Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.1456 | Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John (D-CA)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2022
This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and modifies operations of the Peace Corps.
Changes include increasing the readjustment allowance paid to volunteers when their service terminates and providing statutory authority for an executive order that grants returned volunteers noncompetitive eligibility for federal civil-service positions.
Additionally, the bill entitles returned volunteers to sixty days of health care benefits. The Peace Corps must also provide volunteers with information about enrolling in U.S. health plans before service termination and mental health care during and after service.
The bill also includes provisions to address involuntary termination of Peace Corps service in emergencies, including by expediting re-enrollment of involuntarily terminated volunteers.
The Peace Corps must also adequately insure volunteers' safety and must coordinate with the Department of State to periodically update agreements concerning the security of Peace Corps volunteers and staff abroad.
The bill also
Furthermore, the bill requires reporting, including on the provision of mental health services to volunteers.

To amend the Peace Corps Act to reauthorize the Peace Corps, better 
    support current and returned volunteers, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Peace Corps 
Reauthorization Act of 2022''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations; integration of information age 
                            Peace Corps volunteer opportunities.
Sec. 3. Readjustment allowances; expedited re-enrollment and transition 
                            assistance.
Sec. 4. Health care continuation for Peace Corps volunteers.
Sec. 5. Access to antimalarial drugs and menstrual products for Peace 
                            Corps volunteers.
Sec. 6. Codification of Executive Order 11103.
Sec. 7. Volunteers providing virtual services for the Peace Corps.
Sec. 8. Protection of Peace Corps volunteers against reprisal or 
                            retaliation.
Sec. 9. Comprehensive illegal drug use policy with respect to Peace 
                            Corps volunteers.
Sec. 10. Peace Corps National Advisory Council.
Sec. 11. Peace Corps volunteers serving within the United States at the 
                            request of another agency.
Sec. 12. Use of official seal, emblem, and name of the Peace Corps.
Sec. 13. Clarification regarding eligibility of United States 
                            nationals.
Sec. 14. Memorandum of Agreement with Bureau of Diplomatic Security of 
                            the Department of State.
Sec. 15. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 16. Workers compensation for Peace Corps volunteers.
Sec. 17. Technical and conforming edits.
Sec. 18. Determination of budgetary effects.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION AGE 
              PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

    Section 3 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2502) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$270,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2000, $298,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, 
        $327,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $365,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2003'' and inserting ``$430,500,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2023 and 2024'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (e); and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) In recognition of the transformative power of internet access 
in international development efforts, and, as exemplified by its 
virtual service pilot initiative, the Peace Corps shall be administered 
to--
            ``(1) give particular attention to the expansion of those 
        programs, projects, training, and other activities that 
        leverage the internet, as appropriate, for development, 
        education, and social and economic mobility; and
            ``(2) develop positions for Peace Corps volunteers that 
        include such programs, projects, training, and other 
        activities.''.

SEC. 3. READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCES; EXPEDITED RE-ENROLLMENT AND TRANSITION 
              ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Volunteers.--Section 5 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504) 
is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by inserting 
        ``, safety,'' after ``health'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``$125'' and 
                inserting ``$375'';
                    (B) by striking ``his'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``the volunteer's''; and
                    (C) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the 
                volunteer'';
            (3) by redesignating subsections (e) through (p) as 
        subsections (d) through (o), respectively;
            (4) by amending subsection (e), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
                Mental Health Care'' after ``Prescription of 
                Medications''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``concerning the mental health 
                care provided to volunteers during their service,'' 
                after ``experts licensed in the field of mental 
                health,'';
            (5) in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``subsequent'';
            (6) in subsection (g), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``he'' and inserting ``the Director'';
            (7) in subsection (m), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``subsection (e)'' each 
                        place it appears and inserting ``subsection 
                        (d)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the 
                        President''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``subsection 
                (1)'' and inserting ``subsection (k)'';
            (8) in subsection (n), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``his'' each place it appears and inserting ``the 
        volunteer's''; and
            (9) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(p) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, with 
respect to Peace Corps volunteers and trainees whose service ended 
involuntarily as a result of an emergency, suspension of operations, or 
otherwise through no fault of the volunteer or trainee, the Director of 
the Peace Corps shall--
            ``(1) waive such non-medical or non-security application 
        requirements as the Director may determine for the re-
        enrollment of each such volunteer and trainee during the 2-year 
        period beginning on the date of such involuntary end of 
        service;
            ``(2) prioritize the medical clearance for each such 
        volunteer and trainee to facilitate re-enrollment; and
            ``(3) permit each such volunteer and trainee, to the extent 
        practicable and in consideration of the needs of overseas posts 
        and the suitability of the volunteer or trainee to meet those 
        needs, to resume the activity of each such volunteer and 
        trainee at the time of the involuntary end of service.
    ``(q) The Director of the Peace Corps may authorize separation 
allowances, in amounts determined by the Director, to Peace Corps 
volunteers and trainees whose service ended involuntarily as a result 
of an emergency, suspension of operations, or otherwise through no 
fault of the volunteer or trainee.''.
    (b) Volunteer Leaders.--Section 6 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 
2505) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$125'' and inserting 
        ``$375''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the 
                Director''; and
                    (B) by striking ``in section 5(e)'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``in section 5(d)''.

SEC. 4. HEALTH CARE CONTINUATION FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS.

    Subsection (d) of section 5 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 
2504), as redesignated pursuant to section 4, is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(d)(1) Volunteers and trainees shall receive such health care 
(including, if necessary, for volunteers and trainees, services under 
section 8B) during their service, as the Director of the Peace Corps 
may determine to be necessary or appropriate.
    ``(2) Applicants for enrollment shall receive such health 
examinations preparatory to their service, applicants for enrollment 
who have accepted an invitation to begin a period of training under 
section 8(a) shall receive, preparatory to their service, such 
immunization, dental care, and information on prescription options and 
potential interactions, as necessary and appropriate and in accordance 
with subsection (e).
    ``(3) Returned volunteers shall receive such health examinations 
within six months after termination of their service, including 
services provided in accordance with section 8B (except that the six-
month limitation shall not apply in the case of such services).
    ``(4) Subject to such conditions as the President may prescribe, 
such health care may be provided in any facility of any agency of the 
United States Government, and in such cases the appropriation for 
maintaining and operating such facility shall be reimbursed from 
appropriations available under this Act. Health care may not be 
provided under this subsection in a manner inconsistent with the 
Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-12).
    ``(5) Returned volunteers, including those whose period of service 
is subject to early termination as the result of an emergency, shall 
receive upon termination of their service with the Peace Corps two 
months of short-term non-service-related health insurance for 
transition and travel (SHIFTT), to provide coverage for a 60-day period 
within which such volunteer will be advised to obtain qualifying health 
insurance, and an opportunity to extend for an additional 1 month such 
SHIFTT insurance, at the expense of such volunteer.
    ``(6) Not later than 30 days before the date on which the period of 
service of a volunteer or trainee terminates, or 30 days after the date 
of such termination if such termination is the result of an emergency, 
the Director of the Peace Corps, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, shall provide detailed information to such 
volunteer or trainee on options for health care after termination other 
than health care provided by the Peace Corps, including--
            ``(A) where additional, detailed information, including on 
        the application process and eligibility requirements for 
        medical assistance through State plans under title XIX of the 
        Social Security Act (or waiver of State plans), may be 
        obtained, including through external health care `navigators' 
        or health care option identification services available within 
        the public and private sectors;
            ``(B) where detailed information on qualified health plans 
        may be obtained, including through external health care 
        `navigators' or health care option identification services 
        available within the public and private sectors; and
            ``(C) if such volunteer or trainee is 25 years of age or 
        younger, detailed information regarding the eligibility of such 
        volunteer or trainee to enroll as a dependent child in a group 
        health plan or health insurance coverage in which the parent of 
        such volunteer or trainee is enrolled if such plan or coverage 
        offers such dependent coverage.''.

SEC. 5. ACCESS TO ANTIMALARIAL DRUGS AND MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS FOR PEACE 
              CORPS VOLUNTEERS.

    Section 5A of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504a) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (c) and (e);
            (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e);
            (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(c) Antimalarial Drugs.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Peace Corps shall 
        consult with experts at the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention regarding recommendations for prescribing malaria 
        prophylaxis, and implement such recommendations to the extent 
        practicable, in order to provide the best standard of care 
        within the context of the Peace Corps environment.
            ``(2) Certain training.--The Director of the Peace Corps 
        shall ensure that each Peace Corps medical officer serving in a 
        malaria-endemic country receives training in the recognition of 
        the side effects of such medications.
    ``(d) Access to Menstrual Products.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this subsection, the Director of the Peace 
        Corps shall establish a comprehensive policy to ensure Peace 
        Corps volunteers who require menstrual products are able to 
        access such products by--
                    ``(A) increasing stipends for such volunteers to 
                purchase such products; or
                    ``(B) providing such volunteers with such products 
                in the generic product types selected by such 
                volunteer, if available in the country of service.
            ``(2) Consideration.--The policy required under paragraph 
        (1) shall take into consideration the availability for purchase 
        locally of menstrual products, the price of such products, and 
        cultural norms regarding menstruation.
            ``(3) Cost.--If stipends are increased pursuant to the 
        policy required under paragraph (1), the Director of the Peace 
        Corps shall ensure that such increase is sufficient to cover 
        the average cost within the country of service of menstrual 
        products required by volunteers.''; and
            (4) in paragraph (1)(A) of subsection (e), as so 
        redesignated, by inserting ``, patient confidentiality 
        standards'' before ``, and guidelines''.

SEC. 6. CODIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11103.

    The Peace Corps Act is amended by inserting after section 5A (22 
U.S.C. 2504a) the following new section:

``SEC. 5B. CODIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11103.

    ``(a) Executive Order 11103 (22 U.S.C. 2504 note; 28 Fed. Reg. 
3571; relating to Providing for the Appointment of Former Peace Corps 
Volunteers to the Civilian Career Services), as amended by Executive 
Order 12107 (44 Fed. Reg. 1055; relating to the Civil Service 
Commission and Labor-Management in the Federal Service), as in effect 
on the day before the date of the enactment of this section, shall 
remain in effect and have the full force and effect of law, consistent 
with subsection (b).
    ``(b)(1) The period of eligibility for noncompetitive appointment 
to the civil service provided to an individual by operation of 
subsection (a), including any individual who is so eligible on the date 
of the enactment of this section, shall be extended by the total number 
of days that, during such period--
            ``(A) a hiring freeze for civilian employees of the 
        Executive branch is in effect by order of the President with 
        respect to any Executive agency at which the individual has 
        applied for employment;
            ``(B) there is a lapse in appropriations with respect to 
        any Executive agency at which the individual has applied for 
        employment; or
            ``(C) the individual is receiving disability compensation 
        under section 8142 of title 5, United States Code, based on 
        their service as a Peace Corps volunteer, retroactive to the 
        date the individual applied for such compensation.
    ``(2) The period of eligibility for noncompetitive appointment 
status to the civil service by operation of subsection (a) shall apply 
to a Peace Corps volunteer--
            ``(A) whose service ended involuntarily as the result of a 
        suspension of volunteer operations by the Director of the Peace 
        Corps, but shall not last longer than 12 months from the date 
        on which such service ended involuntarily; or
            ``(B) who re-enrolls as a volunteer in the Peace Corps 
        after completion of a term of service.
    ``(3) In this subsection:
            ``(A) The term `hiring freeze' means any memorandum, 
        Executive order, or other action by the President that 
        prohibits an Executive agency from filling vacant Federal 
        civilian employee positions or creating new such positions.
            ``(B) The term `Executive agency' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, and 
        includes the United States Postal Service and the Postal 
        Regulatory Commission, but does not include the Government 
        Accountability Office.
    ``(c) Subject to subsection (b), Executive Order 11103 (22 U.S.C. 
2504 note; 28 Fed. Reg. 3571; relating to Providing for the Appointment 
of Former Peace Corps Volunteers to the Civilian Career Services), as 
amended by Executive Order 12107 (44 Fed. Reg. 1055; relating to the 
Civil Service Commission and Labor-Management in the Federal Service), 
as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
section, shall, except as set forth herein, remain in effect and have 
the full force and effect of law. In the event of a conflict between 
the language herein and Executive Order 11103, the language herein 
shall prevail.
    ``(d) Any volunteer whose service terminated after January 1, 2020, 
and who has been certified by the Director as having served 
satisfactorily as a volunteer under the Act may, for two years after 
their separation from the Peace Corps, be appointed to a position in 
any United States department, agency, or establishment in the 
competitive service under title 5, United States Code without 
competitive examination and in accordance with such regulations and 
conditions consistent with this subsection as may be prescribed by the 
Director of the Office of Personnel Management.''.

SEC. 7. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING VIRTUAL SERVICES FOR THE PEACE CORPS.

    The Peace Corps Act is amended by inserting after section 5B, as 
added by section 6 of this Act, the following new section:

``SEC. 5C. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING VIRTUAL SERVICES FOR THE PEACE CORPS.

    ``(a) Declaration of Policy.--Congress declares that the Peace 
Corps has a demonstrated ability to deliver information, training, and 
technical assistance virtually through the internet and other 
electronic means to communities abroad.
    ``(b) Authority.--The Director of the Peace Corps is authorized to 
recruit individuals, who may be located within the United States or 
third countries, to provide services virtually by electronic means to 
communities in host countries to flexibly meet the expressed needs of 
those countries.
    ``(c) Administrative Provisions.--The Director of the Peace Corps--
            ``(1) may recruit, train, and accept, on such terms and 
        conditions as the Director may determine necessary or 
        appropriate, the services of individuals, especially those 
        individuals who face barriers to serving physically in a host 
        country, who shall serve on a part-time basis as virtual 
        service volunteers to meet the expressed needs of host 
        countries, such as information, training, and technical 
        assistance, through the internet or other electronic or virtual 
        means; and
            ``(2) may provide for incidental expenses of such 
        individuals, as determined by the Director to be appropriate 
        for the nature of the assignments.
    ``(d) Individuals Not to Be Considered Volunteers.--An individual 
who provides services under the authority of this section shall not be 
considered to be a volunteer for purposes of section 5 unless the 
Director of the Peace Corps requires the individual to physically serve 
in the host country on a temporary basis.
    ``(e) Individuals Not to Be Considered Federal Employees.--An 
individual who provides services under the authority of this section 
shall not be considered a Federal employee except for the purposes 
described in section 5(h).''.

