II 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 732 

To empower Peace Corps volunteers, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 1, 2007 

Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. KENNEDY) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

A BILL 

To empower Peace Corps 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 ‘‘Peace Corps Volunteer 

5 Empowerment Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

7 The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

TITLE I—PROMOTION OF PEACE CORPS PROJECTS AND GOALS 

Sec. 101. Seed funding for volunteer projects. 

Sec. 102. Charitable fundraising by Peace Corps volunteers. 

Sec. 103. Programs and projects of returned Peace Corps volunteers to promote the goals of the Peace Corps. 

Sec. 104. Recruitment of experienced volunteers. 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
2 

•S 732 IS

Sec. 105. Digital Peace Corps. 

TITLE II—EMPOWERMENT OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS 

Sec. 201. Participation of Peace Corps volunteers in reviews of senior staff and 

programs. 

Sec. 202. Volunteer Advisory Committees. 

Sec. 203. Input of volunteers regarding site selection and training curriculum. 

TITLE III—PERSONNEL ISSUES AND BENEFITS 

Sec. 301. Reforms to medical screening process. 

Sec. 302. Health insurance coverage for retirees who serve as Peace Corps volunteers. 

Sec. 303. Report on costs associated with extending post-service health coverage. 

Sec. 304. Sense of Congress on need for special rule for Peace Corps volunteers 

and employees in determining exclusion of gain from sale of 

principal residence. 

Sec. 305. Treasury guidance regarding tax deductions. 

Sec. 306. Protecting rights of Peace Corps volunteers. 

Sec. 307. Financial guide for Peace Corps volunteers and applicants. 

TITLE IV—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 

1 TITLE I—PROMOTION OF PEACE 

2 CORPS PROJECTS AND GOALS 

3 SEC. 101. SEED FUNDING FOR VOLUNTEER PROJECTS. 

4 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find5 ings: 

6 (1) The Peace Corps is an agency focused on 

7 grassroots, bottom-up development. 

8 (2) Seed funding for local demonstration 

9 projects is crucial to the success of Peace Corps vol10 unteers. 

11 (3) Demonstration projects are a very effective 

12 method for Peace Corps volunteers to educate people 

13 in host countries. 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
3 

•S 732 IS

1 (b) FUNDING.—There is authorized to be appro2 priated up to 1 percent of the total amount appropriated 

3 for the Peace Corps for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal 

4 year thereafter for seed funding for Peace Corps volun5 teers to carry out demonstration projects that have been 

6 approved in advance by the Peace Corps Country Director 

7 in the country where the volunteer is serving. 

8 (c) SEED FUND AWARDS.— 

9 (1) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—The Director of 

10 the Peace Corps shall determine at the beginning of 

11 each fiscal year the amount of funding that will be 

12 available as seed money for demonstration projects 

13 for that fiscal year and inform each Country Direc14 tor of the portion of that amount that will be avail15 able to distribute to volunteers under the supervision 

16 of such Country Director. 

17 (2) AWARDING OF FUNDS.—The Director of the 

18 Peace Corps shall promulgate rules pursuant to 

19 which each Country Director may award seed funds 

20 made available under this section to eligible Peace 

21 Corp volunteers. 

22 (3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a seed 

23 fund award under this subsection, a Peace Corps 

24 volunteer shall— 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
4 

•S 732 IS

1 (A) submit to the Country Director of the 

2 country where the volunteer is serving a plan 

3 for a demonstration project, including an expla4 nation of how the demonstration project will 

5 lead to sustainable development; and 

6 (B) make a written attestation that funds 

7 awarded under this subsection are utilized for 

8 the purposes specified in the plan. 

9 (4) AMOUNT OF AWARDS.—A seed fund award 

10 provided to a volunteer under this subsection may 

11 not exceed $1,000. 

12 (5) REPORT.—Each Peace Corps volunteer who 

13 receives a seed fund award under this subsection 

14 shall submit to the Country Director of the country 

15 where the volunteer is serving before the close of 

16 such volunteer’s service a report on the demonstra17 tion project funded by the award. 

18 SEC. 102. CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING BY PEACE CORPS 

19 VOLUNTEERS. 

20 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ASSISTANCE IN FUND21 RAISING.—It is the sense of Congress that Peace Corps 

22 volunteers should apply for grants and loans from non23 governmental organizations to carry out demonstration 

24 projects, including by partnering with governmental and 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
5 

•S 732 IS

1 nongovernmental agencies and working with host country 

2 nationals. 

