House OKs bill to boost Peace Corps safety

Action follows 'News' series on assaults on volunteers

WASHINGTON | The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill that aims to improve the safety of Peace Corps volunteers worldwide.

The Health, Safety, and Security of Peace Corps Volunteers Act of 2004 passed by a voice vote. The bill, introduced by House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., and co-sponsored by the committee's ranking minority member, Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., would create an ombudsman who would respond to safety, medical and other concerns of volunteers and former volunteers.

The bill would also establish an independent inspector general, who would be nominated by the president and approved by the Senate and would submit reports to Congress. Currently the inspector general, who is charged with investigating crimes against volunteers and critiquing the agency's operations, is appointed by and reports to the Peace Corps director.

U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., who managed floor debate on the bill, said volunteers will go into dangerous areas but it is the responsibility of Congress and the U.S. government to "ensure that no stone is left unturned" in trying to make sure volunteers are safe as possible in their environment.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., also praised the bill, but cautioned, "We must be careful not to forge shields around our volunteers."

The legislation would waive permanently the Peace Corps' five-year employment limitation for inspector general employees and Peace Corps staff members who deal with the safety of volunteers. Recently, Congress has had to renew that waiver every year. The bill would permanently establish an office of safety, which has existed since 2002 but not by law.

Additionally, the bill requires the Peace Corps to report to Congress about its medical screening procedures and guidelines used to determine whether an applicant is medically and psychologically qualified to serve in the Peace Corps as a volunteer.

Hyde's legislation was introduced in the Senate two weeks ago by Sens. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and Richard Durbin, D-Ill. A hearing on the bill before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee tentatively is scheduled for late June.

The legislation followed a Dayton Daily News examination on the safety and security of volunteers and a General Accounting Office report on the topic. The newspaper reported in October that the number of reported assaults from 1991-2002 had more than doubled, yet the agency continued to put many volunteers in danger by sending them to live alone in risky areas without adequate housing, supervision or a job that kept them busy.

Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez assured House members at a hearing in March that safety is the agency's top priority and outlined several initiatives begun by the agency, including establishing the Peace Corps safety office, increasing the number of security staff members by 80 and emphasizing safety and cross-cultural training.

Peace Corps officials could not be reached Tuesday, however the agency released a statement on the legislation recently that said, "The Peace Corps' top priority is the safety and security of its volunteers. The agency has made numerous enhancements over the past two years and will continue to do so."

More than 7,500 Peace Corps volunteers are serving in more than 70 countries. As early as next week, the House may consider legislation that authorizes and funds the expansion of the Peace Corps. President Bush proposed doubling the number of volunteers by 2007, but Peace Corps officials have said they do not have the resources to complete that level of expansion.

Contact Mei-Ling Hopgood in the Washington bureau at 202-887-8328