SEC. 8. PROTECTION OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS AGAINST REPRISAL OR 
              RETALIATION.

    Section 8G of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507g) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Prohibition Against Reprisal or Retaliation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Peace Corps shall 
        take all reasonable measures, including through the development 
        and implementation of a comprehensive policy, to prevent and 
        address reprisal or retaliation against a volunteer by any 
        Peace Corps officer or employee, or any other person with 
        supervisory authority over the volunteer during the volunteer's 
        period of service.
            ``(2) Reporting and investigation; relief.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A volunteer may report a 
                complaint or allegation of reprisal or retaliation--
                            ``(i) directly to the Inspector General of 
                        the Peace Corps, and the Inspector General may 
                        conduct such investigations and make such 
                        recommendations with respect to the complaint 
                        or allegation as the Inspector General 
                        considers appropriate; and
                            ``(ii) through other channels provided by 
                        the Peace Corps, including through the process 
                        for confidential reporting required in 
                        subsection (a).
                    ``(B) Relief.--The Director of the Peace Corps--
                            ``(i) may order any relief for an 
                        affirmative finding of a proposed or final 
                        resolution of a complaint or allegation of 
                        reprisal or retaliation in accordance with 
                        policies, rules, and procedures of the Peace 
                        Corps; and
                            ``(ii) shall ensure such relief is promptly 
                        provided to the volunteer.
            ``(3) Appeal.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A volunteer may appeal to the 
                Director of the Peace Corps any proposed or final 
                resolution of a complaint or allegation of reprisal or 
                retaliation.
                    ``(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph may be construed to affect any other right of 
                recourse a volunteer may have under any other provision 
                of law.
            ``(4) Notification of rights and remedies.--The Director of 
        the Peace Corps shall ensure that volunteers are informed in 
        writing of the rights and remedies provided under this section.
            ``(5) Dispute mediation.--The Director of the Peace Corps 
        shall offer the opportunity for volunteers to resolve disputes 
        concerning a complaint or allegation of reprisal or retaliation 
        through mediation in accordance with procedures developed by 
        the Peace Corps.
            ``(6) Staff member and volunteer cooperation.--The Director 
        of the Peace Corps may take such disciplinary or other 
        administrative action, including termination of service or 
        finding of ineligibility for re-employment or reinstatement, 
        with respect to a staff member or volunteer who unreasonably 
        refuses to cooperate with an investigation conducted by the 
        Inspector General of the Peace Corps into a complaint or 
        allegation of reprisal or retaliation.
            ``(7) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Reprisal or retaliation.--The term `reprisal 
                or retaliation' means taking, threatening to take, or 
                initiating adverse administrative action against a 
                volunteer because the volunteer made a report pursuant 
                to subsection (a) or otherwise disclosed to a covered 
                official or office any information pertaining to waste, 
                fraud, abuse of authority, misconduct, mismanagement, 
                violations of law, or a significant threat to health 
                and safety, whenever the activity or occurrence 
                complained of is based upon the reasonable belief of 
                the volunteer that it has taken place.
                    ``(B) Covered official or office.--The term 
                `covered official or office' means any of the 
                following:
                            ``(i) Any Peace Corps employee, including 
                        an employee of the Office of Inspector General.
                            ``(ii) A Member of Congress or a 
                        representative of a committee of Congress.
                            ``(iii) An Inspector General (other than 
                        the Peace Corps Inspector General).
                            ``(iv) The Government Accountability 
                        Office.
                            ``(v) An authorized official of the 
                        Department of Justice or other law enforcement 
                        agency.
                            ``(vi) A United States court or grand 
                        jury.''.

SEC. 9. COMPREHENSIVE ILLEGAL DRUG USE POLICY WITH RESPECT TO PEACE 
              CORPS VOLUNTEERS.

