The Peace Corps was initially established pursuant to Executive Order 10924, March 1, 1961, 26 F.R. 1789, as an agency in the Department of State, under authority of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended. Pursuant to that order, Department of State Delegation of Authority No. 85-11, March 3, 1961, 26 F.R. 2196, and Department of State Redelegation of Authority No. 85-10B, March 4, 1961, 26 F.R. 2196, the Peace Corps was empowered to exercise authority under section 400(a) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended ("Special Assistance"), and under certain other provisions of that act. Its operations were funded from appropriations available under the Mutual Security Act and Mutual Security Program funds appropriated by the joint resolution making temporary appropriations for fiscal year 1962. The authorities, functions, offices, personnel, property, records, and funds available to the Peace Corps were preserved, pending enactment of the Peace Corps Act, by section 643(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, notwithstanding the repeal by that act of much of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended. Section 643(d) was repealed by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1962. Pursuant to Executive Order 11603 of July 1, 1971 (36 F.R. 12675), the Peace Corps was transferred to the agency created by Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1971 and designated as ACTION. The ACTION Agency was established by law under Title IV of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. Executive Order 12137 of May 16, 1979 superseded Executive Order 11603 but continued the policy of the Peace Corps operating as an agency within ACTION. Sec. 601 of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-113), in amending the Peace Corps Act, removed the Peace Corps from ACTION and established the Peace Corps as an independent agency within the executive branch, effective December 29, 1981. All functions relating to the Peace Corps previously vested in the Director of ACTION were transferred to the Director of the Peace Corps on the day before the effective date.

1. The Peace Corps Act, as amended

Public Law 87-293 [H.R. 7500], 75 Stat. 612, 22 U.S.C. 2501-2523, approved September 22, 1961; as amended by Public Law 87-442 [H.R. 10700], 76 Stat. 62, approved April 27, 1962; Public Law 87-793 [H.R. 7927], 76 Stat. 632, approved October 11, 1962; Public Law 88-200 (H.R. 9009], 77 Stat. 359, approved December 13, 1963; Public Law 88-285 [S. 2455], 78 Stat. 166, approved March 17, 1965; Public Law 88-426 [H.R. 11049], 78 Stat. 400, approved August 14, 1964; Public Law 88-448 [H.R. 7381], 78 Stat. 484, approved August 19, 1964; Public Law 89-134 [S. 2054], 79 Stat. 59, approved August 24, 1965; Public Law 89-554 [H.R. 10104], 80 Stat. 378, approved September 6, 1966; Public Law 89-572 [S. 3418], 80 Stat. 764, approved September 13, 1966; Public Law 90-175 [S. 1031], 81 Stat. 542, approved December 5, 1967; Public Law 90-362 [S. 2914], 82 Stat. 250, approved June 27, 1968; Public Law 91-99 [H.R. 11039], 83 Stat. 166, approved October 29, 1969; Public Law 91-352 [S. 3430], 84 Stat. 464, approved July 24, 1970; Public Law 92-135 [S. 2260], 85 Stat. 376, approved October 8, 1971; Public Law 92-352 [H.R. 14734], 86 Stat. 489, approved July 13, 1972; Public Law 93-49 [H.R. 5293], 87 Stat. 99, approved June 25, 1973; Public Law 93-302 [H.R. 12920], 88 Stat. 191, approved June 1, 1974; Public Law 94-130 [H.R. 6334], 89 Stat. 684, approved November 14, 1975; Public Law 94-274 [S. 2444], 90 Stat. 383, approved April 21, 1976; by Public Law 94-281 [H.R. 12226], 90 Stat. 458, approved May 7, 1976; Public Law 95-102 [S. 1235] 91 Stat. 841, approved August 15, 1977; Public Law 95-331 [H.R. 11877], 92 Stat. 414, approved August 2, 1978; Public Law 9653 [International Development Cooperation Act of 1979; H.R. 3324], 93 Stat. 359 at 370, approved August 14, 1979; Public Law 96-465 [Foreign Service Act of 1980; H.R. 6790], 94 Stat. 2071 at 2157 and 2160, approved October 17, 1980; Public Law 96–533 [International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1980; H.R. 6942], 94 Stat. 3131 at 3155, approved December 16, 1980; Public Law 97-113 [International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981; S. 1196], 95 Stat. 1519 at 1540, approved December 29, 1981; Public Law 97-387 [S. 2611], 96 Stat. 1947, approved December 23, 1982; Public Law 98-473 [Continuing Appropriations Act, 1985; H.J. Res. 648], 98 Stat. 1837, approved October 12, 1984; by Public Law 99-83 [International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985; S. 960], 99 Stat. 190 at 272, approved August 8, 1985, by Public Law 99-399 [Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986; H.R. 4151], 100 Stat. 897, approved August 27, 1986; Public Law 100-202 [Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1988; H.J. Res. 395], 101 Stat. 1329, approved December 22, 1987; Public Law 102-511 [FREEDOM Support Act; S. 2532], 106 Stat. 3320, approved October 24, 1992; Public Law 102-565 [S. 3309], 106 Stat. 4265, approved October 28, 1992; Public Law 103–82 [National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993; H.R. 2010], 107 Stat. 785, approved September 21, 1993; Public Law 103–236 [Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995; H.R. 2333], 108 Stat. 382, approved April 30, 1994; Public Law 104-208 [Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997; H.R. 3610], 110 Stat. 3009, approved September 30, 1996; Public Law 105-12 [Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997; H.R. 1003], 111 Stat. 23, approved April 30, 1997; Public Law 106-30 [H.R. 669], 113 Stat. 55, approved May 21, 1999; and by Public Law 107-107 [National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002; S. 1438], 115 Stat. 1012, approved December 28, 2001

AN ACT To provide for a Peace Corps to help the peoples of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for skilled manpower.

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

TITLE I-THE PEACE CORPS

SHORT TITLE

Section 1.1 This Act may be cited as the "Peace Corps Act".

DECLARATION OF PURPOSE

Sec. 2.2 (a) 3 The Congress of the United States declares the is the policy of the United States and the purpose of this A promote world peace and friendship through a Peace Corps, shall make available to interested countries and areas men women of the United States qualified for service abroad and w to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the ples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for tra manpower, particularly in meeting the basic needs of those l in the poorest areas of such countries, and to help promote aj ter understanding of the American people on the part of the ples served and a better understanding of other peoples on the p of the American people.

(b) 3 The Congress declares that it is the policy of the U States and a purpose of the Peace Corps to maintain, to the imum extent appropriate and consistent with programmatic fiscal considerations, a volunteer corps of at least 10,000 in uals.

PEACE CORPS AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY

Sec. 2A.5 Effective on the date of the enactment of the national Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981. Peace Corps shall be an independent agency within the exec branch and shall not be an agency within the ACTION Agency successor to the ACTION Agency,6 or any other department agency of the United States.

AUTHORIZATION

Sec. 3.7 (a) The President is authorized to carry out progra furtherance of the purposes of this Act, on such terms and tions as he may determine.

(b) 8 (1) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry ou purposes of this Act $270,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $298,00

122 U.S.C. 2501 note.

222 U.S.C. 2501.

3 The subsec. designation "(a)" and a new subsec. (b) were added by sec. 1102(a) of national Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-83; 99 S 4 Sec. 2 of Public Law 95-331 (92 Stat. 414) inserted "particularly in meeting the hass of those living in the poorest areas of such countries".

522 U.S.C. 2501-1; added by sec. 601(a) of the International Security and Developer operation Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-113; 95 Stat. 1540). For additional information co the establishment of the Peace Corps as an independent agency, see sec. 601 of Public

113.

