I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6037 

To amend the Peace Corps Act to expand services and benefits for volunteers, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 

Mr. POE of Texas (for himself and Mr. FARR) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 

to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to 

be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 

concerned 

A BILL 

To amend the Peace Corps Act to expand services and 

benefits for volunteers, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sam Farr Peace Corps 

5 Enhancement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PROVISIONS FOR CURRENT AND FORMER VOLUN7 TEERS OF THE PEACE CORPS. 

8 (a) ENHANCED COMPENSATION BENEFITS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 8142 of title 5, 

2 United States Code, is amended— 

3 (A) in subsection (c)— 

4 (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘GS– 

5 7’’ and inserting ‘‘GS–11’’; and 

6 (ii) by striking paragraph (2) and re7 designating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 

8 paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and 

9 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

10 subsection: 

11 ‘‘(d)(1) The Director of the Peace Corps shall provide 

12 the initial furnishing of medical and other benefits under 

13 section 8103(b) of this title to any former volunteer for 

14 the 180-day period beginning on the date of termination 

15 of the service of such volunteer, to the extent that the Di16 rector determines that such benefits are given with respect 

17 to an injury that is probably compensable under this sec18 tion (as such term is defined for purposes of section 

19 8103(b)). The provision of such benefits may be author20 ized directly or by the certification of vouchers, in accord21 ance with section 8103(b). 

22 ‘‘(2) A volunteer may not be provided medical or 

23 other benefits pursuant to paragraph (1) unless the injury 

24 with respect to which such benefits would be provided was 


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1 proximately caused by the employment of such volunteer 

2 under subsection (c)(2). 

3 ‘‘(3) Notwithstanding the 180-day limitation period 

4 under paragraph (1), a volunteer may receive medical or 

5 other benefits provided pursuant to such paragraph with 

6 respect to an injury until the date on which the Secretary 

7 of Labor makes a final determination with respect to com8 pensation for such injury under this section, if the volun9 teer applied for such compensation before the last day of 

10 such limitation period. 

11 ‘‘(4) The Director shall require any employee of the 

12 Peace Corps who provides health care to former volunteers 

13 under this subsection to consult with health experts out14 side the Peace Corps, including experts in mental health, 

15 in order to provide the best standard of care.’’. 

16 (2) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made 

17 by paragraph (1)(A) shall apply with respect to any 

18 compensation paid pursuant to section 8142 of title 

19 5, United States Code, on or after the date of the 

20 enactment of this Act. 

21 (b) HEALTH CARE FOR VOLUNTEERS; CRIMINAL LI22 ABILITY FOR ACTS AGAINST VOLUNTEERS.—Section 5 of 

23 the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504) is amended— 

24 (1) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘receive such 

25 immunization and dental care preparatory to their 


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1 service’’ and inserting ‘‘receive, preparatory to their 

2 service, such immunization and dental care, and (in 

3 accordance with subsection (o)) such trial prescrip4 tions’’; 

5 (2) in subsection (h)— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘section, and’’ and insert7 ing ‘‘section),’’; and 

8 (B) by inserting before the period at the 

9 end the following: ‘‘, and paragraph (3)(A)(i) of 

10 section 3502 of title 44, United States Code, 

11 with respect to the collection of information 

12 under subchapter I of chapter 35 of such title 

13 by the Inspector General of the Peace Corps’’; 

14 and 

15 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub16 sections: 

17 ‘‘(o) The Director of the Peace Corps may only pre18 scribe mefloquine to a volunteer, including as a trial pre19 scription to a volunteer who chooses to use such medica20 tion before such volunteer travels to a post, on an indi21 vidual basis and in accordance with relevant recommenda22 tions or guidelines issued by the Director of the Centers 

23 for Disease Control and Prevention or the Commissioner 

24 of Food and Drugs, after counseling such volunteer about 

25 the benefits, risks, and side effects of each available mediVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:43 Sep 16, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6037.IH H6037

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1 cation for the prophylaxis of malaria. The Director shall 

2 monitor the volunteer during the course of such prescrip3 tion for the development of any side effects, evaluate the 

4 volunteer at the completion of such course for evidence 

5 of neuropsychiatric symptoms, and report to the Director 

6 of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the 

7 Commissioner of Food and Drugs any such side effects 

8 or symptoms. A volunteer may only switch to the use of 

9 mefloquine from another drug for the prophylaxis of ma10 laria while serving at a post if another medication for the 

11 prophylaxis of malaria is simultaneously provided to such 

12 volunteer in a manner that ensures continuous protection 

13 against malaria. 

