I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 250
To amend the Peace Corps Act to promote global acceptance of the principles 
of international peace and nonviolent coexistence among peoples of di-
verse cultures and systems of government, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 8, 2003
Mr. FARR (for himself, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, and Mr. HONDA) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International 
Relations 
A BILL 
To amend the Peace Corps Act to promote global acceptance 
of the principles of international peace and nonviolent 
coexistence among peoples of diverse cultures and sys-
tems of government, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Peace Corps Charter 
for the 21st Century Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Peace Corps was established in 1961 to 
promote world peace and friendship through the 
service of American volunteers abroad. 
(2) The three goals codified in the Peace Corps 
Act, which have guided the Peace Corps and its vol-
unteers over the years, can work in concert to pro-
mote global acceptance of the principles of inter-
national peace and nonviolent coexistence among 
peoples of diverse cultures and systems of govern-
ment. 
(3) The Peace Corps has operated in 135 coun-
tries with 165,000 Peace Corps volunteers since its 
establishment. 
(4) The Peace Corps has sought to fulfill three 
goals, as follows: to help people in developing nations 
meet basic needs, to promote understanding of 
America’s values and ideals abroad, and to promote 
an understanding of other peoples by Americans. 
(5) After more than 40 years of operation, the 
Peace Corps remains the world’s premier inter-
national service organization dedicated to promoting 
grassroots development. 
(6) The Peace Corps remains committed to 
sending well trained and well supported Peace Corps
volunteers overseas to promote peace, friendship, 
and international understanding. 
(7) The Peace Corps is an independent agency, 
and therefore no Peace Corps personnel or volun-
teers should have any relationship with any United 
States intelligence agency or be used to accomplish 
any other goal than the goals established by the 
Peace Corps Act. 
(8) The Crisis Corps has been an effective tool 
in harnessing the skills and talents for returned 
Peace Corps volunteers and should be expanded to 
utilize to the maximum extent the talent pool of re-
turned Peace Corps volunteers. 
(9) The Peace Corps is currently operating with 
an annual budget of $275,000,000 in 70 countries, 
with 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers. 
(10) There is deep misunderstanding and mis-
information about American values and ideals in 
many parts of the world, particularly those with sub-
stantial Muslim populations, and a greater Peace 
Corps presence in such places could foster greater 
understanding and tolerance. 
(11) the Congress has declared that the Peace 
Corps should be expanded to sponsor a minimum of 
10,000 Peace Corps volunteers.
(12) President George W. Bush has called for 
the doubling of the number of Peace Corps volun-
teers in service. 
(13) Any expansion of the Peace Corps shall 
not jeopardize the quality of the Peace Corps volun-
teer experience, and therefore can only be accom-
plished by an appropriate increase in field and head-
quarters support staff. 
(14) In order to ensure that proposed expansion 
of the Peace Corps preserves the integrity of the 
program and the security of volunteers, the inte-
grated Planning and Budget System supported by 
the Office of Planning and Policy Analysis should 
continue its focus on strategic planning. 
(15) A streamlined, bipartisan National Peace 
Corps Advisory Council composed of distinguished 
returned Peace Corps volunteers and other individ-
uals, with diverse backgrounds and expertise, can be 
a source of ideas and suggestions that may be useful 
to the Director of the Peace Corps as he discharges 
his duties and responsibilities as head of the agency. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Relations 
of the Senate and the Committee on International 
Relations 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 a volunteer or a vol-
unteer leader under the Peace Corps Act. 
(4) RETURNED
PEACE
CORPS
VOLUNTEER.—
The term ‘‘returned Peace Corps volunteer’’ means 
a person who has been certified by the Director as 
having served satisfactorily as a Peace Corps volun-
teer. 
SEC. 4. RESTATEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE PEACE 
CORPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2A of the Peace Corps 
Act (22 U.S.C. 2501–1) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ‘‘As an independent agency, 
all recruiting of volunteers shall be carried out under the 
direction of the Director of the Peace Corps’’. 
