Title: Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2022
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2021
This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and modifies operations of the Peace Corps.
Changes include expanding benefits and services for volunteers by 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 three months of health care benefits (and a three-month extension at the volunteer's expense). The Peace Corps must also provide volunteers with (1) information about enrolling in U.S. health plans no more than 30 days prior to service termination, (2) adequate access to menstrual products, and (3) mental health care during and after service.
The bill also includes provisions to address involuntary termination of Peace Corps service in emergencies or otherwise through no fault of the volunteer, including by expediting re-enrollment of involuntarily terminated volunteers.
The Peace Corps must also provide adequate support to insure volunteers' safety and must coordinate with the Department of State to periodically update agreements and plans concerning the security of Peace Corps volunteers and staff abroad.
The bill also
Furthermore, the bill requires reporting on (1) Peace Corps operations in the Pacific Islands, and (2) the provision of mental health services to volunteers.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1456 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1456

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 1, 2021

  Mr. Garamendi (for himself, Mr. Graves of Louisiana, Ms. Meng, Mrs. 
   Radewagen, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Case, and Mr. Sires) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
 and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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 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 2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Funding for the Peace Corps; integration of information age 
                            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. Whistleblower protections for volunteers.
Sec. 7. Peace Corps National Advisory Council.
Sec. 8. Use of official seal, emblem, and name of the Peace Corps.
Sec. 9. Codification of certain Executive order relating to existing 
                            noncompetitive eligibility Federal hiring 
                            status for returning volunteers.
Sec. 10. Memorandum of Agreement with Bureau of Diplomatic Security of 
                            the Department of State.
Sec. 11. Clarification regarding eligibility of United States 
                            nationals.
Sec. 12. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 13. Workers compensation for Peace Corps volunteers.
Sec. 14. Technical and conforming amendments.

SEC. 2. FUNDING FOR THE PEACE CORPS; INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION AGE 
              VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

    Section 3 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2502) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (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 
                ``$450,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, 
                $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, $550,000,000 for 
                fiscal year 2024, and $600,000,000 for fiscal year 
                2025''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``that fiscal 
                year and the subsequent fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``obligation through the end of the subsequent fiscal 
                year'';
            (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 developing countries, the Peace Corps shall be administered to give 
particular attention to those programs, projects, training, and other 
activities which leverage the internet, as appropriate, for 
development, education, and social and economic mobility and to develop 
positions for 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 ``$417'';
                    (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) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, in the first 
        sentence, by striking ``subsection (f)'' and inserting 
        ``subsection (e)'';
            (5) by amending subsection (e), as so redesignated, to read 
        as follows:
    ``(e) The Director of the Peace Corps shall--
            ``(1) consult with health experts outside the Peace Corps, 
        including experts licensed in the field of mental health, and 
        follow guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention regarding the prescription of medications to a 
        volunteer; and
            ``(2) provide mental health care as an eligible health care 
        service to such volunteers during and after their service.'';
            (6) in subsection (g), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``he'' and inserting ``the President'';
            (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'';
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``subsection 
                (1)'' and inserting ``paragraph (1)'';
            (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 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, the Director of the Peace Corps shall--
            ``(1) waive all non-medical application requirements for 
        the re-enrollment of each such volunteer during the 1-year 
        period beginning on the date of such involuntary end of 
        service;
            ``(2) expedite the medical clearance for each such 
        volunteer to facilitate re-enrollment;
            ``(3) permit each such volunteer, to the extent possible, 
        to resume the activity of each such volunteer at the time of 
        the involuntary end of service; and
            ``(4) provide each such volunteer, beginning on the date of 
        re-enrollment, with the compensation, allowances, benefits, and 
        other terms and conditions of service to which the volunteer is 
        entitled under this Act.
    ``(q) The Director of the Peace Corps shall authorize a payout 
allowance, in an amount 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.''.
    (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 
        ``$417''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``he'' and inserting 
        ``the President''.

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

    Section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(e)) is amended 
to read as follows:
    ``(e)(1) Volunteers shall receive such health care (including, if 
necessary, for volunteers and trainees, services under section 8B of 
this title) during their service.
            ``(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 8A of this title 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 (f).
            ``(3) Returned volunteers shall receive such health 
        examinations within six months after termination of their 
        service, including services provided in accordance with section 
        8B of this title (except that the six-month limitation shall 
        not apply in the case of such services), as the President may 
        deem necessary or appropriate. 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 chapter. Health care may not be provided 
        under this subsection in a manner inconsistent with the 
        Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997.
            ``(4) Returned volunteers shall receive--
                    ``(A) three months of health care upon their return 
                to the United States; and
                    ``(B) an opportunity to extend for an additional 3 
                months such health care, at the expense of such 
                volunteer.
            ``(5) Not later than 30 days before the date on which the 
        period of service of a volunteer or trainee terminates, the 
        Director of the Peace Corps, in consultation with the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services, shall provide general guidance to 
        such volunteer or trainee on options for health care after 
        termination other than health care provided by the Peace Corps, 
        including information regarding--
                    ``(A) 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);
                    ``(B) the qualified health plans (as defined in 
                section 1301(a) of the Patient Protection and 
                Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18021(a))) offered 
                through an Exchange established under title I of such 
                Act, including the enrollment periods for enrolling in 
                such plans; and
                    ``(C) if such volunteer or trainee is 25 years of 
                age or younger, 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.
            ``(6) Paragraphs (4) and (5) shall apply to volunteers and 
        trainees whose periods of service were subject to early 
        termination as a result of an emergency or otherwise through no 
        fault of the volunteer or trainee.''.

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); and
            (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, 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.
            ``(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 covers fully the cost of 
        menstrual products purchased by Peace Corps volunteers 
        described in such paragraph.''.

SEC. 6. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS.

    Section 8G of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2507g) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(d) Prohibition Against Reprisal.--
            ``(1) No volunteer may be subject to a reprisal by any 
        Peace Corps employee, volunteer, volunteer supervisor, 
        contractor, subcontractor, agent, or outside party that 
        receives funds from the Peace Corps for making a report 
        pursuant to section 8G(a) or for reporting waste, fraud, abuse 
        of authority, gross mismanagement, violations of law, 
        discrimination or a threat to health and safety to persons or 
        bodies identified covered identified in section 4712(a)(2) of 
        title 41, United States Code.
            ``(2) The Inspector General for the Peace Corp shall 
        conduct the investigation pursuant to section 4712(b) of such 
        title, and order relief as permitted pursuant to section 
        4712(c)(1) of such title.
            ``(3) A volunteer may appeal any action of the Peace Corp 
        Inspector General or otherwise seek judicial review pursuant to 
        paragraphs (2) through (7) of section 4712(c) of such title.
            ``(4) The Peace Corp Inspector General shall ensure that 
        volunteers are informed of their rights under this provision 
        consistent with the posting requirements in section 4712(d) of 
        such title.
    ``(e) Dispute Mediation.--The Peace Corps shall offer an 
opportunity to resolve the dispute through mediation in procedures 
consistent with the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (Public Law 
101-552; 104 Stat. 2736), as amended.
    ``(f) Respondent.--The Peace Corps shall--
            ``(1) be considered a respondent in all actions filed 
        pursuant to this section; and
            ``(2) ensure all compensation or other forms of relief are 
        promptly provided to the volunteer.''.

SEC. 7. PEACE CORPS NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    Section 12 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2511) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) 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'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon at the end;
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                subparagraph (G); and
                    (D) 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 
                                        ``President, by and with the 
                                        advice and consent of the 
                                        Senate'' and inserting 
                                        ``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 (B) to read 
                        as follows:
                    ``(B) No member 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 voting members of the Council as Chair, who shall serve 
        in such capacity for a term of two years.'';
            (3) 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 shall each 
                serve in that capacity for a term of two years. The 
                Director may renew the term of a voting member 
                appointed as Chair under the preceding sentence.'';
            (4) 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.''; and
            (5) 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) Acceptance and Use of Donations.--The Director of the Peace 
Corps may accept donations of funds, gifts, and in-kind contributions 
and use such donations without further appropriation for administrative 
expenses relating to the functions of the Council.
    ``(n) Multi-Year Agreement.--The Director of the Peace Corps may 
enter into a multi-year agreement with a nonprofit organization that 
supports current and returned Peace Corps volunteers, authorizing such 
nonprofit organization to solicit donations, on behalf of the Peace 
Corps, solely to support the administrative expenses relating to the 
functions of the Council. Any agreement under this subsection shall 
require the nonprofit organization at issue to transfer all donated 
funds received under such agreement to the Peace Corps for use under 
subsection (m).''.

SEC. 8. 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), by striking ``he'' and inserting 
        ``the President''; 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. 9. CODIFICATION OF CERTAIN EXECUTIVE ORDER RELATING TO EXISTING 
              NONCOMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY FEDERAL HIRING STATUS FOR 
              RETURNING VOLUNTEERS.

