Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§2505 Peace Corps volunteer leaders; number; applicability of chapter; benefits

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 34— - THE PEACE CORPS › § 2505

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President can sign up U.S. citizens or nationals to work as "volunteer leaders" when supervisors or special staff are needed for Peace Corps programs. The number of volunteer leaders must not be more than one to twenty-five of the volunteers serving at any time. Volunteer leaders follow the same rules as other volunteers. They must get a readjustment allowance of at least $125 for each month of satisfactory service, as the President decides. Spouses and minor children who go with volunteer leaders may, in rare cases, get allowances for living, travel, leave, housing, transport, subsistence, and essential clothing if the President allows. They may also get health care, including in facilities named in section 2504(e), under the President’s conditions and the reimbursement rules in section 2504(e). They may receive orientation, language, and other training the President finds necessary.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §2505

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The President may enroll in the Peace Corps qualified citizens or nationals of the United States whose services are required for supervisory or other special duties or responsibilities in connection with programs under this chapter (referred to in this chapter as “volunteer leaders”). The ratio of the total number of volunteer leaders to the total number of volunteers in service at any one time shall not exceed one to twenty-five. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all of the provisions of this chapter applicable to volunteers shall be applicable to volunteer leaders, and the term “volunteers” shall include “volunteer leaders”: Provided, however, That—
(1)volunteer leaders shall be entitled to receive a readjustment allowance at a rate not less than $125 for each month of satisfactory service as determined by the President;
(2)spouses and minor children of volunteer leaders may receive such living, travel, and leave allowances, and such housing, transportation, subsistence, and essential special items of clothing, as the President may determine, but the authority contained in this paragraph shall be exercised only under exceptional circumstances;
(3)spouses and minor children of volunteer leaders accompanying them may receive such health care as the President may determine and upon such terms as he may determine, including health care in any facility referred to in section 2504(e) of this title, subject to such conditions as the President may prescribe and subject to reimbursement of appropriations as provided in section 2504(e) of this title; and
(4)spouses and minor children of volunteer leaders accompanying them may receive such orientation, language, and other training necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter as the President may determine.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 87–293, Sept. 22, 1961, 75 Stat. 612, known as the Peace Corps Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2501 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1982—Par. (1). Pub. L. 97–387 substituted “not less than $125” for “not to exceed $125”. 1970—Pub. L. 91–352 struck out provisions extending health care under cl. (3) to a married volunteer’s child if born during the volunteer’s service. 1965—Pub. L. 89–134 extended the health care provisions of cl. (3) to a married volunteer’s child if born during the volunteer’s service. 1963—Pub. L. 88–200 substituted “a readjustment allowance” for “termination payments” in cl. (1).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1982 Amendment Pub. L. 97–387, § 1(b), Dec. 23, 1982, 96 Stat. 1947, provided that: “This amendment [amending this section] shall be effective as of December 29, 1981.”

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions Functions of President under this section delegated to Director of Peace Corps with functions relating to providing health care in government facilities under clause (3) to be exercised in consultation with head of agency responsible for facility by section 1–103 and 1–106 of Ex. Ord. No. 12137,
May 16, 1979, 44 F.R. 29023, eff.
May 16, 1979, set out as a note under section 2501 of this title. Appointment to Civilian Career ServicesAppointment of former volunteer leaders to civilian career services, see Ex. Ord. No. 11103, Apr. 10, 1963, 28 F.R. 3571, set out as a note under section 2504 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 2505

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73