14 ‘‘(p) It is the policy of the United States to recognize 

15 the importance of Peace Corps volunteers and the core 

16 function that such volunteers play within the agency. The 

17 President should therefore prioritize the provision of 

18 health care services and necessary safety and security sup19 port for all volunteers. 

20 ‘‘(q)(1) Whoever engages in conduct outside the 

21 United States against a volunteer that would constitute 

22 an offense under any section listed in paragraph (2) if the 

23 conduct had been engaged in within the special maritime 

24 and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined 


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1 in section 7 of title 18, United States Code) shall be pun2 ished as provided for that offense. 

3 ‘‘(2) The sections listed in this paragraph are sections 

4 113, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1117 (to the extent that such sec5 tion applies to section 1111), 1201, 2241, 2242, 2244, 

6 and 2261A of title 18, United States Code. 

7 ‘‘(3) For purposes of this subsection, paragraph 

8 (9)(B) (regarding residences in foreign States) of section 

9 7 of title 18, United States Code, shall include the resi10 dences used by volunteers in foreign States and the land 

11 appurtenant or ancillary thereto, irrespective of owner12 ship.’’. 

13 SEC. 3. PROVISIONS REGARDING EMPLOYEES OF THE 

14 PEACE CORPS. 

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

16 is amended— 

17 (1) in subsection (a)— 

18 (A) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘or 

19 paragraph (8)’’ after ‘‘paragraph (6)’’; and 

20 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

21 paragraph: 

22 ‘‘(8)(A) The Director of the Peace Corps may des23 ignate a position as a ‘critical management support posi24 tion’ if the position requires specialized technical or pro25 fessional skills and knowledge of Peace Corps operations, 


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1 such as positions that involve volunteer health services, fi2 nancial management, information technology, procure3 ment, personnel, legal services, or security. 

4 ‘‘(B) Notwithstanding any limitation set forth in 

5 paragraph (2) and subject to subparagraph (C), an ap6 pointment or assignment to a critical management support 

7 position designated under subparagraph (A) of this para8 graph or an extension of such appointment or assignment 

9 shall be for a term of not more than five years. 

10 ‘‘(C) The Director shall ensure that any decision re11 garding an appointment, assignment, or extension of such 

12 appointment or assignment to a critical management sup13 port position shall be consistent with Peace Corps policies 

14 and based on operational and programmatic factors.’’; and 

15 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub16 section: 

17 ‘‘(d)(1)(A) The President shall ensure that each over18 seas post has the services of a medical office to provide 

19 health care to volunteers, consistent in size and scope with 

20 the needs of the Peace Corps at such post, including, if 

21 necessary, by detailing to any such post the licensed med22 ical staff of other United States departments, agencies, 

23 or establishments. 


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1 ‘‘(B) An individual may be hired as a Peace Corps 

2 Medical Officer after consideration of the following cri3 teria: 

4 ‘‘(i) Medical training, experience, accreditations, 

5 and other qualifications. 

6 ‘‘(ii) Administrative capabilities. 

7 ‘‘(iii) Understanding of the local language and 

8 culture. 

9 ‘‘(iv) Ability to work in the English language. 

10 ‘‘(v) Interpersonal skills. 

11 ‘‘(vi) Record of performance. 

12 ‘‘(vii) Any other factors the Director of the 

13 Peace Corps determines appropriate. 

14 ‘‘(2) The Director of the Peace Corps shall ensure 

15 that each Peace Corps Medical Officer serving in a ma16 laria-endemic country receives training in the recognition 

17 of the side effects caused by the use of mefloquine and 

18 the data supporting the patient information handouts re19 quired by the Food and Drug Administration regarding 

20 mefloquine, including the potential capacity of the drug 

21 to cause permanent neuropsychiatric effects.’’. 

22 SEC. 4. MONITORING TRAINING RECORDS. 

23 Section 8 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507) 

24 is amended by adding at the end the following new sub25 section: 


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1 ‘‘(c) The President shall implement procedures to 

2 maintain a written record verifying the attendance of each 

3 individual completing training provided to meet each re4 quirement in this section and sections 8A, 8B, and 8F.’’. 