    The Peace Corps Act is amended by inserting after section 8I (22 
U.S.C. 2507i) the following new section:

``SEC. 8J. COMPREHENSIVE ILLEGAL DRUG USE POLICY WITH RESPECT TO PEACE 
              CORPS VOLUNTEERS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director shall develop and implement a 
comprehensive drug use policy with respect to Peace Corps volunteers. 
Such policy shall--
            ``(1) establish a zero tolerance policy regarding volunteer 
        or trainee involvement with illegal drugs; and
            ``(2) require that every case of volunteer or trainee 
        illegal drug involvement be brought immediately to the 
        attention of relevant Peace Corps leadership, including the 
        Director, and be reported expeditiously by the Peace Corps to 
        the Office of the Inspector General.
    ``(b) Consultation.--In developing the policy described in 
subsection (a), the Director may consult with and incorporate, as 
appropriate, the recommendations and views of experts in the field of 
substance abuse, and shall consult with the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate.
    ``(c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on the illegal drug use policy 
required to be developed and implemented under this section.''.

SEC. 10. PEACE CORPS NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    Section 12 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2511) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the President 
                and'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``conduct on-site inspections, 
                        and make examinations, of the activities of the 
                        Peace Corps in the United States and in other 
                        countries in order to'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) by striking ``the President, 
                                the Director of the Peace Corps, and, 
                                as the Council considers appropriate, 
                                the Congress,'' and inserting ``the 
                                Director and, as the Council considers 
                                appropriate, the Congress''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``and'' after the 
                                semicolon at the end;
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                        subparagraph (G); and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
                        the following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(D) make recommendations for utilizing the 
                expertise of returned Peace Corps volunteers in 
                fulfilling the goals of the Peace Corps;
                    ``(E) make recommendations for increasing 
                recruitment of volunteers from diverse backgrounds and 
                better supporting such volunteers during their training 
                and enrollment in the Peace Corps;
                    ``(F) make recommendations to reduce any financial 
                barriers to application, training, or enrollment in the 
                Peace Corps, including a volunteer's medical expenses 
                and other out-of-pocket costs; and'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in the first sentence--
                                            (aa) by striking 
                                        ``fifteen'' and inserting 
                                        ``seven''; and
                                            (bb) by striking ``the 
                                        President, by and with the 
                                        advice and consent of the 
                                        Senate'' and inserting ``the 
                                        Director of the Peace Corps''; 
                                        and
                                    (II) by striking the second 
                                sentence and inserting the following 
                                new sentence: ``At least four of such 
                                members shall be returned Peace Corps 
                                volunteers, and not more than four of 
                                such members may be members of the same 
                                political party.'';
                            (ii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read 
                        as follows:
    ``(C) No member of the Council appointed under this paragraph may 
be an officer or employee of the Peace Corps.'';
                            (iii) by amending subparagraph (D) to read 
                        as follows:
    ``(D) The members of the Council shall be appointed to 2-year 
terms.''; and
                            (iv) by striking subparagraphs (E), (F), 
                        (G), (H), and (I); and
                    (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
    ``(3) The Director of the Peace Corps shall designate one of the 
members of the Council as Chair, who shall serve in such capacity for a 
term of two years.'';
            (3) in subsection (d)(1)(B), by striking ``his or her'' and 
        inserting ``the member's'';
            (4) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``At its 
                first meeting and at its first regular meeting in each 
                calendar year thereafter'' and inserting ``At its first 
                meeting each calendar year''; and
                    (B) in the second sentence, by inserting before the 
                period at the end the following: ``, and each shall 
                serve in that capacity for a term of two years. The 
                Director of the Peace Corps may renew, not more than 
                once per member, the term of a voting member appointed 
                as Chair of the Council under the preceding sentence'';
            (5) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ``The Council'' and 
        all that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
        the following: ``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 or at the call of the 
        Director of the Peace Corps.'';
            (6) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``the President and'' (including in 
                the subsection heading) each place such term appears;
                    (B) by striking ``the President shall'' and 
                inserting ``the Director shall''; and
                    (C) by striking ``the President or''; and
            (7) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(k) Independence of Inspector General.--None of the activities or 
functions of the Council under subsection (b)(2) may undermine the 
independence or supersede the duties of the Inspector General of the 
Peace Corps.
    ``(l) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Council.
    ``(m) Funding of the Council.--The Council shall be fully funded 
from amounts made available to the Peace Corps to carry out this 
Act.''.

SEC. 11. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS SERVING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AT THE 
              REQUEST OF ANOTHER AGENCY.

    (a) Declaration of Policy.--Congress declares that the Peace Corps 
provided emergency disaster relief in response to Hurricane Katrina in 
2006 and provided COVID-19 relief in 2021 at the request of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency and therefore it is the policy of the 
United States that the Peace Corps be authorized to recruit volunteers 
to serve within the United States at the request of another agency.
    (b) Recruitment of Domestic Volunteers.--The Peace Corps Act is 
amended by inserting after section 14 (22 U.S.C. 2513) the following 
new section:

``SEC. 14A. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS SERVING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AT 
              THE REQUEST OF ANOTHER AGENCY.

