ACTION for National Service Act

Key Points

• The bill would transform AmeriCorps from a government corporation into a full Executive department called the AmeriCorps Administration, elevating its status and giving it a Senate-confirmed Director with the rank of a Cabinet-level department head.
• 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 over a decade.
• The education award for completing national service would double to equal twice the national average yearly in-state tuition and fees at public four-year colleges, a significant increase designed to make service more attractive and reduce student debt.
• Living allowances for service participants would rise sharply — VISTA volunteers would receive 175%-210% of the poverty level, and National Civilian Community Corps members would get 200% of poverty level, up from current levels of 95%-105% and 100% respectively.
• Both the education awards and living allowances would become completely tax-free, meaning participants would keep the full value of their benefits instead of owing federal income tax on them.
• A new outreach program would contact every American on their 17th birthday to inform them about national service opportunities, with follow-up notifications every two years until age 30, unless the person opts out.

Votes

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Related Bills

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