5 SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES TO APPLICANTS FOR 

6 ENROLLMENT AS VOLUNTEERS. 

7 Subsection (d) of section 8A of the Peace Corps Act 

8 (22 U.S.C. 2507a(d)) is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘(d) INFORMATION REGARDING CRIMES AND

10 RISKS.—Each applicant for enrollment as a volunteer 

11 shall be provided, with respect to the country in which the 

12 applicant has been invited to serve, with information re13 garding crimes against and risks to volunteers, including 

14 an overview of past crimes against volunteers in such 

15 country, the current early termination rate of volunteers 

16 serving in such country, any health risks prevalent in such 

17 country, and the level of satisfaction reported by volun18 teers serving in such country. Upon receiving such infor19 mation, the applicant shall have the option to timely de20 cline the invitation without retaliation and with priority 

21 to be invited to serve in a different country.’’. 

22 SEC. 6. OFFICE OF VICTIM ADVOCACY. 

23 Section 8C of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507c) 

24 is amended by striking subsection (e). 


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1 SEC. 7. REFORM AND EXTENSION OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT 

2 ADVISORY COUNCIL. 

3 Section 8D of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 

4 2507d) is amended— 

5 (1) in subsection (b)— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘not less than 8 individ7 uals’’ and inserting ‘‘not fewer than 8 and not 

8 more than 14 individuals’’; 

9 (B) by inserting after the first sentence 

10 the following new sentence: ‘‘At least one mem11 ber shall also have expertise in the field of men12 tal health.’’; and 

13 (C) by adding at the end the following new 

14 sentence: ‘‘There shall be no limit to the num15 ber of terms an individual may serve as a mem16 ber of the Council.’’; 

17 (2) in subsection (c)— 

18 (A) by inserting ‘‘and the implementation 

19 of such policy’’ after ‘‘section 8B’’; and 

20 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

21 sentence: ‘‘To carry out the functions in this 

22 subsection, the Council shall have access, in23 cluding to interview or visit, to volunteers and 

24 staff in the field, to volunteer surveys under 

25 section 8E, and to all data collected from re26 stricted reporting, except that the Council may 


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1 not have access to any personally identifying in2 formation associated with such surveys or 

3 data.’’; and 

4 (3) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 

5 inserting ‘‘2023’’. 

6 SEC. 8. PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR VOLUNTEER 

7 SURVEYS. 

8 Section 8E of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507e) 

9 is amended— 

10 (1) in subsection (b), by inserting after the first 

11 sentence the following new sentence: ‘‘The President 

12 shall ensure that each performance plan under this 

13 subsection for a Peace Corps representative includes 

14 a consideration of the results, with respect to such 

15 representative and the country of service of such 

16 representative, of each survey under subsection (c).’’; 

17 and 

18 (2) in subsection (c)— 

19 (A) by striking ‘‘2018’’ in the first sen20 tence and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 

21 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

22 sentences: ‘‘The President shall publish on a 

23 publicly available website of the Peace Corps 

24 the results of each survey related to volunteer 

25 satisfaction in each country in which volunteers 


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1 serve, and the early termination rate of volun2 teers serving in each such country. The infor3 mation published shall be posted in an easily 

4 accessible place near the description of the ap5 propriate country and shall be written in an 

6 easily understood manner.’’. 

7 SEC. 9. CONFIDENTIAL ACCESS TO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT 

8 ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTEERS. 

9 Section 8G of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507g) 

10 is amended by adding at the end the following new sub11 section: 

12 ‘‘(d) CONFIDENTIAL ACCESS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) CONFIDENTIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

14 EMAIL.—The Sexual Assault Advisory Council estab15 lished under section 8D shall establish an email ad16 dress to permit volunteers (including former volun17 teers) to communicate directly and confidentially 

18 with such Council. No employee of the Peace Corps 

19 may access or monitor the email received by or sent 

20 from such address. 

21 ‘‘(2) USE OF CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL FOR CASE

22 REVIEW.—Any volunteer may write to the email ad23 dress established under paragraph (1) to request 

24 such Council to— 


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1 ‘‘(A) review the manner in which the Peace 

2 Corps handled a case of such volunteer relating 

3 to sexual assault; and 

4 ‘‘(B) determine whether the Peace Corps 

5 acted in accordance with all relevant policies. 

6 ‘‘(3) NOTIFICATION.—The Director shall ensure 

7 that every volunteer and former volunteer is notified 

8 of the confidential email address established under 

9 paragraph (1).’’. 

10 SEC. 10. EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS FOR THE INSPECTOR 

11 GENERAL. 

12 Section 13 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2512) 

13 is amended— 

14 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Section’’ and 

15 inserting ‘‘section’’; and 

16 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub17 section: 

18 ‘‘(c) An expert, consultant, or organization thereof 

19 employed pursuant to subsection (a) by the Inspector Gen20 eral of the Peace Corps may be compensated without re21 gard to the daily equivalent of the highest rate payable 

22 under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code.’’. 

Æ 


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