§ 2501. — Congressional declaration of purpose.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC2501]
TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
CHAPTER 34--THE PEACE CORPS
Sec. 2501. Congressional declaration of purpose
(a) The Congress of the United States declares that it is the policy
of the United States and the purpose of this chapter to promote world
peace and friendship through a Peace Corps, which shall make available
to interested countries and areas men and women of the United States
qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of
hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas
in meeting their needs for trained manpower, particularly in meeting the
basic needs of those living in the poorest areas of such countries, and
to help promote a better understanding of the American people on the
part of the peoples served and a better understanding of other peoples
on the part of the American people.
(b) The Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States
and a purpose of the Peace Corps to maintain, to the maximum extent
appropriate and consistent with programmatic and fiscal considerations,
a volunteer corps of at least 10,000 individuals.
(Pub. L. 87-293, title I, Sec. 2, Sept. 22, 1961, 75 Stat. 612; Pub. L.
95-331, Sec. 2, Aug. 2, 1978, 92 Stat. 414; Pub. L. 99-83, title XI,
Sec. 1102(a), Aug. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 272.)
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original ``this
Act'', meaning Pub. L. 87-293, Sept. 22, 1961, 75 Stat. 612, as amended,
known as the Peace Corps Act. For complete classification of this Act to
the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.
Amendments
1985--Pub. L. 99-83 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a)
and added subsec. (b).
1978--Pub. L. 95-331 inserted ``particularly in meeting the basic
needs of those living in the poorest areas of such countries'' after
``manpower''.
Effective Date of 1985 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 99-83 effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 1301
of Pub. L. 99-83, set out as a note under section 2151-1 of this title.
Effective Date
Section 28, formerly section 27, of Pub. L. 87-293, as renumbered by
Pub. L. 99-83, title XI, Sec. 1105(a)(1), Aug. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 276,
provided that: ``This Act [see Short Title note below] shall take effect
on the date of its enactment [Sept. 22, 1961].''
Short Title of 1978 Amendment
Section 1 of Pub. L. 95-331 provided: ``That this Act [amending this
section and sections 2501a, 2502, 2504, 2509, and 2510 of this title and
enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2501a and 2509 of
this title] may be cited as the `Peace Corps Act Amendments of 1978'.''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 87-293 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this
chapter, amending section 2253 of former Title 5, Executive Departments
and Government Officers and Employees, section 425 of Title 20,
Education, sections 912, 1303, 3121, 3122, 3401, and 6051 of Title 26,
Internal Revenue Code, and sections 405, 409, and 410 of Title 42, The
Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes
under this section and sections 912 and 3121 of Title 26] may be cited
as the `Peace Corps Act'.''
Designation of Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
Pub. L. 107-21, Sec. 1, July 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 194, provided that:
``(a) In General.--Effective on the date of enactment of this Act
[July 26, 2001], the headquarters offices of the Peace Corps, wherever
situated, shall be referred to as the `Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps
Headquarters'.
``(b) References.--Any reference before the date of enactment of
this Act [July 26, 2001] in any law, regulation, order, document,
record, or other paper of the United States to the headquarters or
headquarters offices of the Peace Corps shall, on and after such date,
be considered to refer to the Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps
Headquarters.''
Executive Order No. 10924
Ex. Ord. No. 10924, Mar. 1, 1961, 26 F.R. 1789, relating to the
establishment and administration of the Peace Corps, was superseded by
Ex. Ord. No. 11041, Aug. 6, 1962, 27 F.R. 7859, formerly set out below.
Executive Order No. 11041
Ex. Ord. No. 11041, Aug. 7, 1962, 27 F.R. 7859, as amended by Ex.
Ord. No. 11250, Oct. 10, 1965, 30 F.R. 13003, which provided for the
continuance and administration of the Peace Corps in the Department of
State, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11603, June 30, 1971, 36 F.R.
12675, formerly set out below.
Executive Order No. 11603
Ex. Ord. No. 11603, June 30, 1971, 36 F.R. 12675, as amended by Ex.
Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, which provided for the
continuance and administration of the Peace Corps within ACTION, was
superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 12137, May 16, 1979, 44 F.R. 29023, set out
below.
Ex. Ord. No. 12137. Administration of Peace Corps as an Agency Within
ACTION
Ex. Ord. No. 12137, May 16, 1979, 44 F.R. 29023, as amended by Ex.
Ord. No. 12245, Oct. 6, 1980, 45 F.R. 66769; Ex. Ord. No. 12292, Feb.
23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13968; Ex. Ord. No. 12399, Dec. 31, 1982, 48 F.R. 379,
provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Peace Corps Act, as
amended (22 U.S.C. 2501-2523) and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United
States Code, and as President of the United States of America, it is
hereby ordered as follows:
1-1. Peace Corps
1-101. The Peace Corps, which was established as an agency in the
Department of State pursuant to Executive Order No. 10924 of March 1,
1961 (26 FR 1789) [formerly set out under this section], which was
continued in existence in that Department under the Peace Corps Act (the
``Act'') [this chapter] pursuant to Section 102 of Executive Order No.
