In-Depth: Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced this bill to ensure that Peace Corps volunteers are supported overseas:

“When young American Peace Corps volunteers head overseas, they must know that the U.S. government has their back. In 2011, Congress took a historic step in passing the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act, but there is more work to be done. This bill will go even further to both keep volunteers healthy and to ensure that those who have experienced sexual assault have the assistance and protection that they need.”

After the bill’s passage in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in May 2018, Rep. Poe added:

“Far too often, our volunteers are injured, sexually assaulted, or contract severe diseases while serving overseas. This legislation will ensure that our angels abroad have access to qualified medical professionals (in-country) and extends protections for survivors of sexual assault. It also ensures that ill and/or injured volunteers do not have to spend months dealing with federal bureaucratic red tape just to receive the care they need and deserve. These young men and women sacrifice years of their lives to help people they never even met – they are the face of our country in places where America’s shining beacon of hope and liberty may not always shine so bright. Their service to our country should not turn into a nightmare that ruins or even ends their lives. It’s time we take a stand and take action for our volunteers who are some of the very best we have.”

The National Peace Corps Association and Health Justice for Peace Corps both support this legislation.

This bill has 61 cosponsors, including 43 Democrats and 18 Republicans.

Of Note: The Peace Corps provides all serving volunteers with comprehensive healthcare: routine health care provided by a medical officer at each outpost, plus emergency care is provided as necessary, including medical evacuation to the U.S.

Recently, the issue came to light after the January 2013 death of Nick Castle, a 23-year-old Peace Corps volunteer teaching in rural China who fell violently ill and died due to medical negligence and insufficient Peace Corps Medical Officer response to his condition. Since Nick’s death, the Peace Corps attempted to reform its operations, improve its efficiency, and increase support for volunteers in the field.

However, much remains to be done, and some of the Peace Corps’ problems require legislative fixes. For example, current laws restrict the Peace Corps from complying with the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations regarding its administration of antimalarial medications to volunteers.

Similarly, although Congress mandated a number of reforms to address sexual assault in the Peace Corps in 2011, the Peace Corps, with the help of an advisory council comprised of experts in the sexual assault field, made progress toward establishing a comprehensive sexual assault policy — but there remains work to be done to ensure the new policy’s implementation at Peace Corps posts throughout the world.

On the safety and security front, volunteers’ safety and security has long been a prime concern of the Peace Corps program. In January 2010, two reports on 20/20 brought new attention to those issues: one concerning the 2009 murder of volunteer Kate Puzey in Benin, and the other addressing the rape of volunteers. The 20/20 reports catalogued failure of some Peace Corps staff to maintain whistleblower confidentiality, inaction in response to volunteer reports of threatening behavior, a lack of compassion for victims of crime, a tendency to blame the victim, and insensitivity to the parents of a crime victim.

Following the 20/20 reports and a House hearing on May 11, 2011, more rape victims came forward with stories suggesting disregard for victims and a possible institutional failure to offer adequate support. Ultimately, several pieces of legislation seeking to address this issue were introduced in the House and Senate in 2011. On November 21, 2011, the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011 was signed into law.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) Initial Press Release
  
• Sponsoring Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) Press Release
  
• CBO Cost Estimate