ASSAULT.—The term ‘sexual assault’ means 

any conduct prescribed by chapter 109A of title 18, United 

States Code, whether or not the conduct occurs in the special 

maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and 

includes both assaults committed by offenders who are 

strangers to the victim and assaults committed by offenders 

who are known or related by blood or marriage to the victim. 

‘‘(4) STALKING.—The term ‘stalking’ means engaging in a 

course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause 

a reasonable person to— 

‘‘(A) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; 

or 

‘‘(B) suffer substantial emotional distress. 

‘‘SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY

‘‘SEC. 8B. (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall develop and 

implement a comprehensive sexual assault policy that— 

‘‘(1) includes a system for restricted and unrestricted 

reporting of sexual assault; 

‘‘(2) mandates, for each Peace Corps country program, the 

designation of a Sexual Assault Response Liaison (SARL), who 

shall receive comprehensive training on procedures to respond 

to reports of sexual assault, with duties including ensuring 

that volunteers who are victims of sexual assault are moved 

to a safe environment and accompanying victims through the 

in-country response at the request of the victim; 

‘‘(3) requires SARLs to immediately contact a Victim Advocate upon receiving a report of sexual assault in accordance 

with the restricted and unrestricted reporting guidelines 

promulgated by the Peace Corps; 

‘‘(4) to the extent practicable, conforms to best practices 

in the sexual assault field; 

‘‘(5) is applicable to all posts at which volunteers serve; 

and 

‘‘(6) includes a guarantee that volunteers will not suffer 

loss of living allowances for reporting a sexual assault. 

‘‘(b) DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS.—In 

developing the sexual assault policy under subsection (a), the President shall consult with and incorporate, as appropriate, the recommendations and views of experts in the sexual assault field, 

including experts with international experience. 

‘‘(c) ELEMENTS.—The sexual assault policy developed under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following services 

with respect to a volunteer who has been a victim of sexual assault: 

22 USC 2507b. 


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‘‘(1) The option of pursuing either restricted or unrestricted 

reporting of an assault. 

‘‘(2) Provision of a SARL and Victim’s Advocate to the 

volunteer. 

‘‘(3) At a volunteer’s discretion, provision of a sexual assault 

forensic exam in accordance with applicable host country law. 

‘‘(4) If necessary, the provision of emergency health care, 

including a mechanism for such volunteer to evaluate such 

provider. 

‘‘(5) If necessary, the provision of counseling and psychiatric 

medication. 

‘‘(6) Completion of a safety and treatment plan with the 

volunteer, if necessary. 

‘‘(7) Evacuation of such volunteer for medical treatment, 

accompanied by a Peace Corps staffer at the request of such 

volunteer. When evacuated to the United States, such volunteer 

shall be provided, to the extent practicable, a choice of medical 

providers including a mechanism for such volunteers to 

evaluate the provider. 

‘‘(8) An explanation to the volunteer of available law 

enforcement and prosecutorial options, and legal representation. 

‘‘(d) TRAINING.—The President shall train all staff outside the 

United States regarding the sexual assault policy developed under 

subsection (a). 

‘‘OFFICE OF VICTIM ADVOCACY

‘‘SEC. 8C. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF VICTIMS

ADVOCACY.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall establish an Office 

of Victim Advocacy in Peace Corps headquarters headed by 

a full-time victim advocate who shall report directly to the 

Director. The Office of Victim Advocacy may deploy personnel 

abroad when necessary to help assist victims. 

‘‘(2) PROHIBITION.—Peace Corps Medical Officers, Safety 

and Security Officers, and program staff may not serve as 

victim advocates. The victim advocate referred to in paragraph 

(1) may not have any other duties in the Peace Corps that 

are not reasonably connected to victim advocacy. 

‘‘(3) EXEMPTION.—The victim advocate and any additional 

victim advocates shall be exempt from the limitations specified 

in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph 

(5) under section 7(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2506(a)). 

‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 

‘‘(1) VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.—The Office of Victim 

Advocacy shall help develop and update the sexual assault 

risk-reduction and response training described in section 8A 

and the sexual assault policy described in section 8B, ensure 

that volunteers who are victims of sexual assault receive services specified in section 8B(c), and facilitate their access to 

such services. 

‘‘(2) OTHER CRIMES.—In addition to assisting victims of 

sexual assault in accordance with paragraph (1), the Office 

of Victim Advocacy shall assist volunteers who are victims 

of crime by making such victims aware of the services available 

to them and facilitating their access to such services. 

22 USC 2507c. 


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125 STAT. 740 PUBLIC LAW 112–57—NOV. 21, 2011 

‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—The Office of Victim Advocacy shall give 

priority to cases involving serious crimes, including sexual 

assault and stalking. 

‘‘(c) STATUS UPDATES.—The Office of Victim Advocacy shall 

provide to volunteers who are victims regular updates on the status 

of their cases if such volunteers have opted to pursue prosecution. 

‘‘(d) TRANSITION.—The Office of Victim Advocacy shall assist 

volunteers who are victims of crime and whose service has terminated in receiving the services specified in section 8B(c) requested 

by such volunteer. 

‘‘(e) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to be effective on October 

1, 2018. 

‘‘ESTABLISHMENT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVISORY COUNCIL

‘‘SEC. 8D. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Sexual 

Assault Advisory Council (in this section referred to as the 

‘Council’). 

‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall be composed of not less 

than 8 individuals selected by the President, not later than 180 

days after the date of the enactment of this section, who are 

returned volunteers (including volunteers who were victims of 

sexual assault and volunteers who were not victims of sexual 

assault) and governmental and nongovernmental experts and 

professionals in the sexual assault field. No Peace Corps employee 

shall be a member of the Council. The number of governmental 

experts appointed to the Council shall not exceed the number of 

nongovernmental experts. 

‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS; MEETINGS.—The Council shall meet not less 

often than annually to review the sexual assault risk-reduction 

and response training developed under section 8A, the sexual 

assault policy developed under section 8B, and such other matters 

related to sexual assault the Council views as appropriate, to ensure 

that such training and policy conform to the extent practicable 

to best practices in the sexual assault field. 

‘‘(d) REPORTS.—On an annual basis for 5 years after the date 

of the enactment of this section and at the discretion of the Council 

thereafter, the Council shall submit to the President and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations 

of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report 

on its findings based on the reviews conducted pursuant to subsection (c). 

‘‘(e) EMPLOYEE STATUS.—Members of the Council shall not be 

considered employees of the United States Government for any 

purpose and shall not receive compensation other than reimbursement of travel expenses and per diem allowance in accordance 

with section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 

‘‘(f) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Council. 

‘‘(g) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to be effective on October 

1, 2018. 

‘‘VOLUNTEER FEEDBACK AND PEACE CORPS REVIEW

‘‘SEC. 8E. (a) MONITORING AND EVALUATION.—Not later than 

1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the President 

shall establish goals, metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans 

Deadline. 

22 USC 2507e. 

Deadline. 

22 USC 2507d. 


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for all Peace Corps programs. Monitoring and evaluation plans 

shall incorporate best practices from monitoring and evaluation 

studies and analyses. 

‘‘(b) PERFORMANCE PLANS AND ELEMENTS.—The President shall 

establish performance plans with performance elements and standards for Peace Corps representatives and shall review the performance of Peace Corps representatives not less than annually to 

determine whether they have met these performance elements and 

standards. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting 

the discretion of the President to remove a Peace Corps representative. 

‘‘(c) ANNUAL VOLUNTEER SURVEYS.—Annually through September 30, 2018, the President shall conduct a confidential survey 

of volunteers regarding the effectiveness of Peace Corps programs 

and staff and the safety of volunteers. The results shall be provided 

in aggregate form without identifying information to the Committee 

on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee 

on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. Results from 

the annual volunteer survey shall be considered in reviewing the 

performance of Peace Corps representatives under subsection (a). 

‘‘(d) PEACE CORPS INSPECTOR GENERAL.—The Inspector General 

of the Peace Corps shall— 

‘‘(1) submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations and 

the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations 

of the House of Representatives— 

‘‘(A) a report, not later than one year after the date 

of the enactment of this section, and biennially through 

September 30, 2018, on reports received from volunteers 

relating to misconduct, mismanagement, or policy violations of Peace Corps staff, any breaches of the confidentiality of volunteers, and any actions taken to assure the 

safety of volunteers who provide such reports; 

‘‘(B) a report, not later than two years and five years 

after the date of the enactment of this section, evaluating 

the effectiveness and implementation of the sexual assault 

risk-reduction and response training developed under section 8A and the sexual assault policy developed under 

section 8B, including a case review of a statistically significant number of cases; and 

‘‘(C) a report, not later than two years after the date 

of the enactment of this section, describing how Peace 

Corps representatives are hired, how Peace Corps representatives are terminated, and how Peace Corps representatives hire staff, including an assessment of the 

implementation of the performance plans described in subsection (b); and 

‘‘(2) when conducting audits or evaluations of Peace Corps 

programs overseas, notify the Director of the Peace Corps about 

the results of such evaluations, including concerns the Inspector 

General has noted, if any, about the performance of Peace 

Corps representatives, for appropriate action. 

‘‘(e) PORTFOLIO REVIEWS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall, at least once every 

3 years, perform a review to evaluate the allocation and delivery 

of resources across the countries the Peace Corps serves or 

Notification. 

Reports. 

Deadlines. 


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is considering for service. Such portfolio reviews shall at a 

minimum include the following with respect to each such 

country: 

‘‘(A) An evaluation of the country’s commitment to 

the Peace Corps program. 

‘‘(B) An analysis of the safety and security of volunteers. 

‘‘(C) An evaluation of the country’s need for assistance. 

‘‘(D) An analysis of country program costs. 

‘‘(E) An evaluation of the effectiveness of management 

of each post within a country. 

‘‘(F) An evaluation of the country’s congruence with 

the Peace Corp’s mission and strategic priorities. 

‘‘(2) BRIEFING.—Upon request of the Chairman and 

Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

the Senate or the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 

of Representatives, the President shall brief such committees 

on each portfolio review required under paragraph (1). If 

requested, each such briefing shall discuss performance measures and sources of data used (such as project status reports, 

volunteer surveys, impact studies, reports of Inspector General 

of the Peace Corps, and any relevant external sources) in 

making the findings and conclusions in such review. 

‘‘ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLICY ON STALKING

‘‘SEC. 8F. (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall develop and 

implement a comprehensive policy on stalking that— 

‘‘(1) requires an immediate, effective, and thorough 

response from the Peace Corps upon receipt of a report of 

stalking; 

‘‘(2) provides, during training, all Peace Corps volunteers 

with a point of contact for the reporting of stalking; and 

‘‘(3) protects the confidentiality of volunteers who report 

stalking to the maximum extent practicable. 

‘‘(b) DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS.—In 

developing the stalking policy under subsection (a), the President 

shall consult with and incorporate, as appropriate, the recommendations and views of those with expertise regarding the crime of 

stalking. 

‘‘(c) TRAINING OF IN-COUNTRY STAFF.—The President shall provide for the training of all in-country staff regarding the stalking 

policy developed under subsection (a). 

‘‘ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTION POLICY

‘‘SEC. 8G. (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall establish and 

maintain a process to allow volunteers to report incidents of misconduct or mismanagement, or violations of any policy, of the Peace 

Corps in order to protect the confidentiality and safety of such 

volunteers and of the information reported, and to ensure that 

such information is acted on appropriately. This process shall conform to existing best practices regarding confidentiality. 

‘‘(b) GUIDANCE.—The President shall provide additional training 

to officers and employees of the Peace Corps who have access 

to information reported by volunteers under subsection (a) in order 

to protect against the inappropriate disclosures of such information 

and ensure the safety of such volunteers. 

22 USC 2507g. 

22 USC 2507f. 


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‘‘(c) PENALTY.—Any Peace Corps volunteer or staff member 

who is responsible for maintaining confidentiality under subsection 

(a) and who breaches such duty shall be subject to disciplinary 

action, including termination, and in the case of a staff member, 

ineligibility for re-employment with the Peace Corps. 

‘‘REMOVAL AND ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

‘‘SEC. 8H. (a) IN GENERAL.—If a volunteer requests removal 

from the site in which such volunteer is serving because the volunteer feels at risk of imminent bodily harm, the President shall, 

as expeditiously as practical after receiving such request, remove 

the volunteer from the site. If the President receives such a request, 

the President shall assess and evaluate the safety of such site 

and may not assign another volunteer to the site until such time 

as the assessment and evaluation is complete and the site has 

been determined to be safe. Volunteers may remain at a site during 

the assessment and evaluation. 

‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF SITE AS UNSAFE.—If the President 

determines that a site is unsafe for any remaining volunteers at 

the site, the President shall, as expeditiously as practical, remove 

all volunteers from the site. 

‘‘(c) TRACKING AND RECORDING.—The President shall establish 

a global tracking and recording system to track and record incidents 

of crimes against volunteers. 

‘‘REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

‘‘SEC. 8I. (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall annually 

through September 30, 2018, submit to the Committee on Foreign 

Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and 

the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report summarizing information on— 

‘‘(1) sexual assault of volunteers; 

‘‘(2) other crimes against volunteers; 

‘‘(3) the number of arrests, prosecutions, and incarcerations 

for crimes involving Peace Corps volunteers for every country in 

which volunteers serve; and 

‘‘(4) the annual rate of early termination of volunteers, including 

demographic data associated with such early termination. 

‘‘(b) GAO.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States 

shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

of Representatives a report evaluating the quality and accessibility 

of health care provided through the Department of Labor to 

returned volunteers upon their separation from the Peace Corps. 

‘‘(c) ACCESS TO COMMUNICATIONS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall determine the level 

of access to communication, including cellular and Internet 

access, of each volunteer. 

‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than six months after the date 

of the enactment of this section, the President shall submit 

to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee 

on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign 

Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

22 USC 2507i. 

22 USC 2507h. 


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of Representatives a report on the costs, feasibility, and benefits 

of providing all volunteers with access to adequate communication, including cellular service and Internet access.’’. 

SEC. 3. RETENTION OF COUNSEL FOR CRIME VICTIMS. 

Section 5(l) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(l)) is 

amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: 

‘‘and counsel may be employed and counsel fees, court costs and 

other expenses may be paid in the support of volunteers who 

are parties, complaining witnesses, or otherwise participating in 

the prosecution of crimes committed against such volunteers’’. 

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON STAFFING OF OFFICE OF VICTIM 

ADVOCACY. 

It is the sense of Congress that— 

(1) the Office of Victim Advocacy established under section 

8C of the Peace Corps Act, as added by section 2, should 

provide an adequate number of victim advocates so that each 

victim of crime receives critical information and support; 

(2) any full-time victim advocates and any additional victim 

advocates should be credentialed by a national victims assistance body; and 

(3) the training required under section 8A(a) of the Peace 

Corps Act, as added by section 2, should be credentialed by 

a national victims assistance body. 

SEC. 5. PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS. 

The Peace Corps Act is amended— 

(1) in section 7(a)(3) (22 U.S.C. 2506(a)(3)), by inserting 

‘‘, or contracted with for personal services under section 

10(a)(5),’’ after ‘‘employed, appointed, or assigned under this 

subsection’’; and 

(2) in section 10(a)(5) (22 U.S.C. 2509(a)(5)), by striking 

‘‘any purpose’’ and inserting ‘‘the purposes of any law administered by the Office of Personnel Management (except that the 

President may determine the applicability to such individuals 

of provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 

3901 et seq.))’’. 

SEC. 6. INDEPENDENCE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE PEACE 

CORPS. 

Section 7(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2506(a)) is 

amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(7) The limitations specified in subparagraphs (A) and 

(B) of paragraph (2) and in paragraph (5) shall not apply 

to— 

‘‘(A) the Inspector General of the Peace Corps; and 

‘‘(B) officers and employees of the Office of the 

Inspector General of the Peace Corps.’’. 

SEC. 7. CONFORMING SAFETY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT 

REGARDING PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS SERVING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps shall 

consult with the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security 

and enter into a memorandum of understanding that specifies the 

Deadline. 

Consultation. 

22 USC 2503 

note. 


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duties and obligations of the Peace Corps and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the Department of State with respect to the 

protection of Peace Corps volunteers and staff members serving 

in foreign countries, including with respect to investigations of 

safety and security incidents and crimes committed against volunteers and staff members. 

(b) INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW.— (1) REVIEW.—The Inspector General of the Peace Corps 

shall review the memorandum of understanding described in 

subsection (a) and be afforded the opportunity to recommend 

changes that advance the safety and security of Peace Corps 

volunteers before entry into force of the memorandum of understanding. 

(2) REPORT.—The Director of the Peace Corps shall consider 

the recommendations of the Inspector General of the Peace 

Corps regarding the memorandum of understanding described 

in subsection (a). If the Director enters into the memorandum 

of understanding without implementing a recommendation of 

the Inspector General, the Director shall submit to the Inspector 

General a written explanation relating thereto. 

(c) FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINE.— 

(1) REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT REPORT.—If, by the date that 

is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

Director of the Peace Corps is unable to obtain agreement 

with the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security 

and certification by the Inspector General of the Peace Corps, 

the Director shall submit to the committees of Congress specified in paragraph (2) a report explaining the reasons for such 

failure and a certification that substantial steps are being taken 

to make progress toward agreement. 

(2) COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS SPECIFIED.—The committees 

of Congress specified in this paragraph are the Committee 

on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. 

SEC. 8. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 

(a) INCLUSION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT RISK-REDUCTION AND

RESPONSE TRAINING.—The Peace Corps Act is amended— 

(1) in section 5(a) (22 U.S.C. 2504(a)), in the second sentence, by inserting ‘‘(including training under section 8A)’’ after 

‘‘training’’; and 

(2) in section 8(a) (22 U.S.C. 2507(a)), in the first sentence, 

by inserting ‘‘, including training under section 8A,’’ after 

‘‘training’’. 

(b) CERTAIN SERVICES.—Section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act 

(22 U.S.C. 2504(e)) is amended, in the first sentence— 

(1) by inserting ‘‘(including, if necessary, for volunteers 

and trainees, services under section 8B)’’ after ‘‘health care’’; 

and 

(2) by inserting ‘‘including services provided in accordance 

with section 8B (except that the six-month limitation shall 

not apply in the case of such services),’’ before ‘‘as the President’’. 

SEC. 9. OFFSET OF COSTS AND PERSONNEL. 

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Direct of the 

Peace Corps shall— 

22 USC 2507a 

note. 


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125 STAT. 746 PUBLIC LAW 112–57—NOV. 21, 2011 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1280: 

SENATE REPORTS: No. 112–82 (Comm. on Foreign Relations). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 157 (2011): 

Sept. 26, considered and passed Senate. 

Nov. 1, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

(1) eliminate such initiatives, positions, and programs 

within the Peace Corps (other than within the Office of 

Inspector General) as the Director deems necessary to ensure 

any and all costs incurred to carry out the provisions of this 

Act, and the amendments made by this Act, are entirely offset; 

(2) ensure no net increase in personnel are added to carry 

out the provisions of this Act, with any new full or part time 

employees or equivalents offset by eliminating an equivalent 

number of existing staff (other than within the Office of 

Inspector General); 

(3) report to Congress not later than 60 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act the actions taken to ensure 

compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2), including the specific 

initiatives, positions, and programs within the Peace Corps 

that have been eliminated to ensure that the costs of carrying 

out this Act will be offset; and 

(4) not implement any other provision of this Act (other 

than paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)) or any amendment made 

by this Act until the Director has certified that the actions 

specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) have been completed. 

Approved November 21, 2011. 

Certification. 

Reports. 

Deadline. 


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