Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, on March 12, 2009, Kate Puzey, a 24-year-old native of Cumming, Georgia and Peace Corps volunteer was killed outside of her home in Badjoude, Benin where she worked as an English teacher. She was murdered by a Beninese Peace Corps contract employee after she reported that he had raped and sexually abused students they taught together. Had the legislation we are considering here today, S. 1280, The Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011 been law when Ms. Puzey first arrived in Benin in 2007, it might have saved her life.

Today, the Peace Corps does not require its volunteers to receive training in risk reduction or in how to recognize and respond to incidences of sexual assault. And, unlike other federal agencies, Peace Corps volunteers do not enjoy whistleblower protections. It is a shame that it took the untimely death of Ms. Puzey to focus our attention on the necessity of addressing these issues.

S. 1280 directs the Peace Corps to establish sexual assault response teams made up of safety and security officers, medical staff, and a victim's advocate that can respond to reports of sexual assaults against a volunteer; requires the immediate removal of any volunteer who feels at risk of imminent bodily harm; and, requires the Peace Corps to develop and implement a process to allow volunteers to report incidents of misconduct or mismanagement, or violations of any policy of the Peace Corps in order to protect the confidentiality and safety of such volunteers.

Every year, hundreds of conscientious young Peace Corps volunteers like Kate Puzey, support communities around the world, helping those less fortunate than themselves. As with members of our Armed Forces, these dedicated global public servants deserve to know their country is committed to their safety and will do all it can to protect them.

As a cosponsor of the House analogue to this bill, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of S. 1280, in memory of the work and sacrifice of Kate Puzey and for the sake of those who choose to follow her into the Peace Corps.

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