Legis Daily

Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018

USA115th CongressHR-2259| House 
| Updated: 10/9/2018
Ted Poe

Ted Poe

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (62)
Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Al Lawson (Democratic)Steve Chabot (Republican)Daniel M. Donovan (Republican)Tom Cole (Republican)John Garamendi (Democratic)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Don Young (Republican)Mark Pocan (Democratic)James R. Langevin (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Lee M. Zeldin (Republican)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Paul Cook (Republican)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)John J. Faso (Republican)Greg Walden (Republican)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic)Thomas A. Garrett (Republican)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Patrick Meehan (Republican)John B. Larson (Democratic)Joe Wilson (Republican)Peter J. Roskam (Republican)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Norma J. Torres (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Scott R. Tipton (Republican)Mike Coffman (Republican)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)John K. Delaney (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 This bill modifies various aspects of the Peace Corps, including changes to the provisioning of health care to volunteers, program oversight, and how it handles sexual assault allegations. The President shall ensure that each Peace Corps overseas post has medical services consistent with the size and scope of the post. The bill lays out criteria for hiring medical officers and support staff, including the candidate's medical training and experience, record of performance, understanding of the local language and culture, and the ability to work in English. The Peace Corps shall evaluate the medical staff in each country to ensure that they are complying with all relevant policies and guidelines, and that the staff members are receiving the necessary continuing medical education. It shall confirm that such a review has been completed in its annual budget justification to Congress. The Peace Corps shall ensure that all medical officers serving in malaria-endemic countries receive training in recognizing the side effects of malaria medications. It shall consult with experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for recommendations on malaria-preventing medication. The Peace Corps shall implement its response to the Peace Corps Inspector General's recommendations in a report about a volunteer's death in Morocco. That report found issues such as gaps in medical emergency preparedness practices and problems in oversight. The Peace Corps shall also report to Congress semiannually as to the progress of the implementation. The bill authorizes the Peace Corps to provide medical benefits to a volunteer for 120 days following the end of service, if the injury was sustained while serving in the Peace Corps and proximately caused by such service. The bill relaxes appointment term restrictions for certain critical management or management support positions that require specialized technical or technical skills. For such positions, the Peace Corps may make or renew appointments for up to five years. Such appointments shall not be subject to current limits on appointment term length. The Peace Corps may not open, close, significantly reduce, or suspend an office without consulting Congress at least 15 days in advance, except when the action is necessary to ameliorate a substantial security risk to Peace Corps personnel. The bill also directs the President to brief the Peace Corps Inspector General after the death of a volunteer. The briefing shall include the available facts and circumstances of the incident, subsequent Peace Corps actions, and if it is determined that further inquiry is not required, the reasoning for that conclusion. The Inspector General may independently review the death and of Peace Corps actions in response. A member of the U.S. Armed Forces or an employee of another U.S. department may be detailed to the Inspector General to assist with the review. The Peace Corps shall provide each applicant with specific, aggregated, and easily accessible information and about crimes and other risks in each country that the applicant may be invited to serve. The information for each country shall include (1) an overview of past crimes against volunteers, including unreported crimes, (2) the rate of early termination of a volunteer's service, (3) information about health risks, and (4) the nature and frequency of reports of sexual harassment from volunteers. The applicant shall have the option to apply to serve in a different country. Currently, applicants receive information about crimes and risks after being invited to serve in a specific country. The bill directs the Peace Corps to require each post to have designated staff responsible for serving victims of sexual assault. The Peace Corps shall also gather additional information about sexual assault, such as instances where an employee or volunteer resigns after being accused of assault but before a final determination has been made. The bill permanently authorizes the Office of Victim Advocacy to assist victims of sexual assault. It extends the authorization of the Sexual Assault Advisory Council to October 1, 2023, and gives the Council authority to conduct case reviews.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 1, 2017
Introduced in House
May 1, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce, 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.
May 2, 2017
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3008)
May 17, 2018
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 17, 2018
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
May 17, 2018
Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules,.
Jul 10, 2018
Mr. Poe (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 10, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6019-6025)
Jul 10, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2259.
Jul 10, 2018
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6019-6022)
Jul 10, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6019-6022)
Jul 10, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 11, 2018
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 508.
Sep 24, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S6280)
Sep 24, 2018
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6280)
Sep 25, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 28, 2018
Presented to President.
Oct 9, 2018
Signed by President.
Oct 9, 2018
Became Public Law No: 115-256.
  • May 1, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • May 1, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce, 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.


  • May 2, 2017
    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3008)


  • May 17, 2018
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • May 17, 2018
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • May 17, 2018
    Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules,.


  • July 10, 2018
    Mr. Poe (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • July 10, 2018
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6019-6025)


  • July 10, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2259.


  • July 10, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6019-6022)


  • July 10, 2018
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6019-6022)


  • July 10, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • July 11, 2018
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 508.


  • September 24, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S6280)


  • September 24, 2018
    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6280)


  • September 25, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • September 28, 2018
    Presented to President.


  • October 9, 2018
    Signed by President.


  • October 9, 2018
    Became Public Law No: 115-256.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 115-2286: Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018
Advisory bodiesAfricaAssault and harassment offensesCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDrug therapyExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth personnelInfectious and parasitic diseasesMedical educationMental healthMoroccoNational and community servicePeace CorpsPrescription drugsPublic contracts and procurementSex offensesSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018

USA115th CongressHR-2259| House 
| Updated: 10/9/2018
Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 This bill modifies various aspects of the Peace Corps, including changes to the provisioning of health care to volunteers, program oversight, and how it handles sexual assault allegations. The President shall ensure that each Peace Corps overseas post has medical services consistent with the size and scope of the post. The bill lays out criteria for hiring medical officers and support staff, including the candidate's medical training and experience, record of performance, understanding of the local language and culture, and the ability to work in English. The Peace Corps shall evaluate the medical staff in each country to ensure that they are complying with all relevant policies and guidelines, and that the staff members are receiving the necessary continuing medical education. It shall confirm that such a review has been completed in its annual budget justification to Congress. The Peace Corps shall ensure that all medical officers serving in malaria-endemic countries receive training in recognizing the side effects of malaria medications. It shall consult with experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for recommendations on malaria-preventing medication. The Peace Corps shall implement its response to the Peace Corps Inspector General's recommendations in a report about a volunteer's death in Morocco. That report found issues such as gaps in medical emergency preparedness practices and problems in oversight. The Peace Corps shall also report to Congress semiannually as to the progress of the implementation. The bill authorizes the Peace Corps to provide medical benefits to a volunteer for 120 days following the end of service, if the injury was sustained while serving in the Peace Corps and proximately caused by such service. The bill relaxes appointment term restrictions for certain critical management or management support positions that require specialized technical or technical skills. For such positions, the Peace Corps may make or renew appointments for up to five years. Such appointments shall not be subject to current limits on appointment term length. The Peace Corps may not open, close, significantly reduce, or suspend an office without consulting Congress at least 15 days in advance, except when the action is necessary to ameliorate a substantial security risk to Peace Corps personnel. The bill also directs the President to brief the Peace Corps Inspector General after the death of a volunteer. The briefing shall include the available facts and circumstances of the incident, subsequent Peace Corps actions, and if it is determined that further inquiry is not required, the reasoning for that conclusion. The Inspector General may independently review the death and of Peace Corps actions in response. A member of the U.S. Armed Forces or an employee of another U.S. department may be detailed to the Inspector General to assist with the review. The Peace Corps shall provide each applicant with specific, aggregated, and easily accessible information and about crimes and other risks in each country that the applicant may be invited to serve. The information for each country shall include (1) an overview of past crimes against volunteers, including unreported crimes, (2) the rate of early termination of a volunteer's service, (3) information about health risks, and (4) the nature and frequency of reports of sexual harassment from volunteers. The applicant shall have the option to apply to serve in a different country. Currently, applicants receive information about crimes and risks after being invited to serve in a specific country. The bill directs the Peace Corps to require each post to have designated staff responsible for serving victims of sexual assault. The Peace Corps shall also gather additional information about sexual assault, such as instances where an employee or volunteer resigns after being accused of assault but before a final determination has been made. The bill permanently authorizes the Office of Victim Advocacy to assist victims of sexual assault. It extends the authorization of the Sexual Assault Advisory Council to October 1, 2023, and gives the Council authority to conduct case reviews.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 1, 2017
Introduced in House
May 1, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce, 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.
May 2, 2017
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3008)
May 17, 2018
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 17, 2018
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
May 17, 2018
Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules,.
Jul 10, 2018
Mr. Poe (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 10, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6019-6025)
Jul 10, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2259.
Jul 10, 2018
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6019-6022)
Jul 10, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6019-6022)
Jul 10, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 11, 2018
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 508.
Sep 24, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S6280)
Sep 24, 2018
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6280)
Sep 25, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 28, 2018
Presented to President.
Oct 9, 2018
Signed by President.
Oct 9, 2018
Became Public Law No: 115-256.
  • May 1, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • May 1, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce, 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.


  • May 2, 2017
    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3008)


  • May 17, 2018
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • May 17, 2018
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • May 17, 2018
    Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules,.


  • July 10, 2018
    Mr. Poe (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • July 10, 2018
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6019-6025)


  • July 10, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2259.


  • July 10, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6019-6022)


  • July 10, 2018
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6019-6022)


  • July 10, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • July 11, 2018
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 508.


  • September 24, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S6280)


  • September 24, 2018
    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6280)


  • September 25, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • September 28, 2018
    Presented to President.


  • October 9, 2018
    Signed by President.


  • October 9, 2018
    Became Public Law No: 115-256.
Ted Poe

Ted Poe

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (62)
Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Al Lawson (Democratic)Steve Chabot (Republican)Daniel M. Donovan (Republican)Tom Cole (Republican)John Garamendi (Democratic)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Don Young (Republican)Mark Pocan (Democratic)James R. Langevin (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Lee M. Zeldin (Republican)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Paul Cook (Republican)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)John J. Faso (Republican)Greg Walden (Republican)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic)Thomas A. Garrett (Republican)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Patrick Meehan (Republican)John B. Larson (Democratic)Joe Wilson (Republican)Peter J. Roskam (Republican)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Norma J. Torres (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Scott R. Tipton (Republican)Mike Coffman (Republican)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)John K. Delaney (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 115-2286: Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Advisory bodiesAfricaAssault and harassment offensesCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDrug therapyExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth personnelInfectious and parasitic diseasesMedical educationMental healthMoroccoNational and community servicePeace CorpsPrescription drugsPublic contracts and procurementSex offensesSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations