US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 2501a

Voluntary service programs

(a)

Congressional declaration of policy of encouragement

The Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States and a further purpose of this chapter (1) to encourage countries and areas to establish programs under which their citizens and nationals would volunteer to serve in order to help meet the needs of less developed countries or areas for trained manpower; (2) to encourage less developed countries or areas to establish programs under which their citizens and nationals would volunteer to serve in order to meet their needs for trained manpower; and (3) to encourage the development of, and participation in, international voluntary service programs and activities.

(b)

Limitations on executive activities and use of funds

(1)
Activities carried out by the President in furtherance of the purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of subsection (a) shall be limited to—
(A)
furnishing technical assistance, materials, tools, supplies, and training appropriate to the support of volunteer programs in such countries or areas; and
(B)
conducting demonstration projects in such countries or areas.
None of the funds made available to carry out the purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of subsection (a) may be used to pay the administrative costs of any program or project, other than a demonstration project, or to assist any program or project of a paramilitary or military nature. Funds allocated for activities set forth in this paragraph should be kept to a minimum so that such allocation will not be detrimental to other Peace Corps programs and activities.
(2)
Not more than 2 per centum of the amount appropriated to the Peace Corps for a fiscal year may be used in such fiscal year to carry out the provisions of clause (3) of subsection (a) of this section. Such funds may be contributed to educational institutions, private voluntary organizations, international organizations, and foreign governments or agencies thereof, to pay a fair and proportionate share of the costs of encouraging the development of, and participation in, international voluntary programs and activities.
(c)

Compromise of national character

Such activities shall not compromise the national character of the Peace Corps.

Pub. L. 87–293, title III, § 301Pub. L. 88–200, § 877 Stat. 360Pub. L. 91–99, § 383 Stat. 166Pub. L. 91–352, § 984 Stat. 465Pub. L. 92–352, title IV, § 40286 Stat. 495Pub. L. 95–33192 Stat. 415(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 7, 8(a), , , 416.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 87–29375 Stat. 612section 2501 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Peace Corps Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 95–331, § 71978—Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted provisions limiting activities to furnishing technical assistance, etc., in support of volunteer programs, and conducting demonstration projects and provisions relating to payment of costs of any program or project for provisions limiting activities to furnishing of knowledge and skills relating to the selection, training, and programming of voluntary manpower and provisions relating to use of available funds.

Pub. L. 95–331, § 8(a)Subsec. (b)(2). , substituted provisions authorizing use of 2 per centum of amount appropriated in a fiscal year for provisions authorizing use of $350,000 in a fiscal year.

Pub. L. 92–3521972—Subsec. (b)(2). substituted “$350,000” for “$300,000” and “in any fiscal year to carry” for “in fiscal year 1971 to carry”.

Pub. L. 91–352, § 9(a)1970—Subsec. (a)(3). , changed the policy objective from encouragement of participation in any international register which seeks to provide volunteers to serve in less developed countries or areas, training, or other assistance in order to help such countries or areas to meet their needs for trained manpower to encouragement of participation in international voluntary service programs and activities.

Pub. L. 91–352, § 9(b)Subsec. (b)(2). , substituted fiscal year 1971 for fiscal year 1970 and changed the authorization of the contribution of funds from a fair and proportionate share of the costs of the international registers to a fair and proportionate share of the costs of encouraging the development of and participation in international voluntary programs and activities.

Pub. L. 91–99, § 3(1)1969—Subsec. (a). , redesignated existing provisions as cls. (1) and (2), and added cl. (3).

Pub. L. 91–99, § 3(2)Subsec. (b). , redesignated existing provisions as cl. (1), struck out the provision which authorized the use of not more than $300,000 in carrying out the purposes of this section in fiscal year 1964 and inserted references to cls. (1) and (2) of subsec. (a) of this section, and added cl. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–331, § 8(b)92 Stat. 416

“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

section 2501 of this titleFunctions of President under this section delegated to Director of Peace Corps by section 1–103 of Ex. Ord. No. 12137, , 44 F.R. 29023, eff. , set out as a note under .