11041 of August 6, 1962 (27 FR 7859) [formerly set out under this
section], and which was transferred to and continued as a component of
ACTION [now Corporation for National and Community Service] by Executive
Order No. 11603 of June 30, 1971 (36 FR 12675) [formerly set out under
this section], shall be an agency within ACTION pursuant to the
provisions of this Order.
1-102. All references to the ``Director'' in Part 1-1 of this Order
shall refer to the Director of the Peace Corps for whom provision is
made in Section 4(a) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2503).
1-103. Exclusive of the functions otherwise delegated by or reserved
to the President by this Order, and subject to the provisions of this
Order, there are hereby delegated to the Director all functions
conferred upon the President by the Act [this chapter] and by Section
2(b) of Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1971 [5 U.S.C. App.].
1-104. The function of determining the portion of living allowances
constituting basic compensation, conferred upon the President by Section
201(a) of Public Law 87-293 (26 U.S.C. 912(3)), is hereby delegated to
the Director and shall be performed in consultation with the Secretary
of the Treasury.
1-105. The functions of prescribing regulations and making
determinations (relating to appointment of Peace Corps employees in the
Foreign Service System), conferred upon the President by Section 5 of
Public Law 89-135 (79 Stat. 551) [probably means section 5(b) of Pub. L.
89-134, Aug. 24, 1965, 79 Stat. 551, set out as a note under section
2506 of this title], are hereby delegated to the Director.
1-106. The functions of prescribing conditions, conferred upon the
President by the second sentence of Section 5(e), as amended (22 U.S.C.
2504(e)), and the third proviso of Section 6 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2505)
(relating to providing health care in Government facilities) and
hereinabove delegated to the Director, shall be exercised in
consultation with the head of the United States Government agency
responsible for the facility.
1-107. The reports required by Section 11 of the Act, as amended
([former] 22 U.S.C. 2510), shall be prepared by the Director and
submitted to the Congress through the President.
1-108. Subject to applicable provisions of law, all funds
appropriated or otherwise made available to the President for carrying
out the provisions of the Act [this chapter] shall be deemed to be
allocated without any further action of the President to the Director or
to such subordinate officer as the Director may designate. The Director
or such officer may allocate or transfer, as appropriate, any of such
funds to any United States Government agency or part thereof for
obligation or expenditures thereby consistent with applicable law.
1-109. Nothing in this Order shall be deemed to impair or limit the
powers or functions vested in the Secretary of State by the Act [this
chapter].
1-110. The negotiation, conclusion, and termination of international
agreements pursuant to the Act [this chapter] shall be under the
direction of the Secretary of State.
1-111. Any substantial change in policies in effect on the date of
this Order for the utilization of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22
U.S.C. 3901 et seq.], pursuant to Section 7 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2506),
shall be coordinated with the Secretary of State.
1-112. The Director shall consult and coordinate with the Director
of ACTION to assure that the functions delegated to the Director by this
Order are carried out consistently with the functions conferred upon the
Director of ACTION by the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42
U.S.C. 4951 et seq.), (``Volunteer Service Act''), Reorganization Plan
No. 1 of 1971 [5 U.S.C. App.] and this Order.
1-2. The Peace Corps Advisory Council [Revoked by Ex. Ord. No.
12399, Dec. 31, 1982, 48 F.R. 379]
1-3. Reservation of Functions to the President
1-301. There are hereby excluded from the delegations made by
Section 1-1 of this Order the following powers and functions of the
President:
(a) All authority conferred by Sections 4(b), 4(c)(2), 4(c)(3),
10(d), and 18 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2503(b), (c)(2), (c)(3), 2509(d),
and 2517).
(b) The authority conferred by Section 4(a) of the Act (22 U.S.C.
2503(a)) to appoint the Director and the Deputy Director of the Peace
Corps.
(c) The authority conferred on the President by Section 5(f)(1)(B)
of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(f)(1)(B)).
(d) The authority conferred by Section 10(f) of the Act (22 U.S.C.
2509(f)) to direct any agency of the United States Government to provide
services, facilities, and commodities to officers carrying out functions
under the Act [this chapter].
(e) The authority conferred by Section 19 of the Act (22 U.S.C.
2518) to adopt and alter an official seal or emblem of the Peace Corps.
1-4. Incidental Provisions
1-401. Persons appointed, employed, or assigned under Section 7(a)
of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2506(a)) shall not, unless otherwise agreed by the
agency in which such benefits may be exercised, be entitled to the
benefits provided by Section 310 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22
U.S.C. 3950) in cases in which their service under the appointment,
employment, or assignment exceeds thirty months.
1-402. Pursuant to Section 10(d) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 2509(d)), it
is hereby determined to be in furtherance of the purposes of the Act
[this chapter] that functions authorized thereby may be performed
without regard to the applicable laws specified in Section 1 and 2 of
Executive Order No. 11223 of May 12, 1965 [22 U.S.C. 2393 note], and
with or without consideration as specified in Section 3 of that Order,
but subject to the limitations set forth in that Order.
1-403. As used in this Order, the words ``Volunteers,''
``functions,'' ``United States,'' and ``United States Government
agency'' shall have the same meanings, respectively, as they have under
the Act [this chapter].
1-5. National Voluntary Action Program
1-501. The National Voluntary Action Program to encourage and
stimulate more widespread and effective voluntary action for solving
public domestic problems, established in the Executive Branch of the
Government by Section 1 of Executive Order No. 11470 of May 26, 1969
[formerly set out as a note under section 2701 of Title 42, the Public
Health and Welfare], is continued in ACTION. That program shall
supplement corresponding action by private and other non-Federal
organizations such as the National Center for Voluntary Action. As used
in this Order, the term ``voluntary action'' means the contribution or
application of non-governmental resources of all kinds (time, money,
goods, services, and skills) by private and other organizations of all
types (profit and nonprofit, national and local, occupational, and
altruistic) and by individual citizens.
1-6. Director of ACTION
1-601. In addition to the functions vested in the Director of ACTION
by the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C., Section 4951
et seq.), Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1971 [5 U.S.C. App.], and Section
1-401 of this Order, the Director of ACTION shall:
(a) Encourage local, national and international voluntary activities
directed toward the solution or mitigation of community problems.
(b) Provide for the development and operation of a clearinghouse for
information on Government programs designed to foster voluntary action.
(c) Initiate proposals for the greater and more effective
application of voluntary action in connection with Federal programs, and
coordinate, as consistent with law, Federal activities involving such
action.
(d) Make grants of seed money, as authorized by law, for stimulating
the development or deployment of innovative voluntary action programs
directed toward community problems.
1-602. The head of each Federal department and agency, or a
designated representative, when so requested by the Director of ACTION
or the Director of the Peace Corps, shall, to the extent permitted by
law and funds available, furnish information and assistance, and
participate in all ways appropriate to carry out the objectives of this
Order, the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [42 U.S.C. 4951 et
seq.] and Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1971 [5 U.S.C. App.].
1-603. The head of each Federal department or agency shall, when so
requested by the Director of ACTION, designate a senior official to have
primary and continuing responsibility for the participation and
cooperation of that department or agency in matters concerning voluntary
action.
1-604. The head of each Federal department or agency, or a
designated representative, shall keep the Director of ACTION informed of
proposed budgets, plans, and programs of that department or agency
affecting voluntary action programs.
1-605. Under the direction of the President and subject to the
responsibilities of the Secretary of State, the Director of ACTION shall
be responsible for the general direction of those ACTION functions,
which jointly serve ACTION domestic volunteer components and the Peace
Corps, and for advising the Director of the Peace Corps to ensure that
the functions delegated under this Order to the Director of the Peace
Corps are carried out.
1-7. General Provisions
1-701. Except to the extent that they may be inconsistent with this
Order, all determinations, authorizations, regulations, rulings,
certifications, orders, directives, contracts, agreements, and other
actions made, issued or entered into with respect to any function
affected by this Order and not revoked, superseded, or otherwise made
inapplicable before the effective date of this Order shall continue in
full force and effect until amended, modified, or terminated by
appropriate authority.
1-702. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, nothing in
this Order shall be construed as subjecting any department,
establishment, or other instrumentality of the Executive Branch of the
Federal Government or the head thereof, or any function vested by law in
or assigned pursuant to law to any such agency or head, to the authority
of any other agency or head or as abrogating, modifying, or restricting
any such function in any manner.
1-703. So much of the personnel, property, records, and unexpended
balances or appropriations, allocations, and other funds employed, used,
held, available, or to be made available in connection with the
functions assigned to the Director of the Peace Corps or to the Director
of ACTION by this Order as the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget shall determine, shall be transferred to the Director of the
Peace Corps or the Director of ACTION at such time or times as the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall direct.
1-704. To the extent permitted by law, such further measures and
dispositions as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
shall deem to be necessary in order to effectuate the provisions of this
Order shall be carried out by such agencies as the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget shall specify.
1-705. The authority conferred by Sections 1-703 and 1-704 of this
Order shall supplement, not limit, the provisions of Section 1-108 of
this Order.
1-706. Executive Order Nos. 11041, 11250, 11470 and 11603 are hereby
superseded.
1-707. This Order shall become effective May 16, 1979.
Executive Order No. 12468
Ex. Ord. No. 12468, Mar. 22, 1984, 49 F.R. 11139, which established
the Presidential Advisory Council on the Peace Corps and provided for
its membership, functions, etc., was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12534,
Sept. 30, 1985, 50 F.R. 40319, formerly set out as a note under section
14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act in the Appendix to Title 5,
Government Organization and Employees.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 2510, 2517 of this title.
