A bill to facilitate the service of health care professionals in areas of sub-Saharan Africa, and other parts of the world, that are severely affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``AIDS Corps Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. AIDS CORPS.

    (a) In General.--The President shall establish a pilot program to 
demonstrate the feasibility of facilitating the service of health care 
professionals from the United States in those areas of sub-Saharan 
Africa and other parts of the world that are severely affected by HIV/
AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
    (b) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to participate in the 
pilot program established under subsection (a), an individual shall--
            (1) be a citizen of the United States or an alien who is 
        lawfully residing in the United States;
            (2) be a trained health care professional who meets the 
        educational and licensure requirements necessary to be such a 
        professional (including a physician, nurse, physician 
        assistant, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other type of 
        health care professional), or other individual determined to be 
        appropriate by the President;
            (3) enter into an agreement with the President to provide 
        services of the type described in subsection (c) for a period 
        of not less than 2 months and not more than 2 years; and
            (4) meet such other requirements as the President 
        determines appropriate.
    (c) Required Services.--A participant in the program established 
under this section shall--
            (1) provide on-the-job training to medical and other 
        personnel in the area in which the participant is serving to 
        strengthen the basic health care system of the affected 
        countries;
            (2) provide health care educational training for residents 
        of the area in which the participant is serving;
            (3) provide basic health care services for those infected 
        and affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in the area 
        in which the participant is serving; and
            (4) carry out other activities determined appropriate by 
        the President.
    (d) Recruitment.--The President shall ensure that information on 
the program established under subsection (a) is widely distributed to 
the public, including distribution through schools for health 
professionals, hospitals, clinics, and nongovernmental organizations 
working in the areas of international health and aid.
    (e) Placement of Participants.--In assigning participants in the 
program established under subsection (a), the President shall--
            (1) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that such 
        participants serve in the poorest areas of affected countries, 
        where health care needs are likely to be the greatest; and
            (2) consult with relevant officials of affected countries 
        at both the national and local level as well as with local 
        community leaders and organizations.
    (f) Incentives.--The President may offer such incentives as the 
President determines to be necessary to encourage individuals to 
participate in the program established under subsection (a), 
including--
            (1) partial payment of principal, interest, and related 
        expenses on Government and commercial loans for educational 
        expenses relating to professional health training;
            (2) where permissible, the deferment of repayments on loans 
        described in paragraph (1);
            (3) ensuring the provision of the retirement benefits of 
        participants if participation in the program would otherwise 
        jeopardize the receipt of such benefits; and
            (4) other incentives determined appropriate by the 
        President.
    (g) Coverage of Participants Under the Federal Tort Claims Act.--A 
participant in the program established under subsection (a) shall be 
deemed to be an employee of the United States Government for purposes 
of--
            (1) chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, and any 
        other Federal tort liability law;
            (2) sections 5584 and 5732 of title 5, United States Code; 
        and
            (3) section 3342 of title 31, United States Code.
    (h) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report that describes the steps taken under subsection 
(a) to establish the program, including--
            (1) the process of recruitment, including the venues for 
        recruitment, the number of candidates recruited, the incentives 
        offered, if any, and the cost of those incentives;
            (2) the process, including the criteria used, for the 
        selection of participants;
            (3) the number of participants placed, the countries in 
        which they were placed, and why those countries were selected; 
        and
            (4) the potential for expansion of the program.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--In addition to amounts otherwise available 
        for such purpose, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary for each 
        of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated under 
        paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.

Summary: AIDS Corps Act of 2003 - Directs the President to establish a pilot program to demonstrate the feasibility of facilitating the service of health care professionals from the United States in those areas of sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world that are severely affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.