§1161. Hunger fellowship program
(a) Short title; findings
(1) Short title
This section may be cited as the "Congressional Hunger Fellows Act of 2002".
(2) Findings
The Congress finds as follows:
(A) There is a critical need for compassionate individuals who are committed to assisting people who suffer from hunger as well as a need for such individuals to initiate and administer solutions to the hunger problem.
(B) Bill Emerson, the distinguished late Representative from the 8th District of Missouri, demonstrated his commitment to solving the problem of hunger in a bipartisan manner, his commitment to public service, and his great affection for the institution and the ideals of the United States Congress.
(C) George T. (Mickey) Leland, the distinguished late Representative from the 18th District of Texas, demonstrated his compassion for those in need, his high regard for public service, and his lively exercise of political talents.
(D) The special concern that Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland demonstrated during their lives for the hungry and poor was an inspiration for others to work toward the goals of equality and justice for all.
(E) These two outstanding leaders maintained a special bond of friendship regardless of political affiliation and worked together to encourage future leaders to recognize and provide service to others, and therefore it is especially appropriate to honor the memory of Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland by creating a fellowship program to develop and train the future leaders of the United States to pursue careers in humanitarian service.
(b) Establishment
There is established as an independent entity of the legislative branch of the United States Government the Congressional Hunger Fellows Program (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Program").
(c) Board of Trustees
(1) In general
The Program shall be subject to the supervision and direction of a Board of Trustees.
(2) Members of the Board of Trustees
(A) Appointment
The Board shall be composed of 6 voting members appointed under clause (i) and one nonvoting ex officio member designated in clause (ii) as follows:
(i) Voting members
(I) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members.
(II) The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member.
(III) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint two members.
(IV) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member.
(ii) Nonvoting member
The Executive Director of the program shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of the Board.
(B) Terms
Members of the Board shall serve a term of 4 years.
(C) Vacancy
(i) Authority of Board
A vacancy in the membership of the Board does not affect the power of the remaining members to carry out this section.
(ii) Appointment of successors
A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
(iii) Incomplete term
If a member of the Board does not serve the full term applicable to the member, the individual appointed to fill the resulting vacancy shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the predecessor of the individual.
(D) Chairperson
As the first order of business of the first meeting of the Board, the members shall elect a Chairperson.
(E) Compensation
(i) In general
Subject to clause (ii), members of the Board may not receive compensation for service on the Board.
(ii) Travel
Members of the Board may be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the program.
(3) Duties
(A) Bylaws
(i) Establishment
The Board shall establish such bylaws and other regulations as may be appropriate to enable the Board to carry out this section, including the duties described in this paragraph.
(ii) Contents
Such bylaws and other regulations shall include provisions-
(I) for appropriate fiscal control, funds accountability, and operating principles;
(II) to prevent any conflict of interest, or the appearance of any conflict of interest, in the procurement and employment actions taken by the Board or by any officer or employee of the Board and in the selection and placement of individuals in the fellowships developed under the program;
(III) for the resolution of a tie vote of the members of the Board; and
(IV) for authorization of travel for members of the Board.
(iii) Transmittal to Congress
Not later than 90 days after the date of the first meeting of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a copy of such bylaws.
(B) Budget
For each fiscal year the program is in operation, the Board shall determine a budget for the program for that fiscal year. All spending by the program shall be pursuant to such budget unless a change is approved by the Board.
(C) Process for selection and placement of fellows
The Board shall review and approve the process established by the Executive Director for the selection and placement of individuals in the fellowships developed under the program.
(D) Allocation of funds to fellowships
The Board of Trustees shall determine the priority of the programs to be carried out under this section and the amount of funds to be allocated for the Emerson and Leland fellowships.
(d) Purposes; authority of program
(1) Purposes
The purposes of the program are-
(A) to encourage future leaders of the United States to pursue careers in humanitarian service, to recognize the needs of people who are hungry and poor, and to provide assistance and compassion for those in need;
(B) to increase awareness of the importance of public service; and
(C) to provide training and development opportunities for such leaders through placement in programs operated by appropriate organizations or entities.
(2) Authority
The program is authorized to develop such fellowships to carry out the purposes of this section, including the fellowships described in paragraph (3).
(3) Fellowships
(A) In general
The program shall establish and carry out the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship and the Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship.
(B) Curriculum
(i) In general
The fellowships established under subparagraph (A) shall provide experience and training to develop the skills and understanding necessary to improve the humanitarian conditions and the lives of individuals who suffer from hunger, including-
(I) training in direct service to the hungry in conjunction with community-based organizations through a program of field placement; and
(II) experience in policy development through placement in a governmental entity or nonprofit organization.
(ii) Focus of Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship
The Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall address hunger and other humanitarian needs in the United States.
(iii) Focus of Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship
The Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship shall address international hunger and other humanitarian needs.
(iv) Workplan
To carry out clause (i) and to assist in the evaluation of the fellowships under paragraph (4), the program shall, for each fellow, approve a work plan that identifies the target objectives for the fellow in the fellowship, including specific duties and responsibilities related to those objectives.
(C) Period of fellowship
(i) Emerson Fellow
A Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship awarded under this paragraph shall be for no more than 1 year.
(ii) Leland Fellow
A Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship awarded under this paragraph shall be for no more than 2 years. Not less than 1 year of the fellowship shall be dedicated to fulfilling the requirement of subparagraph (B)(i)(I).