722 U.S.C. 2502.

Sec. 405(e) of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public Law 107 Stat. 921) inserted ", the successor to the ACTION Agency," after "the ACTION AN 8 Sec. 1 of Public Law 106-30 (113 Stat. 55) amended and restated subsec. (b) Se the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (108 Stat. 490 amending this section, authorized to be appropriated $219,745,000 for fiscal year $234,745,000 for fiscal year 1995 to carry out this Act. Previously, sec. 1 of Public La 565 (106 Stat. 4265) amended and restated subsec. (b).

"

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FACE fiscal year 2001, $327,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.

2) Amounts authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1) a fiscal year are authorized to remain available for that fiscal ather and the subsequent fiscal year.

:)9 In addition to the amount authorized to be appropriated by section (b) to carry out the purposes of this Act, there are auUnited Starized to be appropriated for increases in salary, pay, retirement, nd the other employee benefits authorized by law, each fiscal year, hroughh sums as may be necessary.

1)11*** [Repealed-1981]

re) 11 *** [Repealed-1981]

if necess

eting

and to te

ple

on t

of other

*** [Repealed-1981]

basicthorizations in prior years for the Peace Corps include: fiscal year 1976-$88,468,000; fiscal 1977T-$27,887,800; fiscal year 1977-$81,000,000; fiscal year 1978-$86,544,000 (ined from $82,900,000 by Public Law 95-331); fiscal year 1979-$112,424,000; fiscal year -$105,404,000; fiscal year 1981-$118,000,000; fiscal year 1982-$105,000,000; fiscal year $105,000,000; fiscal year 1984-$116,000,000; fiscal year 1985-none enacted; fiscal year -$130,000,000; fiscal year 1987-$137,200,000; fiscal years 1988-1992-none enacted; fisear 1993-$218,146,000; fiscal year 1994-$219,745,000; fiscal year 1995-$234,745,000; years 1996-1999-none enacted; fiscal years 2004-2005-none enacted.

the

S to ma

les II and V of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Approions Act, 2005 (division d of Public Law 108-447; 118 Stat. 2979, 2991), provided the folwith g

of at leas

ENT AGEN

"PEACE CORPS

r necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the Peace Corps Act (75 Stat. 612), 000,000, including the purchase of not to exceed five passenger motor vehicles for adminise purposes for use outside of the United States: Provided, That none of the funds approed under this heading shall be used to pay for abortions: Provided further, That funds ap

enaceated under this heading shall remain available until September 30, 2006.

ration &

he ACT

other

Carry C

"LIMITATION ON REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES

c. 505. Of the funds appropriated or made available pursuant to this Act, * * * Provided er, That of the funds made available by this Act for the Peace Corps, not to exceed a total 000 shall be available for entertainment expenses:".

also sec. 515, notification requirements (118 Stat. 2995), and sec. 532, authorities for › Corps, and other agencies (118 Stat. 3005).

c. 2 of Public Law 93-302 (88 Stat. 191) added subsec. (c). It was subsequently amended c. 2 of Public Law 94-130, sec. 2 of Public Law 94-281, and Public Law 95-102 (91 Stat.

uch he reference to "each fiscal year" was inserted in lieu of a reference to fiscal year 1981

ated t

c. 602(b) of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 (Public 97-113; 95 Stat. 1542). Authorizations for prior years under this subsection included: fiscal 1978-$1,069,000 (increased from $1,000,000 by Public Law 95-331; 92 Stat. 414); fiscal

20, 1979, 1980, and 1981-"such sums as may be necessary".

Sec. 601(e)(1) of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 (Pubw 97-113; 95 Stat. 1542) repealed subsecs. (d), (e), and (f). Sec. 601(e)(2) of Public Law 13 further stated that such repeals shall not affect "(A) the validity of any action taken e the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 1981] under those provisions of law red by that amendment, or (B) the liability of any person for any payment described in sec(f) of the Peace Corps Act as in effect immediately before the date of the enactment of Act.". Subsec. (d), as added by sec. 2 of Public Law 93-302 (88 Stat. 191) and amended c. 3 of Public Law 94-130 (89 Stat. 684), had stipulated that the Director of ACTION d transfer by Dec. 31, 1975, $315,000 from the fiscal year 1976 appropriations to the readent allowance, ACTION, account at the Treasury Department in order to rectify the imbalin the Peace Corps readjustment allowance account for the period Mar. 1, 1961, to Feb. 973. Subsec. (e), as added by sec. 2 of Public Law 93-302 (88 Stat. 191), had authorized Director of ACTION to waive claims resulting from erroneous payments of readjustment alices to Peace Corps volunteers who terminated their service between Mar. 1, 1961, and 28, 1973. Subsec. (f), also added by sec. 2 of Public Law 93-302 (88 Stat. 191), had relieved rsing and certifying officers of the Peace Corps and ACTION from liability for improper correct payment of readjustment allowances made to Volunteers between Mar. 1, 1961, and 28, 1973, except in the case of fraud.

10

(d) 12 In recognition of the fact that women in developing countries play a significant role in economic production, family support, and the overall development process, the Peace Corps shall be administered so as to give particular attention to those programs, projects, and activities which tend to integrate women into the national economics of developing countries, thus improving their status and assisting the total development effort.

(h) 13 In recognition of the fact that there are over 400,000,000 disabled people in the world, 95 percent of whom are among the poorest of the poor, the Peace Corps shall be administered so as to give particular attention to programs, projects, and activities which tend to integrate disabled people into the national economies of developing countries, thus improving their status and assisting the total development effort.

DIRECTOR OF THE PEACE CORPS AND DELEGATION OF FUNCTIONS

Sec. 4.14 (a) The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Director of the Peace Corps 15 and a Deputy Director of the Peace Corps. 15

(b) 16 The President may exercise any functions vested in him by this Act through the Director of the Peace Corps. The Director of the Peace Corps may promulgate such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out such functions, and may delegate to any of his subordinates authority to perform any of such functions.

(c)(1) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to infringe upon the powers or functions of the Secretary of State.

(2) The President shall prescribe appropriate procedures to assure coordination of Peace Corps activities with other activities of the United States Government in each country, under the leadership of the chief of the United States diplomatic mission.

(3) Under the direction of the President, the Secretary of State shall be responsible for the continuous supervision and general direction of the programs authorized by this Act, to the end that such programs are effectively integrated both at home and abroad and the foreign policy of the United States is best served thereby.

(4) 17 The Director of the Peace Corps may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to assure that no individual performing service for the Peace Corps under any authority contained in this Act shall engage in any activity determined by the Director to be detrimental to the best interest of the United States.

12 Subsec. (d), originally added as subsec. (g) by sec. 3(3) of Public Law 95-331 (92 Stat. 4144 was redesignated as subsec. (d) by sec. 601(e)(1) of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-113; 95 Stat. 1542).

13 Sec. 603 of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 (Puble Law 97-113; 95 Stat. 1542) added subsec. (h).

14 22 U.S.C. 2503.

15 Sec. 305(27) of the Government Employees Salary Reform Act of 1964 (Public Law 88–426. 78 Stat. 426) repealed ", whose compensation shall be fixed by the President at a rate not in excess of $20,000 per annum," and whose compensation shall be fixed by the President at a rate not in excess of $19,500 per annum", at these points, respectively.

16 Sec. 601(d)(1) of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 (Pub lic Law 97-113; 95 Stat. 1541) inserted references in subsec. (b) to the Director of the Peace Corps in lieu of references to the head of any agency or any officer of the United States Govern

ment.

17 Sec. 2 of Public Law 91-352 (84 Stat. 426) added para. (4). The function prescribed in this paragraph was transferred to the President by sec. 2(b) of Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1971