    ``The Director may recruit, train, and accept, for limited periods 
of time, on such terms and conditions as the Director may determine 
necessary or appropriate, the services of individuals who are not then 
serving outside the United States as volunteers or trainees (unless 
such appointment is made with the consent of the volunteer or trainee 
serving outside the United States as an extension of such service), who 
shall serve without compensation as domestic volunteers within the 
United States to provide assistance at the request of any Federal 
Government agency with authority to do so. Such service within the 
United States may be initiated by the Director following the request 
from the other agency and a determination by the Director that such 
action is in the best interests of the United States and the Peace 
Corps. Domestic volunteers shall not be considered volunteers under 
section 5 and shall not be deemed a Federal employee except for the 
purposes described in section 5(h). The Director may provide for 
incidental expenses of domestic volunteers, as determined by the 
Director to be appropriate for the nature of the assignments.''.

SEC. 12. USE OF OFFICIAL SEAL, EMBLEM, AND NAME OF THE PEACE CORPS.

    Section 19 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2518) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``The President'' and inserting 
                ``The Director of the Peace Corps''; and
                    (B) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the 
                Director''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting before the 
                period at the end the following: ``, except that the 
                official seal or emblem and the name `Peace Corps' may 
                be used on any death announcement, gravestone, plaque, 
                or other grave marker of any person who served as a 
                volunteer or as an officer or employee of the Peace 
                Corps under such rules as may be prescribed by the 
                Director''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), in the first sentence, by 
                inserting ``or in accordance with the exception 
                specified in paragraph (1),'' before ``shall be 
                fined''.

SEC. 13. CLARIFICATION REGARDING ELIGIBILITY OF UNITED STATES 
              NATIONALS.

    The Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 7(a)(5), by striking ``United States 
        citizens'' each place such term appears and inserting 
        ``nationals of the United States'';
            (2) in section 8(b), by striking ``citizens'' and inserting 
        ``nationals'';
            (3) in section 10(b), by striking ``citizen or resident'' 
        and inserting ``national'';
            (4) in section 12(g), by striking ``citizens'' and 
        inserting ``nationals''; and
            (5) in section 26--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (8) as 
                paragraphs (6) through (9), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(5) The term `national of the United States' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 101(a)(22) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)).''.

SEC. 14. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY OF 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and at least once every five years thereafter, 
the Director of the Peace Corps, in coordination with the Assistant 
Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, shall review the Memorandum 
of Agreement between the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the 
Department of State and the Peace Corps relating to security support 
and protection of Peace Corps volunteers and staff members abroad and 
update such Memorandum of Agreement, as appropriate.
    (b) Notification.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the Peace Corps and the 
        Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security shall 
        jointly submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
        of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
        the Senate a written notification relating to an update to the 
        Memorandum of Agreement made pursuant to subsection (a).
            (2) Timing of notification.--A written notification 
        submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted not 
        later than 30 days before the update referred to in such 
        paragraph shall take effect.

SEC. 15. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Amendments.--The Peace Corps Act is amended--
            (1) in section 8E (22 U.S.C. 2507e)--
                    (A) by striking ``President'' and inserting 
                ``Director'' each place it appears;
                    (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``September 30, 
                2023'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''; and
                    (C) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by striking 
                ``September 30, 2018'' and inserting ``September 30, 
                2025''; and
            (2) in section 8I (22 U.S.C. 2507i)--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``September 30, 
                2018'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``President'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``Director''.
    (b) GAO Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
        United States shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
        Relations of the Senate a report relating to the post-service 
        health care delivery and insurance coverage pursuant to 
        subsection (d) of section 5 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 
        2504), as amended by section 4 of this Act, and section 8B of 
        the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507b).
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) Information relating to examinations, 
                counseling, and other mental health care services 
                provided by the Peace Corps to returned volunteers in 
                the six months following the end of the term of service 
                of such volunteers.
                    (B) Recommendations relating to--
                            (i) better protection of patient 
                        confidentiality for returned Peace Corps 
                        volunteers for mental health care services;
                            (ii) improved access to mental health 
                        providers that will accept payment from the 
                        Peace Corps; and
                            (iii) whether such mental health care 
                        services for returned volunteers would be 
                        better provided under the Short-term Health 
                        Insurance For Transition and Travel (SHIFTT) 
                        plan or a similar commercially available 
                        insurance plan to be paid for by the Peace 
                        Corps.
    (c) Report on Mental Health Evaluation Standards.--Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of 
the Peace Corps shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate a report on the guidelines and standards used to evaluate the 
mental health of Peace Corps applicants prior to service. Such report 
shall include--
            (1) a detailed description of mental health screening 
        guidelines and evaluation standards used by the Peace Corps to 
        determine medical eligibility of applicants for service, 
        including a description of the most common mental health 
        conditions of applicants;
            (2) specific standards in the mental health screening 
        process that could lead to an applicant's disqualification from 
        service, and a description of how these determinations are 
        made;
            (3) a description of any expedited mental health clearance 
        process for severe or recent symptom presentation;
            (4) a description of periods of stability related to 
        certain mental health conditions and symptoms recommended prior 
        to an applicant's clearance to serve;
            (5) an assessment of the impact of updated mental health 
        evaluation guidance, including a comparison of mental health 
        related volunteer medevacs in years before and after updated 
        guidelines were implemented; and
            (6) a review of these screening guidelines, conducted by a 
        panel of certified and qualified medical professionals in the 
        United States, that evaluates these standards based on 
        scientific evidence and mental health research and proposes 
        relevant updates or additions to current guidance.
    (d) Report on Volunteer Medical Evacuations.--Not later than the 
first May 1 occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
annually thereafter for five years, the Director of the Peace Corps 
shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a 
report on volunteer medical and mental health evacuations. Such report 
shall include--
            (1) the number of Peace Corps volunteer medical and mental 
        health evacuations during the previous year;
            (2) a breakdown of these evacuations into medical and 
        mental health evacuation categories; and
            (3) the estimated cost of these evacuations for each year, 
        including a breakdown of costs between medical and mental 
        health evacuation categories.
    (e) Report and Extension of the Sexual Assault Advisory Council.--
Section 8D of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507d) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Reports.--On an annual basis for the duration of its mandate, 
the Council shall submit to the Director, the Committee on Foreign 
Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives a report on its findings based on the reviews 
conducted pursuant to subsection (c) and shall include relevant 
recommendations. Such reports shall be made publicly available.''; and
            (2) in subsection (g), by striking ``October 1, 2023'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2025''.
    (f) Report on Pacific Islands Region.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace 
Corps shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a 
report on--
            (1) the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands 
        region; and
            (2) a strategy to expand such presence, as practicable, 
        including--
                    (A) outcomes of consultations with regional allies 
                and partners on areas in which cooperation can reduce 
                factors limiting Peace Corps expansion; and
                    (B) timelines for expanding and reopening country 
                programs in the Pacific Islands region.

SEC. 16. WORKERS COMPENSATION FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 8142 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``GS-7'' and 
                inserting ``GS-7, step 5'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
                paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
            (2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``subsection (c)(3)'' 
        and inserting ``subsection (c)(2)''.
    (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a)(1)(A) shall 
apply to any volunteer (as that term is defined in subsection (a) of 
section 8142 of title 5, United States Code) with respect to whom 
benefits under chapter 81 of such title commence, by operation of such 
section, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 17. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING EDITS.

    The Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by amending section 1 to read as follows:

``SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    ``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `Peace Corps Act'.
    ``(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

                       ``TITLE I--THE PEACE CORPS

``Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
``Sec. 2. Declaration of purpose.
``Sec. 2A. Peace Corps as an independent agency.
``Sec. 3. Authorization.
``Sec. 4. Director of the Peace Corps and delegation of functions.
``Sec. 5. Peace Corps volunteers.
``Sec. 5A. Health care for volunteers at Peace Corps posts.
``Sec. 5B. Codification of Executive Order 11103.
``Sec. 5C. Volunteers providing virtual services for the Peace Corps.
``Sec. 6. Peace Corps volunteer leaders.
``Sec. 7. Peace Corps employees.
``Sec. 8. Volunteer training.
``Sec. 8A. Sexual assault risk-reduction and response training.
``Sec. 8B. Sexual assault policy.
``Sec. 8C. Office of victim advocacy.
``Sec. 8D. Establishment of sexual assault advisory council.
``Sec. 8E. Volunteer feedback and Peace Corps review.
``Sec. 8F. Establishment of a policy on stalking.
``Sec. 8G. Establishment of a confidentiality protection policy.
``Sec. 8H. Removal and assessment and evaluation.
``Sec. 8I. Reporting requirements.
``Sec. 8J. Comprehensive illegal drug use policy with respect to Peace 
                            Corps volunteers.
``Sec. 9. Participation of foreign nationals.
``Sec. 10. General powers and authorities.
``Sec. 11. Reports.
``Sec. 12. Peace Corps National Advisory Council.
``Sec. 13. Experts and consultants.
``Sec. 14. Detail of personnel to foreign governments and international 
                            organizations.
``Sec. 14A. Peace corps volunteers serving within the United States at 
                            the request of another agency.
``Sec. 15. Utilization of funds.
``Sec. 16. Foreign currency fluctuations account.
``Sec. 17. Use of foreign currencies.
``Sec. 18. Activities promoting Americans' understanding of other 
                            peoples.
``Sec. 19. Exclusive right to seal and name.
``Sec. 20. [Reserved.]
``Sec. 21. [Reserved.]
``Sec. 22. Security investigations.
``Sec. 23. Universal military training and service act.
``Sec. 24. Foreign language proficiency act.
``Sec. 25. Nonpartisan appointments.
``Sec. 26. Definitions.
``Sec. 27. Construction.
``Sec. 28. Effective date.
 ``TITLE II--AMENDMENT OF INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