3 (b) FUNDRAISING BY VOLUNTEERS.— 

4 (1) AUTHORITY.— 

5 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara6 graph (B), Peace Corps volunteers are author7 ized to solicit contributions for demonstration 

8 projects from persons personally known to 

9 them, including family members, friends, and 

10 members of their home community in the 

11 United States, and from government and non12 governmental agencies, including by working 

13 through the Peace Corps Partnership Program. 

14 Any such solicitation shall state the demonstra15 tion project or projects to which contributed 

16 funds will be applied. 

17 (B) REQUIRED APPROVAL.—A Peace 

18 Corps volunteer shall seek and receive advance 

19 approval from the Country Director of the 

20 country where the volunteer is serving before 

21 exercising the authority under subparagraph 

22 (A). 

23 (2) ACCOUNTABILITY.—Peace Corps volunteers 

24 receiving contributions pursuant to the authority 

25 under paragraph (1) shall— 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
6 

•S 732 IS

1 (A) maintain records and receipts to con2 firm the proper application of contributed 

3 funds; and 

4 (B) ensure that such funds are expended 

5 solely for the demonstration project or projects 

6 for which they were intended. 

7 SEC. 103. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF RETURNED PEACE 

8 CORPS VOLUNTEERS TO PROMOTE THE 

9 GOALS OF THE PEACE CORPS. 

10 (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to pro11 vide support for returned Peace Corps volunteers to de12 velop and carry out programs and projects to promote the 

13 third purpose of the Peace Corps Act, as set forth in sec14 tion 2(a) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2501(a)), relating to pro15 moting an understanding of other peoples on the part of 

16 the American people. 

17 (b) GRANTS TO CERTAIN NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS

18 AND RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS.— 

19 (1) GRANT AUTHORITY.—The Director of the 

20 Peace Corps shall award grants on a competitive 

21 basis to private nonprofit corporations and returned 

22 Peace Corps volunteers for the purpose of enabling 

23 returned Peace Corps volunteers to use their knowl24 edge and expertise to develop programs and projects 

25 to carry out the purpose described in subsection (a). 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
7 

•S 732 IS

1 (2) PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.—The programs 

2 and projects that may receive grant funds under this 

3 section include— 

4 (A) educational programs designed to en5 rich the knowledge and interest of elementary 

6 school and secondary school students in the ge7 ography and cultures of other countries where 

8 the volunteers have served; 

9 (B) projects that involve partnerships with 

10 local libraries to enhance community knowledge 

11 about other peoples and countries; and 

12 (C) audiovisual projects that utilize mate13 rials collected by the volunteers during their 

14 service that would be of educational value to 

15 communities. 

16 (3) ELIGIBILITY.— 

17 (A) RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUN18 TEERS.—To be eligible for a grant under this 

19 section, an individual who has served as a 

20 Peace Corps volunteer shall have successfully 

21 completed all aspects of the volunteer’s required 

22 Peace Corps service. 

23 (B) NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS.—To be 

24 eligible for a grant under this section, a non25 profit corporation shall have a board of direcVerDate Aug 31 2005 19:18 Mar 03, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S732.IS S732

hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
8 

•S 732 IS

1 tors composed of one or more returned Peace 

2 Corps volunteers with a background in commu3 nity service, education, or health. 

4 (C) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 60 

5 days after the date of the enactment of this 

6 Act, the Director of the Peace Corps shall pro7 mulgate rules and guidelines as to the appro8 priate accounting and audit standards and 

9 other reporting requirements that must be ad10 hered to by an individual or nonprofit corpora11 tion as a condition of eligibility to receive 

12 grants under this section. 

13 (c) STATUS OF THE FUND.—Nothing in this section 

14 shall be construed to make any individual or nonprofit cor15 poration supported under this section an agency or estab16 lishment of the Federal Government or to make any mem17 ber of the board of directors or any officer or employee 

18 of such nonprofit corporation an officer or employee of the 

19 United States. 

20 (d) CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.—Grant recipients 

21 under this section shall be subject to the appropriate over22 sight procedures of Congress. 

23 (e) FUNDING.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any other 

25 funds made available to the Peace Corps under any 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
9 

•S 732 IS

1 other provision of law, there is authorized to be ap2 propriated for the Peace Corps for fiscal year 2008 

3 and each fiscal year thereafter $10,000,000 to carry 

4 out this section. 

5 (2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pur6 suant to paragraph (1) are authorized to remain 

7 available until expended without regard to fiscal 

8 year. 

9 SEC. 104. RECRUITMENT OF EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEERS. 

10 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find11 ings: 

12 (1) The vast majority of Peace Corps volunteers 

13 have recently graduated from college. 

14 (2) The Peace Corps should include among its 

15 ranks more experienced individuals as Peace Corps 

16 volunteers to help meet specific development needs 

17 in certain countries and to serve as mentors for less 

18 experienced volunteers. 

19 (b) RECRUITMENT GOAL.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Peace 

21 Corps shall set a goal of doubling by December 31, 

22 2009, the number of Peace Corps volunteers with at 

23 least 5 years of relevant work experience serving in 

24 the Peace Corps and shall implement measures to 

25 achieve such goal. 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
10 

•S 732 IS

1 (2) REPORTS.—The Director shall periodically 

2 report to Congress the progress made in achieving 

3 the recruitment goal established pursuant to para4 graph (1). 

5 (c) SURVEY OF EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEERS.—The 

6 Director of the Peace Corps shall conduct, every 2 years, 

7 a survey of Peace Corps volunteers with substantial work 

8 experience who are serving in country to determine what 

9 additional actions would reduce or eliminate disincentives 

10 and barriers to service for Peace Corps volunteers with 

11 substantial work experience. 

12 (d) PLAN FOR ELIMINATING DISINCENTIVES.—The 

13 Director of the Peace Corps shall direct a study on the 

14 disincentives and barriers to service for Peace Corps vol15 unteers with substantial work experience and shall estab16 lish and report to Congress on a plan for eliminating such 

17 disincentives and barriers. The plan shall include the de18 velopment and use of substantial written language cur19 riculum materials designed to facilitate the learning of for20 eign languages by Peace Corps volunteers with varying de21 grees of work experience and academic training. 

22 (e) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.—The Director of 

23 the Peace Corps shall designate for each of fiscal years 

24 2008, 2009, and 2010 at least 20 sector-specific programs 

25 in at least 20 different countries for which a minimum 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
11 

•S 732 IS

1 of 5 years of relevant work experience shall be required 

2 of Peace Corps volunteers. The Director shall evaluate the 

3 issues that arise with respect to those programs as they 

4 are implemented and conducted. 

5 SEC. 105. DIGITAL PEACE CORPS. 

6 The Director of the Peace Corps shall establish a sys7 tem for promoting, by electronic means, improved commu8 nication among Peace Corps volunteers and staff, includ9 ing the establishment of websites and e-mail links for use 

10 on a password-only basis by Peace Corps volunteers in 

11 country to discuss development strategies, funding 

12 sources, and other issues. All close of service reports shall 

13 be available on such websites or e-mail links. 

14 TITLE II—EMPOWERMENT OF 

15 PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS 

16 SEC. 201. PARTICIPATION OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS 

17 IN REVIEWS OF SENIOR STAFF AND PRO18 GRAMS. 

19 (a) REVIEWS OF SENIOR STAFF.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Peace 

21 Corps shall establish a mechanism for soliciting the 

22 views of Peace Corps volunteers serving in country 

23 regarding the support provided by senior staff. The 

24 information shall be kept confidential and reported 

25 to the appropriate Regional Peace Corps Directors. 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
12 

•S 732 IS

1 (2) CONSIDERATION OF REVIEWS IN CONNEC2 TION WITH CONTRACT DECISIONS.—The information 

3 collected pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be given 

4 appropriate weight in the decisionmaking process 

5 with respect to the extension of contracts for Coun6 try Directors, Chief Administrative Officers, Peace 

7 Corps Medical Officers, and Associate Peace Corps 

8 Directors. 

9 (b) REVIEWS OF PEACE CORPS PROGRAMS.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Peace 

11 Corps shall establish a mechanism for soliciting the 

12 views of Peace Corps volunteers serving in country 

13 regarding the design, effectiveness, and continued 

14 need for the programs in which they serve. The in15 formation shall be kept confidential and reported to 

16 the appropriate Regional Peace Corps Directors. 

