Date: 2011-11-01
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of S. 1280. "The Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011." This bill amends the Peace Corps Act to require sexual assault riskreduction and response training. It requires the development of a comprehensive sexual assault policy. the establishment of an Office of Victim Advocacy. and the establishment of a Sexual Assault Advisory. On October 14. 1960. during the final three weeks of the presidential campaign. candidate John F. Kennedy addressed students at the University of Michigan. He challenged these students to give two years of their lives to help people in developing countries. The root of the Peace Corps is in former President Kennedys challenge to those students. and to us all. Since the Peace Corps was founded. more than 200.000 volunteers have served in 139 countries. helping people build better lives for themselves. and better futures for their children. The Peace Corps mission trains the citizens of developing nations in a vast variety of skills and subjects. promotes a better understanding of Americans. and promotes a better understanding of the culture of the nation in which they are serving. Those who volunteer their service to the Peace Corps are fulfilling an unwritten commandment of service to the least among us. and their safety must be protected. The Peace Corps has served as a great vehicle of cultural exchange and awareness for the last 50 years and I applaud the organization and all of its volunteers. However. the Peace Corp must do more to address the concerns raised by current and former volunteers and establish a comprehensive sexual assault program. At this time 234 of the 7.109 volunteers. nearly five percent of all members. are from my home state of Texas. where I represent the 18th Congressional District. These altruistic Texans currently serve people in Belize. Zambia and Kazakhstan. and other developing nations throughout the world. I commend all of the brave humanitarians serving in the Peace Corps. We must ensure that all Peace Corps volunteers receive the training they need to provide for their safety and security as they travel the world. This bill was named after a Peace Corp volunteer Kate Puzey. Kate was serving in Benin on the Western coast of Africa when she began to suspect that some of the young girls in the village were being sexually exploited. Kate informed the School Director. who did not want to confront the suspected individual. Kates mother reports that Kate was becoming increasingly concerned with his behavior. and in February. 2009. he confessed to Kate that he had raped two students. Because there were no clearly outlined procedures to report such complaints. Kate had no official avenue to report the disturbing information. Furthermore. Constant Bios brother worked as an Assistant Director in local Peace Corps Headquarters. so. in late February 2009. Kate elected to travel to another Peace Corps workstation where she requested assistance from the Peace Corps Benin Director. On March 2. 2009. Kate was emailed. confirming receipt of her report. and four days later. she was sent another email informing her Mr. Bios contract would not be renewed. and that he would be informed why. Kate never received these emails. not having Internet access in her village. she had requested to be contacted by phone. Her confidentiality was not maintained. and her accused killer was informed of her role in his firing. On March 11. 2009. Kate was found murdered at her home in the village of Badjoude. Mr. Bio is currently in custody for this horrific murder. Unfortunately. the tragic murder of Kate Puzey is not the only devastating event that has affected a Peace Corps volunteer. An average of 22 women reported being raped in the Peace Corps every year between 2000 and 2009. I am greatly saddened that any of our Peace Corp volunteers. our nations representatives have suffered from the malicious crimes of sexual assault. I am further troubled that many of these crimes have not received the attention they deserve. The victim of a sexual assault. should not be victimized again by inaction. This bill would provide men and women with the knowledge they need to report and act upon reports of sexual assault. According to the Congressional Research Service. 60 percent of volunteers in the Peace Corps are women. with an average age of 28 years old. It is essential that these volunteers are protected. The Peace Corps was established to show the world that Americas greatness is cemented in its goal to maintain world peace and friendship. Thousands of Americans have volunteered to promote these values through kind deeds in countries whose cultural attitudes and values are much different than those of Americas. especially towards women. In this country. we value womens rights. and implement laws and policies to protect those rights. When those laws are violated. we go to great lengths to see that justice prevails. We. as all Americans. value the Peace Corps. This Congress has passed legislation that makes it possible for the Peace Corps to continue doing its great work representing the essence of Americas values. With this legislation. in honor of Kate Puzey. Congress will ensure that the Peace Corps will be sufficiently responsive and sensitive to victims of crime. I am pleased to support this bill. and urge my colleagues to do the same.