    The Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 26 through 28 as sections 27 
        through 29, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after section 25 the following new 
        section:

    ``codification of certain executive order relating to existing 
    noncompetitive eligibility federal hiring status for returning 
                               volunteers

    ``Sec. 26.  (a) Executive Order 11103 (28 Fed. Reg. 3571; Apr. 10, 
1963), as amended by Executive Order 12107 (44 Fed. Reg. 1055; Dec. 28, 
1978), 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 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 Corp 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.''.

SEC. 10. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY OF 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days from 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 takes effect.
    (c) Security Support and Protection Plan.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the Memorandum of Agreement is reviewed 
pursuant to subsection (a) and all future updates including a new 
standing directive, each Director of a Peace Corps country program and 
the corresponding Regional Security Officer of the United States 
Diplomatic Security Service shall jointly develop a Peace Corps 
volunteer security support and protection plan for each Peace Corps 
country program.

SEC. 11. 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 of the United States'';
            (3) in section 10(b), by striking ``citizens'' and 
        inserting ``nationals of the United States'';
            (4) in section 12(g), by striking ``citizens'' and 
        inserting ``nationals of the United States''; and
            (5) in section 27, as so redesignated--
                    (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)(B) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)(B)).''.

SEC. 12. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) 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 appropriate, 
        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.
    (b) Amendments.--Section 8I(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 
2507i(a)) is amended by striking--
            (1) ``President'' and inserting ``Director'';
            (2) ``September 30, 2018'' and inserting ``September 30, 
        2025''; and
            (3) ``and the Committee on Appropriations'' each place it 
        appears.
    (c) GAO Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 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 
        sections 5(d) and 8B.
            (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) Information relating to examinations, 
                counseling, and other mental health care services 
                provided by the Peace Corp to returned volunteers in 
                the 6 months following the end of the term of service 
                of such volunteers.
                    (B) Recommendations relating to--
                            (i) better protection of patient 
                        confidentially for returned Peace Corps 
                        volunteers for metal 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 plan or a 
                        similar commercially available insurance plan 
                        to be paid for by the Peace Corps.

SEC. 13. 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-11'';
                    (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. 14. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    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. 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. Establish 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. 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. 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. Repealed.
``Sec. 21. Repealed.
``Sec. 22. Security investigations.
``Sec. 23. Universal military training and service act.
``Sec. 24. Foreign language proficiency act.
``Sec. 25. Nonpartisan appointments.
``Sec. 26. Codification of certain Executive order relating to existing 
                            noncompetitive eligibility Federal hiring 
                            status for returning volunteers.
``Sec. 27. Definitions.
``Sec. 28. Construction.
``Sec. 29. Effective date.
 ``TITLE II--AMENDMENT OF INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

``Sec. 201. Repealed.
``Sec. 202. Repealed.
       ``TITLE III--ENCOURAGEMENT OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE PROGRAMS.

``Sec. 301. ''.
            (2) in section 4(b)--
                    (A) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the 
                Director''; and
                    (B) by striking ``of his subordinates'' and all 
                that follows through ``functions.'' and inserting 
                ``subordinate of the Director the authority to perform 
                any such functions.'';
            (3) in section 7--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by moving the margins of 
                paragraphs (7) and (8) two ems to the left; and
                    (B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
                (b);
            (4) in section 8A(d)(2), by inserting ``the'' before 
        ``information'';
            (5) in section 8C, in the heading of subsection (a), by 
        striking ``Victims'' and inserting ``Victim'';
            (6) 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''';
            (7) in section 9, by striking ``Act proceedings'' and 
        inserting ``Act. Removal proceedings'';
            (8) in section 10(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'';
            (9) in section 15(c), in the first sentence, by striking 
        ``that Act'' and inserting ``such subchapter'';
            (10) in section 23, by striking ``Universal Military 
        Training and Service Act'' and inserting ``Military Selective 
        Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.)'';
            (11) in section 24, by striking--
                    (A) ``his'' and inserting ``the volunteer's''; and
                    (B) ``he'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``the volunteer''; and
            (12) in section 27, as so redesignated--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as 
                paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(2) The term `Director' means the Director of the Peace 
        Corps.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``5(m)'' and inserting ``5(n)''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (9), as so redesignated--
                            (i) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) 
                        as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), as so 
                        redesignated, by striking ``section 5(f)'' and 
                        inserting ``section 5(e)''.
                                 <all>