ACTION for National Service Act

Key Points

• The bill transforms the Corporation for National and Community Service into a cabinet-level executive department called the AmeriCorps Administration, giving its leader the same rank as other department heads like the Secretary of Education or Defense.
• Congress sets an ambitious goal of growing national service to 1 million participants per year by 2036, starting with 250,000 approved positions in fiscal year 2027 and scaling up each year through 2036.
• The educational award for completing service doubles to twice the national average cost of in-state tuition and fees at public four-year colleges, a major increase from the current award amount.
• Both the educational award and living allowance would become tax-free, meaning participants no longer owe federal income tax on those benefits. This lets them keep more of what they earn through service.
• A new outreach program would contact every American on their 17th birthday and every two years after, informing them about national service options including AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and military service.
• A new National Service Foundation would be created as a tax-exempt nonprofit to accept private donations and gifts to support the AmeriCorps Administration and its programs, with $2.5 million in startup funding authorized for fiscal year 2027.