(b) DETAILS AND ASSIGNMENTS.—Section 5(g) of 
the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(g)) is amended by 
inserting after ‘‘Provided, That’’ the following: ‘‘such de-
tail or assignment does not contradict the standing of 
Peace Corps volunteers as being independent from foreign
policy-making and intelligence collection: Provided further, 
That’’. 
SEC. 5. REPORTS AND CONSULTATIONS. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORTS; CONSULTATIONS
ON NEW 
INITIATIVES.—Section 11 of the Peace Corps Act (22 
U.S.C. 2510) is amended by striking the section heading 
and the text of section 11 and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 11. ANNUAL REPORTS; CONSULTATIONS ON NEW INI-
TIATIVES. 
‘‘(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Director shall trans-
mit to the Congress, at least once in each fiscal year, a 
report on operations under this Act. Each report shall con-
tain information—
‘‘(1) describing efforts undertaken to improve 
coordination of activities of the Peace Corps with ac-
tivities of international voluntary service organiza-
tions, such as the United Nations volunteer pro-
gram, and of host country voluntary service organi-
zations, including—
‘‘(A) a description of the purpose and 
scope of any development project which the 
Peace Corps undertook during the preceding 
fiscal year as a joint venture with any such 
international or host country voluntary service 
organizations; and
‘‘(B) recommendations for improving co-
ordination of development projects between the 
Peace Corps and any such international or host 
country voluntary service organizations; 
‘‘(2) describing—
‘‘(A) any major new initiatives that the 
Peace Corps has under review for the upcoming 
fiscal year, and any major initiatives that were 
undertaken in the previous fiscal year that were 
not included in prior reports to the Congress; 
‘‘(B) the rationale for undertaking such 
new initiatives; 
‘‘(C) an estimate of the cost of such initia-
tives; and 
‘‘(D) the impact on the safety of volun-
teers; 
‘‘(3) describing in detail the Peace Corp’s plans 
for doubling the number of volunteers from 2002 
levels, including a 5-year budget plan for reaching 
that goal; and 
‘‘(4) describing standard security procedures for 
any country in which the Peace Corps operates pro-
grams or is considering doing so, as well as any spe-
cial security procedures contemplated because of 
changed circumstances in specific countries, and as-
sessing whether security conditions would be en-
hanced—
‘‘(A) by colocating volunteers with inter-
national or local nongovernmental organiza-
tions; or 
‘‘(B) with the placement of multiple volun-
teers in one location. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATIONS ON NEW INITIATIVES.—The 
Director of the Peace Corps should consult with the appro-
priate congressional committees with respect to any major 
new initiatives not previously discussed in the latest an-
nual report submitted to the Congress under subsection 
(a) or in budget presentations. Wherever possible, such 
consultations should take place prior to the initiation of 
such initiatives, but in any event as soon as practicable 
thereafter.’’. 
(b) ONE TIME REPORT ON STUDENT LOAN FOR-
GIVENESS PROGRAMS.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees a re-
port—
(1) describing the student loan forgiveness pro-
grams currently available to Peace Corps volunteers 
upon completion of their service;
(2) comparing such programs with other Gov-
ernment-sponsored student loan forgiveness pro-
grams; and 
(3) recommending any additional student loan 
forgiveness programs which could attract more ap-
plicants from more low and middle income appli-
cants facing high student loan obligations. 
SEC. 6. SPECIAL VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND PLACE-
MENT 
FOR 
COUNTRIES 
WHOSE 
GOVERN-
MENTS ARE SEEKING TO FOSTER GREATER 
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THEIR CITIZENS 
AND THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit 
a report to the appropriate congressional committees de-
scribing the initiatives that the Peace Corps intends to 
pursue with eligible countries where the presence of Peace 
Corps volunteers would facilitate a greater understanding 
that there exists a universe of commonly shared human 
values and aspirations. Such report shall include—
(1) a description of the recruitment strategies 
to be employed by the Peace Corps to recruit and 
train volunteers with the appropriate language skills 
and interest in serving in such countries; and
(2) a list of the countries that the Director has 
determined should be priorities for special recruit-
ment and placement of Peace Corps volunteers. 
(b) USE
OF RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUN-
TEERS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Director is authorized and strongly urged to utilize the 
services of returned Peace Corps volunteers having lan-
guage and cultural expertise, including those returned 
Peace Corps volunteers who may have served previously 
in countries with substantial Muslim populations, in order 
to open or reopen Peace Corps programs in such coun-
tries. 
SEC. 7. GLOBAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in cooperation with 
international public health experts such as the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes 
of Health, the World Health Organization, the Pan Amer-
ican Health Organization, and local public health officials 
shall develop a program of training for all Peace Corps 
volunteers in the areas of education, prevention, and treat-
ment of infectious diseases in order to ensure that all 
Peace Corps volunteers make a contribution to the global 
campaign against such diseases. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) AIDS.—The term ‘‘AIDS’’ means the ac-
quired immune deficiency syndrome. 
(2) HIV.—The term ‘‘HIV’’ means the human 
immunodeficiency virus, the pathogen that causes 
AIDS. 
(3) 
HIV/AIDS.—The 
term 
‘‘HIV/AIDS’’ 
means, with respect to an individual, an individual 
who is infected with HIV or living with AIDS. 
(4) INFECTIOUS DISEASES.—The term ‘‘infec-
tious diseases’’ means HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and 
malaria. 
SEC. 8. PEACE CORPS ADVISORY COUNCIL. 
Section 12 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2511; 
relating to the Peace Corps National Advisory Council) 
is amended—
(1) by amending subsection (b)(2)(D) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(D) make recommendations for utilizing 
the expertise of returned Peace Corps volun-
teers in fulfilling the goals of the Peace 
Corps.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraph (2)(A)—
(i) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘fifteen’’ and inserting ‘‘seven’’; and
(ii) by striking the second sentence 
and inserting the following: ‘‘Four of the 
members shall be former Peace Corps vol-
unteers, at least one of whom shall have 
been a former staff member abroad or in 
the Washington headquarters, and not 
more than four of the members shall be 
members of the same political party.’’; 
(B) by amending subparagraph (D) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(D) The members of the council shall be appointed 
to 2-year terms.’’; 
(C) by striking subparagraphs (B) and 
(H); and 
(D) by redesignating subparagraphs (C), 
(D), (E), (F), (G), and (I) as subparagraphs 
(B), (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G), respectively; 
(3) by amending subsection (g) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(g) CHAIR.—The President shall designate one of 
the voting members of the Council as Chair, who shall 
serve in that capacity for a period not to exceed two 
years.’’; 
(4) by amending subsection (h) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(h) MEETINGS.—The Council shall hold a regular 
meeting during each calendar quarter at a date and time 
to be determined by the Chair of the Council.’’; and 
(5) by amending subsection (i) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(i) REPORT.—Not later than July 30, 2003, and an-
nually thereafter, the Council shall submit a report to the 
President and the Director of the Peace Corps describing 
how the Council has carried out its functions under sub-
section (b)(2).’’. 
SEC. 9. READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCES. 
The Peace Corps Act is amended—
(1) in section 5(c) (22 U.S.C. 2504(c)), by 
striking ‘‘$125’’ and inserting ‘‘$275’’; and 
(2) in section 6(1) (22 U.S.C. 2505(1)), by 
striking ‘‘$125’’ and inserting ‘‘$275’’. 
SEC. 10. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF RETURNED PEACE 
CORPS 
VOLUNTEERS 
TO 
PROMOTE 
THE 
GOALS OF THE PEACE CORPS. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to pro-
vide support for returned Peace Corps volunteers to de-
velop and carry out programs and projects to promote the 
third purpose of the Peace Corps Act, as set forth in sec-
tion 2(a) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2501(a)), by promoting
a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the 
American people. 
(b) GRANTS
TO CERTAIN NONPROFIT CORPORA-
TIONS.—
(1) GRANT AUTHORITY.—To carry out the pur-
pose of this section, and subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Corporation for National and Community Service 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Corporation’’) 
shall award grants on a competitive basis to private 
nonprofit corporations for the purpose of enabling 
returned Peace Corps volunteers to use their knowl-
edge and expertise to develop and carry out the pro-
grams and projects described in subsection (a). 
(2) PROGRAMS
AND
PROJECTS.—Such pro-
grams and projects may include—
(A) educational programs designed to en-
rich the knowledge and interest of elementary 
school and secondary school students in the ge-
ography and cultures of other countries where 
the volunteers have served; 
(B) projects that involve partnerships with 
local libraries to enhance community knowledge 
about other peoples and countries; and
(C) audio-visual projects that utilize mate-
rials collected by the volunteers during their 
service that would be of educational value to 
communities. 
(3) ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS.—To be eligible 
to compete for grants under this section, a nonprofit 
corporation shall have a board of directors composed 
of returned Peace Corps volunteers with a back-
ground in community service, education, or health. 
The nonprofit corporation shall meet all appropriate 
Corporation management requirements, as deter-
mined by the Corporation. 
(c) GRANT REQUIREMENTS.—Such grants shall be 
made pursuant to a grant agreement between the Cor-
poration and the nonprofit corporation that requires 
that—
(1) the grant funds will only be used to support 
programs and projects described in subsection (a) 
pursuant to proposals submitted by returned Peace 
Corps volunteers (either individually or cooperatively 
with other returned volunteers); 
(2) the nonprofit corporation will give consider-
ation to funding individual programs or projects by 
returned Peace Corps volunteers, in amounts of not 
more than $100,000, under this section;
(3) not more than 20 percent of the grant 
funds made available to the nonprofit corporation 
will be used for the salaries, overhead, or other ad-
ministrative expenses of the nonprofit corporation; 
(4) the nonprofit corporation will not receive 
grant funds for programs or projects under this sec-
tion for a third or subsequent year unless the non-
profit corporation makes available, to carry out the 
programs or projects during that year, non-Federal 
contributions—
(A) in an amount not less than $2 for 
every $3 of Federal funds provided through the 
grant; and 
(B) provided directly or through donations 
from private entities, in cash or in kind, fairly 
evaluated, including plant, equipment, or serv-
ices; and 
(5) the nonprofit corporation shall manage, 
monitor, and submit reports to the Corporation on 
each program or project for which the nonprofit cor-
poration receives a grant under this section. 
(d) STATUS OF THE FUND.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to make any nonprofit corporation sup-
ported under this section an agency or establishment of 
the Federal Government or to make the members of the
board of directors or any officer or employee of such non-
profit corporation an officer or employee of the United 
States. 
(e) FACTORS
IN AWARDING GRANTS.—In deter-
mining the number of nonprofit corporations to receive 
grants under this section for any fiscal year, the Corpora-
tion—
(1) shall take into consideration the need to 
minimize overhead costs that direct resources from 
the funding of programs and projects; and 
(2) shall seek to ensure a broad geographical 
distribution of grants for programs and projects 
under this section. 
(f) CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.—Grant recipients 
under this section shall be subject to the appropriate over-
sight procedures of the Congress. 
(g) FUNDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000. 
Such sum shall be in addition to funds made avail-
able to the Corporation under Federal law other 
than this section. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pur-
suant to paragraph (1) are authorized to remain 
available until expended.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 3(b)(1) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 
2502(b)(1)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘2002, and’’ and inserting 
‘‘2002,’’; and 
(2) by inserting before the period the following: 
‘‘, $465,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, $500,000,000 
for fiscal year 2005, $560,000,000 for fiscal year 
2006, and $560,000,000 for fiscal year 2007’’.
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