17 (2) CONSIDERATION OF REVIEWS IN CONNEC18 TION WITH PROGRAM DECISIONS.—The information 

19 collected pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be given 

20 appropriate weight in the decisionmaking process 

21 with respect to the design of, and continued need 

22 for, Peace Corps programs. 

23 SEC. 202. VOLUNTEER ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be established in each 

25 country in which Peace Corps programs exist a Volunteer 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
13 

•S 732 IS

1 Advisory Committee composed of representatives elected 

2 from among the volunteers serving in such country. 

3 (b) DUTIES.—Each Volunteer Advisory Committee 

4 shall meet at least quarterly to make recommendations to 

5 the Country Director, Chief Administrative Officer, Asso6 ciate Peace Corps Directors, and Peace Corps Medical Of7 ficers serving in that country. The recommendations shall 

8 be forwarded to the Regional Peace Corps Director. 

9 (c) RESPONSIVENESS TO RECOMMENDATIONS A FAC10 TOR IN PERFORMANCE REVIEWS.—The responsiveness of 

11 the senior staff described in subsection (b) to Volunteer 

12 Advisory Committee recommendations shall be given ap13 propriate weight in the decisionmaking process with re14 spect to performance reviews and extensions of contracts. 

15 SEC. 203. INPUT OF VOLUNTEERS REGARDING SITE SELEC16 TION AND TRAINING CURRICULUM. 

17 Associate Peace Corps Directors shall give substan18 tial weight to the recommendations of Peace Corps volun19 teers regarding— 

20 (1) Peace Corps site selection, including the 

21 placement of additional or subsequent Peace Corps 

22 volunteers at existing sites; and 

23 (2) the training curriculum for Peace Corps vol24 unteers. 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
14 

•S 732 IS

1 TITLE III—PERSONNEL ISSUES 

2 AND BENEFITS 

3 SEC. 301. REFORMS TO MEDICAL SCREENING PROCESS. 

4 As part of the effort to recruit more experienced 

5 Peace Corps volunteers, the director of the Peace Corps 

6 shall reform the medical screening process used by the 

7 Peace Corps. The reforms shall include the following 

8 measures: 

9 (1) Publication on the Internet website of the 

10 Peace Corps the Medical Screening Guidelines used 

11 by the Peace Corps, including a listing of— 

12 (A) medical conditions that typically dis13 qualify individuals from serving as Peace Corps 

14 volunteers; and 

15 (B) medical conditions that typically lead 

16 to a medical accommodation and a listing of 

17 countries available to accept volunteers with 

18 such medical accommodations. 

19 (2) Establishment of a process for applicants 

20 and other interested parties to propose changes to 

21 the Medical Screening Guidelines. 

22 (3) Establishment of a process allowing volun23 teers to appeal rejections on medical grounds, in24 cluding the right to base an appeal on the inad25 equacy of the Medical Screening Guidelines. 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
15 

•S 732 IS

1 (4) Publication on the Internet website of the 

2 Peace Corps of a detailed description of the medical 

3 screening process applicable to Peace Corps volun4 teers, including definitions of all applicable terms of 

5 art. 

6 (5) Improved information for Peace Corps vol7 unteers and applicants regarding the meaning and 

8 implications of failure to disclose medical informa9 tion. 

10 (6) Full reimbursement for medical tests re11 quired by the Peace Corps of volunteers and appli12 cants. 

13 SEC. 302. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR RETIREES 

14 WHO SERVE AS PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS. 

15 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find16 ings: 

17 (1) Peace Corps volunteers, who receive health 

18 care benefits from the Peace Corps during their 

19 service, have the right, pursuant to regulations pro20 mulgated by the Office of Personnel Management 

21 (subpart C of part 890 of title 5, Code of Federal 

22 Regulations), to suspend Federal health benefits cov23 erage during their terms of service, when they re24 ceive benefits provided by the Peace Corps, and re25 sume enrollment when their service is complete. 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
16 

•S 732 IS

1 (2) Peace Corps volunteers do not have the 

2 same right of reenrollment with respect to health 

3 benefits coverage provided by State and local govern4 ments, private entities, and other organizations, 

5 which serves as a substantial financial disincentive 

6 for retirees to serve as volunteers. 