(D) Selection of fellows
(i) In general
A fellowship shall be awarded pursuant to a nationwide competition established by the program.
(ii) Qualification
A successful applicant shall be an individual who has demonstrated-
(I) an intent to pursue a career in humanitarian service and outstanding potential for such a career;
(II) leadership potential or actual leadership experience;
(III) diverse life experience;
(IV) proficient writing and speaking skills;
(V) an ability to live in poor or diverse communities; and
(VI) such other attributes as determined to be appropriate by the Board.
(iii) Amount of award
(I) In general
Each individual awarded a fellowship under this paragraph shall receive a living allowance and, subject to subclause (II), an end-of-service award as determined by the program.
(II) Requirement for successful completion of fellowship
Each individual awarded a fellowship under this paragraph shall be entitled to receive an end-of-service award at an appropriate rate for each month of satisfactory service as determined by the Executive Director.
(iv) Recognition of fellowship award
(I) Emerson Fellow
An individual awarded a fellowship from the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall be known as an "Emerson Fellow".
(II) Leland Fellow
An individual awarded a fellowship from the Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship shall be known as a "Leland Fellow".
(4) Evaluation
The program shall conduct periodic evaluations of the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships. Such evaluations shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the successful completion of the work plan of the fellow.
(B) An assessment of the impact of the fellowship on the fellows.
(C) An assessment of the accomplishment of the purposes of the program.
(D) An assessment of the impact of the fellow on the community.
(e) Trust Fund
(1) Establishment
There is established the Congressional Hunger Fellows Trust Fund (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Fund") in the Treasury of the United States, consisting of amounts appropriated to the Fund under subsection (i) of this section, amounts credited to it under paragraph (3), and amounts received under subsection (g)(3)(A) of this section.
(2) Investment of funds
The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest the full amount of the Fund. Each investment shall be made in an interest bearing obligation of the United States or an obligation guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States that, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Board, has a maturity suitable for the Fund.
(3) Return on investment
Except as provided in subsection (f)(2) of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall credit to the Fund the interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, obligations held in the Fund.
(f) Expenditures; audits
(1) In general
The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the program from the amounts described in subsection (e)(3) of this section and subsection (g)(3)(A) of this section such sums as the Board determines are necessary to enable the program to carry out the provisions of this section.
(2) Limitation
The Secretary may not transfer to the program the amounts appropriated to the Fund under subsection (i) of this section.
(3) Use of funds
Funds transferred to the program under paragraph (1) shall be used for the following purposes:
(A) Stipends for fellows
To provide for a living allowance for the fellows.
(B) Travel of fellows
To defray the costs of transportation of the fellows to the fellowship placement sites.
(C) Insurance
To defray the costs of appropriate insurance of the fellows, the program, and the Board.
(D) Training of fellows
To defray the costs of preservice and midservice education and training of fellows.
(E) Support staff
Staff described in subsection (g) of this section.
(F) Awards
End-of-service awards under subsection (d)(3)(D)(iii)(II) of this section.
(G) Additional approved uses
For such other purposes that the Board determines appropriate to carry out the program.
(4) Audit by GAO
(A) In general
The Comptroller General of the United States may conduct an audit of the accounts of the program.
(B) Books
The program shall make available to the Comptroller General all books, accounts, financial records (including records of salaries of the Executive Director and other personnel), reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the program and necessary to facilitate such audit.
(C) Report to Congress
The Comptroller General shall submit a copy of the results of each such audit to the appropriate congressional committees.
(g) Staff; powers of program
(1) Executive Director
(A) In general
The Board shall appoint an Executive Director of the program who shall administer the program. The Executive Director shall carry out such other functions consistent with the provisions of this section as the Board shall prescribe.
(B) Restriction
The Executive Director may not serve as Chairperson of the Board.
(C) Compensation
The Executive Director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5.
(2) Staff
(A) In general
With the approval of a majority of the Board, the Executive Director may appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel as the Executive Director considers necessary and appropriate to carry out the functions of the provisions of this section.
(B) Compensation
An individual appointed under subparagraph (A) shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level GS–15 of the General Schedule.
(3) Powers
In order to carry out the provisions of this section, the program may perform the following functions:
(A) Gifts
The program may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the program. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the Fund and shall be available for disbursement upon order of the Board.
(B) Experts and consultants
The program may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109 of title 5, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–15 of the General Schedule.
(C) Contract authority
The program may contract, with the approval of a majority of the members of the Board, with and compensate Government and private agencies or persons without regard to section 5 of title 41.
(D) Other necessary expenditures
The program shall make such other expenditures which the program considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, but excluding project development.
(h) Report
Not later than December 31 of each year, the Board shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the activities of the program carried out during the previous fiscal year, and shall include the following:
(1) An analysis of the evaluations conducted under subsection (d)(4) of this section (relating to evaluations of the Emerson and Leland fellowships and accomplishment of the program purposes) during that fiscal year.
(2) A statement of the total amount of funds attributable to gifts received by the program in that fiscal year (as authorized under subsection (g)(3)(A) of this section), and the total amount of such funds that were expended to carry out the program that fiscal year.
(i) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated $18,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this section.
(j) Definition
In this section, the term "appropriate congressional committees" means-
(1) the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(
References in Text
GS–15 of the General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (g)(2)(B), (3)(B), is set out under section 5332 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Amendments
2007-Subsec. (f)(4)(A).
Change of Name
Committee on International Relations of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.
Effective Date