Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act/Title V

TITLE V—VOLUNTEERS FOR PROSPERITY PROGRAM

SEC. 5101. Findings.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Americans engaged in international volunteer service, and the organizations deploying them—

(A) play critical roles in responding to the needs of people living throughout the developing world; and

(B) advance the international public diplomacy of the United States.

(2) The Volunteers for Prosperity Program has successfully promoted international volunteer service by skilled American professionals.

(3) In its first 4 years, the VfP Program helped to mobilize 74,000 skilled Americans, including doctors, nurses, engineers, businesspeople, and teachers, through a network of 250 nonprofit organizations and companies in the United States, to carry out development and humanitarian efforts for those affected by great global challenges in health, the environment, poverty, illiteracy, financial literacy, disaster relief, and other challenges.

(4) The VfP Program has undertaken activities, including—

(A) direct outreach to leading nonprofit organizations and companies in the United States;

(B) promotion of the work of skilled Americans and nonprofit organizations and companies in the United States as it relates to international volunteer service;

(C) public recognition of skilled American volunteers;

(D) support for organizations that utilize skilled Americans as volunteers;

(E) participation in the development of special initiatives to further opportunities for skilled Americans; and

(F) leadership of an innovative public-private partnership to provide eligible skilled with financial assistance for volunteer assignments.

SEC. 5102. Definitions.

In this title:

(1) VfP Office.—

The term ``VfP Office´´ means the Office of Volunteers for Prosperity of the United States Agency for International Development.

(2) VfP Program.—

The term ``VfP Program´´ means the Volunteers for Prosperity Program established through Executive Order 13317.

(3) VfPServe.—

The term ``VfPServe´´ means a program established by the VfP Office, in cooperation with the USA Freedom Corps, to provide eligible skilled professionals with fixed amount stipends to offset the travel and living costs of volunteering abroad.

SEC. 5103. Office of Volunteers for Prosperity.

(a) Functions.—

The VfP Office shall pursue the objectives of the VfP Program described in subsection (b) by—

(1) implementing the VfPServe Program to provide eligible skilled professionals with matching grants to offset the travel and living expenses of volunteering abroad with nonprofit organizations;

(2) otherwise promoting short- and long-term international volunteer service by skilled American professionals, including connecting such professionals with nonprofit organizations, to achieve such objectives;

(3) helping nonprofit organizations in the United States recruit and effectively manage additional skilled American professionals for volunteer assignments throughout the developing world;

(4) providing recognition for skilled American volunteers and the organizations deploying them;

(5) helping nonprofit organizations and corporations in the United States to identify resources and opportunities in international volunteer service utilizing skilled Americans;

(6) encouraging the establishment of international volunteer programs for employees of United States corporations; and

(7) encouraging international voluntary service by highly skilled Americans to promote health and prosperity throughout the world.

(b) VfP Program objectives.—

The objectives of the VfP Program should include—

(1) eliminating extreme poverty;

(2) reducing world hunger and malnutrition;

(3) increasing access to safe potable water;

(4) enacting universal education;

(5) reducing child mortality and childhood diseases;

(6) combating the spread of preventable diseases, including HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis;

(7) providing educational and work skill support for girls and empowering women to achieve independence;

(8) creating sustainable business and entrepreneurial opportunities; and

(9) increasing access to information technology.

(c) Volunteers for Prosperity Service Incentive Program.—

(1) In general.—

The VfP Office may provide matching grants to offset the travel and living costs of volunteering abroad to any eligible organization that—

(A) has members who possess skills relevant to addressing any objective described in subsection (b); and

(B) provides a dollar-for-dollar match for such grant—

(i) through the organization with which the individual is serving; or

(ii) by raising private funds.

(2) Nondiscrimination requirement.—

The VfP Office may not provide a stipend to an individual under paragraph (1) unless the nonprofit organization to which the individual is assigned has certified to the VfP Office that it does not discriminate with respect to any project or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, including a stipend under this title, because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, political affiliation, or beliefs.

(3) Compliance with ineligible service categories.—

Service carried out by a volunteer receiving funds under this section may not provide a direct benefit to any—

(A) business organized for profit;

(B) labor union;

(C) partisan political organization; or

(D) religious or faith-based organization for the purpose of proselytization, worship or any other explicitly religious activity.

(d) Funding.—

(1) In general.—

The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall make available the amounts appropriated pursuant to section 5104 to the VfP Office to pursue the objectives described in subsection (b) by carrying out the functions described in subsection (a).

(2) Use of funds.—

Amounts made available under paragraph (1) may be used by the VfP Office to provide personnel and other resources to develop, manage, and expand the VfP Program, under the supervision of the United States Agency for International Development.

(e) Coordination.—

The VfP Office shall coordinate its efforts with other public and private efforts that aim to send skilled professionals to serve in developing nations.

(f) Report.—

The VfP Office shall submit an annual report to Congress on the activities of the VfP Office.

SEC. 5104. Authorization of appropriations.

(a) In general.—

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014.

(b) Allocation of funds.—

Not more than 10 percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) may be expended for the administrative costs of the United States Agency for International Development to manage the VfP Program.