7 (b) REENROLLMENT PRIVILEGES.—The Director of 

8 the Peace Corps shall seek to secure the right for Peace 

9 Corps volunteers to suspend enrollment in retiree health 

10 plans of State and local governments, private entities, and 

11 other organizations during their terms of service and to 

12 resume enrollment after completion of such service. 

13 SEC. 303. REPORT ON COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTEND14 ING POST-SERVICE HEALTH COVERAGE. 

15 Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact16 ment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps shall 

17 submit to Congress a report on the costs and policy issues 

18 associated with extending the one-month period of health 

19 coverage provided to Peace Corps volunteers upon comple20 tion of their terms of service by an additional 5 months. 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
17 

•S 732 IS

1 SEC. 304. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NEED FOR SPECIAL 

2 RULE FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS AND 

3 EMPLOYEES IN DETERMINING EXCLUSION OF 

4 GAIN FROM SALE OF PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE. 

5 It is the sense of Congress that the Department of 

6 the Treasury should propose and Congress should enact 

7 legislation to provide tax treatment related to gain from 

8 sales of principal residence by Peace Corps volunteers dur9 ing their period of active service that is similar to the 

10 treatment given members of the uniformed services and 

11 the foreign service. 

12 SEC. 305. TREASURY GUIDANCE REGARDING TAX DEDUC13 TIONS. 

14 The Secretary of the Treasury shall, in consultation 

15 with the Director of the Peace Corps, publish guidance 

16 with respect to expenses which may be deducted from 

17 gross income that are pertinent to individuals enrolled as 

18 volunteers or volunteer leaders under the Peace Corps Act 

19 (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.). 

20 SEC. 306. PROTECTING RIGHTS OF PEACE CORPS VOLUN21 TEERS. 

22 (a) CONDUCT SUBJECT TO TERMINATION.—The Di23 rector of the Peace Corps shall ensure that Peace Corps 

24 volunteers are subject to administrative separation only 

25 for specific conduct violations specified in section 204 of 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
18 

•S 732 IS

1 the Peace Corps Manual and that volunteers are made 

2 fully aware of the consequences of such violations. 

3 (b) WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION.—The Director 

4 of the Peace Corps shall ensure that Peace Corps volun5 teers reporting the misconduct of Peace Corps staff or ad6 vocating for reforms are treated in accordance with the 

7 provisions of chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, 

8 prohibiting certain personnel practices (commonly referred 

9 to as whistleblower protection provisions). 

10 (c) RIGHT TO PUBLISH WITHOUT PRIOR AP11 PROVAL.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para13 graph (2), Peace Corps volunteers shall not be re14 quired to submit stories, articles, or other material 

15 they publish to Country Directors for prior approval. 

16 (2) EXCEPTION RELATED TO COUNTRY-SPE17 CIFIC MATERIAL.— 

18 (A) APPROVAL REQUIREMENT.—A Peace 

19 Corps volunteer shall be required to submit to 

20 a Country Director for review and prior ap21 proval any stories, articles, or other material 

22 that the volunteer intends to publish that relate 

23 specifically to the Peace Corps program oper24 ating in the country where the volunteer is servVerDate Aug 31 2005 19:18 Mar 03, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S732.IS S732

hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
19 

•S 732 IS

1 ing or to policies or actions by officials of the 

2 government of such country. 

3 (B) RIGHT TO APPEAL.—The decision of a 

4 Country Director regarding material submitted 

5 for approval under subparagraph (A) shall be 

6 appealable to the Regional Peace Corps Direc7 tor. 

8 SEC. 307. FINANCIAL GUIDE FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUN9 TEERS AND APPLICANTS. 

10 The Peace Corps shall publish a financial guide for 

11 Peace Corps volunteers and applicants regarding how to 

12 manage finances in the United States while serving 

13 abroad. 

14 TITLE IV—AUTHORIZATION OF 

15 APPROPRIATIONS 

16 SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

17 Section 3(b)(1) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 

18 2502(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 

19 ‘‘(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 

20 out the purposes of this Act $336,000,000 for fiscal year 

21 2008, $380,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $450,000,000 

22 for fiscal year 2010, and $618,000,000 for fiscal year 

23 2011.’’. 

Æ 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS