HR 2699 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 2699CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish policies and procedures in the Peace Corps to provide for the safety and security of volunteers from rape and sexual assault, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 29, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. POE of Texas, and Ms. BUERKLE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish policies and procedures in the Peace Corps to provide for the safety and security of volunteers from rape and sexual assault, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Peace Corps Volunteer Service Improvement Act of 2011’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. CONFIDENTIALITY OF REPORTS OF RAPE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

(a) In General- The Director of the Peace Corps shall establish and maintain policies and procedures that clearly establish a process for volunteers to make confidential reports of rape or sexual assault.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Penalty- Any Peace Corps volunteer or staff member who is responsible for maintaining confidentiality under subsection (a) and who breaches such duty shall be subject to disciplinary action, including termination, and in the case of a staff member, ineligibility for re-employment with the Peace Corps.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Inclusion- In this Act, Peace Corps volunteers includes trainees and Peace Corps staff members include any employee, contractor, expert, consultant, or Foreign Service national employed or contracted by the Peace Corps, whether in the United States or in a foreign country.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT REGARDING PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS SERVING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

(a) In General- Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps shall consult with the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security and enter into a memorandum of understanding that specifies the duties and obligations of the Peace Corps and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the Department of State with respect to the protection of Peace Corps volunteers and staff members serving in foreign countries, including with respect to investigations of safety and security incidents and crimes committed against such volunteers and staff members.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Inspector General Review-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REVIEW- The Inspector General of the Peace Corps shall review the memorandum of understanding described in subsection (a) and be afforded the opportunity to recommend changes that advance the safety and security of Peace Corps volunteers before its entry into force.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REPORT- The Director of the Peace Corps shall consider the recommendations of the Inspector General of the Peace Corps regarding the memorandum of understanding described in subsection (a). If the Director enters into such memorandum without implementing a recommendation of the Inspector General, the Director shall submit to the Inspector General a written explanation relating thereto.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT REPORT- If, by the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director of the Peace Corps is unable to obtain agreement with the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security and certification by the Inspector General of the Peace Corps, the Director shall submit to the committees of Congress specified in subparagraph (C) a report explaining the reasons for such failure.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) LIMITATION ON FUNDS- If, by the date that is 9 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the memorandum of understanding described in subsection (a) has not entered into force, no funds available to the Peace Corps may be obligated or expended to extend to Peace Corps volunteers invitations for service or to deploy Peace Corps trainees overseas unless the Director of the Peace Corps certifies to the committees of Congress specified in subparagraph (C) that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) significant progress is being made toward finalizing such memorandum; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) the Peace Corps is using best efforts to provide volunteers with the training, support, and information they need to stay safe and secure.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS SPECIFIED- The committees of Congress specified in this subparagraph are the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. INDEPENDENCE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE PEACE CORPS.

The limitations specified in section 7(a)(2)(A) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2506(a)(2)(A)) on the length of appointment or assignment under section 7(a)(2) of such Act, section 7(a)(2)(B) of such Act on reappointment or reassignment of an individual whose appointment or assignment under section 7(a)(2) of such Act has been terminated, and section 7(a)(5) of such Act on the circumstances under which an appointment or assignment under section 7(a)(2) of such Act may exceed five years shall not apply to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the Inspector General of the Peace Corps; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) officers and employees of the Office of the Inspector General of the Peace Corps.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. SAFETY AND SECURITY REPORTS.

(a) In General- The Director of the Peace Corps shall annually 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 safety of Peace Corps volunteers. Each such report shall at a minimum include the following information:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The incidence of crimes, together with the number of arrests, prosecutions, and incarcerations for every country in which volunteers serve for the preceding year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) A three year trend analysis of the types and frequency of crimes committed against volunteers for every country in which the Peace Corps has operated for at least the three preceding years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Inspector General Audit- Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section and at least once every five years thereafter (or more frequently as appropriate), the Inspector General of the Peace Corps shall perform an audit of Peace Corps implementation of safety and security protocols, including the status of any Inspector General findings and recommendations from previous audits that have not been adequately remediated or implemented.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. PORTFOLIO REVIEWS.

(a) In General- The Director of the Peace Corps shall, at least once every three years (or more frequently as appropriate), perform a review to evaluate the allocation and delivery of resources across the countries the Peace Corps serves or is considering for service. Such portfolio reviews shall at a minimum include the following with respect to each such country:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) An evaluation of the country’s commitment to the Peace Corps program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) An analysis of the safety and security of volunteers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) An evaluation of the country’s need for assistance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) An analysis of country program costs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) An evaluation of the effectiveness of management of each post within a country.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) An evaluation of the country’s congruence with the Peace Corps’ mission and strategic priorities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- The Director of the Peace Corps shall prepare a report on each portfolio review required under subsection (a). Each such report shall discuss performance measures and sources of data used (such as project status reports, volunteer surveys, impact studies, reports of Inspector General of the Peace Corps, and any relevant external sources) in making such review’s findings and conclusions. The Director shall make each such report available upon request to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate in a manner consistent with the protection of classified information if determined necessary to protect sensitive information.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink