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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 2337 (112th)

Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011

reportedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

23 June 2011

Last action

21 September 2011 · Committee

Status

Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

Sponsors

Ted Poe, Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-26], ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20], Niki Tsongas, DANA ROHRABACHER, Gerald Connolly, Del. Faleomavaega, Eni F. H. [D-AS-At Large], Rep. Buerkle, Ann Marie [R-NY-25], Frederica Wilson, Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], MICHAEL CAPUANO, Jackie Speier, Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA-1], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-17], CAROLYN MALONEY, Rep. Burton, Dan [R-IN-6], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-11], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Glenn Thompson, BOBBY RUSH, Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-19], STEVE CHABOT, Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8], Michael Turner, Theodore Deutch, Albio Sires, Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7], Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1], Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12], Karen Bass, Rep. Schmidt, Jean [R-OH-2], Tom Marino, Tom Graves, Keith Ellison, WALTER JONES, Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Rep. Rivera, David [R-FL-25], Barbara Lee, Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3], Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

5 December 2025

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Summary

Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Peace Corps Act to require the Director of the Peace Corps: (1) as part of the training provided to all volunteers, to develop and implement comprehensive sexual assault risk-reduction and response training that conforms to best practices in the sexual assault field; and (2) once a trainee has arrived in such trainee's country of service, to provide that individual with training tailored to such country, including cultural training relating to gender relations, risk-reduction strategies, a safety plan in the event of an assault, treatment available in such country, MedEvac procedures, and information regarding the legal process for pressing charges against an attacker. Requires the Director to provide each: (1) applicant for enrollment with a historical analysis of crimes against, and risks to, volunteers in the country in which the applicant has been invited to serve; and (2) trainee, before enrolling as a volunteer, with contact information of the Peace Corps' Inspector General for purposes of reporting violations of the sexual assault protocol or any other criminal or administrative wrongdoing by individuals who do business with the Peace Corps, and with clear, written guidelines regarding whom to contact and what steps to take in the event of a sexual assault. Requires the Director to: (1) develop, implement, and distribute comprehensive sexual assault protocol guidelines that conform to best practices in the sexual assault field that are applicable to all posts at which volunteers serve, and train all in-country staff regarding the protocol and guidelines; (2) expeditiously remove a volunteer who feels at risk of imminent bodily harm and requests removal from the site in which such volunteer is serving, and assess and evaluate the safety of the site; (3) establish sexual assault response teams; (4) conduct case reviews of a statistically significant number of cases on a quarterly basis; (5) establish a global tracking and recording system to track and record incidents of assault against volunteers; (6) establish an alternative reporting system and hotline access system through which volunteers who are assault victims can report and receive support anonymously; and (7) assign a certified victims advocate in Peace Corps headquarters who shall report directly to the Director. Establishes in the Peace Corps a Sexual Assault Advisory Council. Requires the Director to: (1) establish goals, metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for all Peace Corps programs and Country Directors; (2) annually conduct a confidential survey of volunteers regarding the effectiveness of Peace Corps programs and staff and the safety of volunteers; (3) establish and maintain a process to protect confidentiality and safety of volunteers reporting incidents and the information reported and to ensure that such information is acted on appropriately; and (4) determine the level of access to communication, including cellular and Internet access, of each volunteer. Prohibits the Director from: (1) disclosing personally identifying information or personal information of a volunteer who is a victim of assault collected in connection with services requested, utilized, or denied through Peace Corps programs; or (2) revealing such information without the informed, purpose-limited, and reasonably time-limited consent of such volunteer about whom such information is sought.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 23 June 2011

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 23 June 2011

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 23 June 2011

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 21 September 2011

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Committee

  5. 21 September 2011

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Sponsors

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Related records

Sources

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