I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2259 
To amend the Peace Corps Act to expand services and benefits for volunteers, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 1, 2017 
Mr. POE of Texas (for himself and Mr. KENNEDY) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in ad-
dition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and 
Education and the Workforce, 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. 
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 ‘‘Sam Farr Peace Corps 
Enhancement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROVISIONS FOR CURRENT AND FORMER VOLUN-
TEERS OF THE PEACE CORPS. 
(a) ENHANCED COMPENSATION BENEFITS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 05, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2259.IH
H2259
lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 8142 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (c)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘GS– 
7’’ and inserting ‘‘GS–11’’; and 
(ii) by striking paragraph (2) and re-
designating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(d)(1) The Director of the Peace Corps shall provide 
the initial furnishing of medical and other benefits under 
section 8103(b) of this title to any former volunteer for 
the 180-day period beginning on the date of termination 
of the service of such volunteer, to the extent that the Di-
rector determines that such benefits are given with respect 
to an injury that is probably compensable under this sec-
tion (as such term is defined for purposes of section 
8103(b)). The provision of such benefits may be author-
ized directly or by the certification of vouchers, in accord-
ance with section 8103(b). 
‘‘(2) A volunteer may not be provided medical or 
other benefits pursuant to paragraph (1) unless the injury 
with respect to which such benefits would be provided was 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 05, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2259.IH
H2259
lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
proximately caused by the employment of such volunteer 
under subsection (c)(2). 
‘‘(3) Notwithstanding the 180-day limitation period 
under paragraph (1), a volunteer may receive medical or 
other benefits provided pursuant to such paragraph with 
respect to an injury until the date on which the Secretary 
of Labor makes a final determination with respect to com-
pensation for such injury under this section, if the volun-
teer applied for such compensation before the last day of 
such limitation period. 
‘‘(4) The Director shall consult with health experts 
outside the Peace Corps, including experts licensed in the 
field of mental health, in order to provide the best stand-
ard of care. 
‘‘(5) The provisions of section 8116(c) of this title 
regarding liability shall apply with respect to benefits pro-
vided to a former volunteer under this section in the same 
manner and to the same extent as such provisions apply 
with respect to benefits provided to an employee of the 
United States.’’. 
(2) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made 
by paragraph (1)(A) shall apply with respect to any 
compensation paid pursuant to section 8142 of title 
5, United States Code, on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 05, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2259.IH
H2259
lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) HEALTH CARE FOR VOLUNTEERS; CRIMINAL LI-
ABILITY FOR ACTS AGAINST VOLUNTEERS.—Section 5 of 
the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘receive such 
immunization and dental care preparatory to their 
service’’ and inserting ‘‘receive, preparatory to their 
service, such immunization and dental care, and (in 
accordance with subsection (o)) such trial prescrip-
tions’’; 
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘section, and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section), and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(o) The Director of the Peace Corps may only pre-
scribe mefloquine to a volunteer, including as a trial pre-
scription to a volunteer who chooses to use such medica-
tion before departing the United States to a post, on an 
individual basis and in accordance with relevant rec-
ommendations or guidelines issued by the Director of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Com-
missioner of Food and Drugs, after counseling such volun-
teer about the benefits, risks, and side effects of each 
available medication for the prophylaxis of malaria. The 
Director shall monitor the volunteer during the course of 
such prescription for the development of any side effects 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 05, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2259.IH
H2259
lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(or determine that the volunteer has been so monitored), 
evaluate the volunteer at the completion of such course 
for evidence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (or determine 
that the volunteer has been so evaluated), and report to 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs any 
such side effects or symptoms. A volunteer may only 
switch to the use of mefloquine from another drug for the 
prophylaxis of malaria while serving at a post if another 
medication for the prophylaxis of malaria is simulta-
neously provided to such volunteer in a manner that en-
sures continuous protection against malaria. 
‘‘(p) It is the policy of the United States to recognize 
the importance of Peace Corps volunteers and the core 
function that such volunteers play within the agency. The 
President should therefore prioritize the provision of 
health care services and necessary safety and security sup-
port for all volunteers. 
‘‘(q)(1) Whoever engages in conduct outside the 
United States against a volunteer that would constitute 
an offense under any section listed in paragraph (2) if the 
conduct had been engaged in within the special maritime 
and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined 
in section 7 of title 18, United States Code) shall be pun-
ished as provided for that offense. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 05, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2259.IH
H2259
lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) The sections listed in this paragraph are sections 
113, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1117 (to the extent that such sec-
tion applies to section 1111), 1201, 2241, 2242, 2244, 
and 2261A of title 18, United States Code. 
‘‘(3) For purposes of this subsection, paragraph 
(9)(B) (regarding residences in foreign countries) of sec-
tion 7 of title 18, United States Code, shall include the 
residences used by volunteers in foreign countries and the 
land appurtenant or ancillary thereto, irrespective of own-
ership.’’. 
SEC. 3. PROVISIONS REGARDING EMPLOYEES OF THE 
PEACE CORPS. 
Section 7 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2506) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘or 
paragraph (8)’’ after ‘‘paragraph (6)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(8)(A) The Director of the Peace Corps may des-
ignate a position as a ‘critical management position’ or 
a ‘critical management support position’ if the position re-
quires specialized technical or professional skills and 
knowledge of Peace Corps operations, such as positions 
that involve volunteer health services, financial manage-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 05, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2259.IH
H2259
lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
ment, information technology, procurement, personnel, 
legal services, or safety or security. 
‘‘(B) Notwithstanding any limitation set forth in 
paragraph (2) and subject to subparagraph (C), an ap-
pointment or assignment to a critical management posi-
tion or a critical management support position designated 
under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and any exten-
sion of such appointment or assignment shall be for a term 
of not more than five years. 
‘‘(C) The Director shall ensure that any decision re-
garding an appointment, assignment, or extension of such 
appointment or assignment to a critical management posi-
tion or a critical management support position shall be 
consistent with Peace Corps policies and based on oper-
ational and programmatic factors.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d)(1)(A) The President shall ensure that each over-
seas post has the services of a medical office that is con-
sistent in size and scope with the needs of the Peace Corps 
at such post, including, if necessary, by detailing to any 
such post the licensed medical staff of other United States 
departments, agencies, or establishments. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 05, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2259.IH
H2259
lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) An individual may be hired as a Peace Corps 
Medical Officer after consideration of the following cri-
teria: 
‘‘(i) Medical training, experience, accreditations, 
and other qualifications. 
‘‘(ii) Administrative capabilities. 
‘‘(iii) Understanding of the local language and 
culture. 
‘‘(iv) Ability to work in the English language. 
‘‘(v) Interpersonal skills. 
‘‘(vi) Record of performance. 
‘‘(vii) Any other factors the Director of the 
Peace Corps determines appropriate. 
‘‘(2) The Director of the Peace Corps shall ensure 
that each Peace Corps Medical Officer serving in a ma-
laria-endemic country receives training in the recognition 
of the side effects caused by the use of mefloquine and 
the data supporting the patient information handouts re-
quired by the Food and Drug Administration regarding 
mefloquine, including the potential capacity of the drug 
to cause permanent neuropsychiatric effects.’’. 
SEC. 4. MONITORING TRAINING RECORDS. 
Section 8 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507) 
is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 05, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2259.IH
H2259
lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS