Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Isakson, Boxer Praise House Passage of 'Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011'
Legislation Now Goes to White House for President's Signature

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., today praised the House passage of the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011. The legislation, which is named for a Georgia Peace Corps volunteer who was murdered in 2009 while serving in Africa, would provide better security and protection measures for Peace Corps volunteers.

Isakson serves as the ranking member on the Subcommittee on African Affairs, and Boxer serves on the Subcommittee on the Peace Corps in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Isakson and Boxer introduced the legislation, S.1280, in July and it passed unanimously in the Senate in September. The House passed S.1280 today by a vote of 406 to zero. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature.

The legislation is named in honor of Kate Puzey, a 24-year-old Peace Corps volunteer from Cumming, Ga., who was murdered in 2009 in the West African village of Badjoude, Benin, soon after she had reported a colleague for allegedly molesting some of the young girls they taught.

"I am overjoyed that Congress approved this legislation, and I am very grateful to everyone who contributed to the team effort that made this day possible," said Isakson. "Kate was a remarkable young woman who unselfishly went to Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer and was tragically murdered while helping others. Through the Kate Puzey Volunteer Protection Act, Kate's life will be memorialized by this new law to provide added protections, victims' rights and whistleblower status for Peace Corps volunteers. It is my sincere hope that this day might bring a small bit of comfort to the Puzey family."

"I'm pleased the House passed this important legislation that will help ensure our Peace Corps volunteers serving overseas have the protection they deserve," said Boxer. "I look forward to the President signing this bill into law to help make sure that no family will ever again suffer as Kate Puzey's did."

Isakson first became involved in the Kate Puzey case in 2009 when he read about her murder in a Georgia newspaper and subsequently attended her funeral. Since then, Isakson has worked with the Puzey family to seek justice for Kate and to pass legislation to provide better protection for Peace Corps volunteers.

In June 2011, Isakson traveled to Africa where he met with President Boni Yayi of Benin to seek justice in the Puzey case. In their 2.5-hour meeting, Isakson urged President Yayi to allow the FBI to assist in the murder investigation, and he hand delivered a letter from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterating the importance the United States places on the Puzey case. Isakson met again with President Yayi in July in Washington.

The legislation provides whistleblower protection for Peace Corps volunteers, a safeguard that is currently in place for federal employees but not for Peace Corps volunteers. This type of protection would have given Kate more protection when she reported her allegations.

In addition, it requires the Peace Corps to develop sexual assault risk-reduction and response training and protocol in consultation with experts that complies with best practices in the sexual assault field. The training also is to be tailored to the specific countries in which volunteers serve.

The cost of legislation is offset and does not add to the nation's debt.