``Sec. 201. [Reserved.]
``Sec. 202. [Reserved.]
        ``TITLE III--ENCOURAGEMENT OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE PROGRAMS

``Sec. 301. Voluntary Service Programs.'';
            (2) in subsection (a) of section 2--
                    (A) by striking ``men and women'' and inserting 
                ``individuals'';
                    (B) by striking ``help the peoples'' and inserting 
                ``partner with the peoples''; and
                    (C) by striking ``trained manpower'' and inserting 
                ``trained individuals'';
            (3) in subsection (e) of section 3 (as so redesignated by 
        section 2 of this Act), by striking ``disabled people'' and 
        inserting ``people with disabilities'' each place it appears;
            (4) in subsection (b) of section 4--
                    (A) by striking ``him'' and inserting ``the 
                President'';
                    (B) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the 
                Director''; and
                    (C) by striking ``of his subordinates'' and all 
                that follows through ``functions.'' and inserting 
                ``subordinate of the Director the authority to perform 
                any such functions.'';
            (5) in section 7--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by moving the margins of 
                paragraphs (7) and (8) two ems to the left;
                    (B) in the second sentence of subsection (c), by 
                striking ``in his discretion'' and inserting ``in the 
                President's discretion''; and
                    (C) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
                (b);
            (6) in section 8A--
                    (A) in subsection (c), by striking ``his or her'' 
                and inserting ``the volunteer's'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2) of subsection (d), by 
                inserting ``the'' before ``information''; and
                    (C) in subsection (f)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2), 
                        by striking ``his or her'' and inserting ``the 
                        volunteer's'' each place it appears; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4), 
                        by striking ``his or her'' and inserting ``that 
                        person's'';
            (7) in section 8C, in the heading of subsection (a), by 
        striking ``Victims'' and inserting ``Victim'';
            (8) in section 8E--
                    (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``subsection 
                (c),'' and inserting ``subsection (c)''; and
                    (B) in subsection (e)(1)(F), by striking ``Corp's'' 
                and inserting ``Corps'';
            (9) in section 9--
                    (A) by striking ``Act proceedings'' and inserting 
                ``Act. Removal proceedings'';
                    (B) by striking ``under which he'' and inserting 
                ``under which that person''; and
                    (C) by striking ``for which he'' and inserting 
                ``for which that person'';
            (10) in section 10--
                    (A) in subsection (b) (as amended by section 13 of 
                this Act), by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the 
                President''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``section 3709'' 
                and all that follows through ``1949'' and inserting 
                ``sections 3101(a), 3101(c), 3104, 3106, 3301(b)(2), 
                and 6101 of title 41, United States Code'';
            (11) in section 14--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``his'' after 
                ``of'' and before ``agency'' and inserting ``that''; 
                and
                    (B) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) by striking ``preserving his'' and 
                        inserting ``preserving the''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``he'' after ``assigned, 
                        and'';
            (12) in section 15--
                    (A) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by 
                striking ``that Act'' and inserting ``such 
                subchapter''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d)(7), by striking ``his 
                designee'' and inserting ``the Director's designee'';
            (13) in section 23, by striking ``Universal Military 
        Training and Service Act'' and inserting ``Military Selective 
        Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.)'';
            (14) in section 24, by striking--
                    (A) ``his'' and inserting ``the volunteer's''; and
                    (B) ``he'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``the volunteer'';
            (15) in section 26 (as amended by section 13 of this Act)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``which he or 
                she'' and inserting ``which the medical officer'';
                    (B) by further redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
                (9) (as so redesignated by section 13) as paragraphs 
                (3) through (10), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(2) The term `Director' means the Director of the Peace 
        Corps.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``5(m)'' and inserting ``5(n)''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (10), as so redesignated--
                            (i) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) 
                        as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and 
                        moving such subparagraphs, as so redesignated, 
                        2 ems to the left; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), as so 
                        redesignated, by striking ``section 5(f)'' and 
                        inserting ``section 5(e)''; and
            (16) in section 301, by striking ``Sec. 301. (a) The 
        Congress'' and inserting the following:

                      ``voluntary service programs

    ``Sec. 301. 
    ``(a) The Congress''.

SEC. 18. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 19, 2022.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.
                                                       Calendar No. 492

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 1456

_______________________________________________________________________