,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cfdb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #g1 #bjbj,mr4 ,van ,hollen 7for ,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 and ,mr4 ,blumenthal77 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to mobilize individuals in the ,united ,states in the fight against coronavirus by expanding volunteer opportunities in ,ameri,corps1 expanding employment opportunities at the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 and utilizing the expertise of ,peace ,corps volunteer leaders whose service ended on ,march #ae1 #bjbj1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,undertaking ,national ,initiatives to ,tackle ,epidemic ,act of #bjbj or the ,,unite ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the outbreak of the novel coronavirus1 ,,sars-,co,v-#b1 which causes ,,covid-#ai 7referred to in this ,act as the coronavirus71 has disrupted the lives of all individuals in the ,united ,states and required enormous sacrifice4 ,in following the guidance of public health officials1 individuals in the ,united ,states have and can continue to play a key role in defeating their common1 invisible enemy4 7#b7 ,the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service 7referred to in this ,act as ,,cncs71 through the health1 disaster1 and poverty services administered by the ,,cncs under the #c flagship ,ameri,corps programs 7,ameri,corps ,,vista1 ,ameri,corps ,,nccc1 and ,ameri,corps ,state and ,national ,volunteers71 is uniquely positioned to aid frontline workers and communities most impacted by the coronavirus public health emergency if the ,president of the ,united ,states fully mobilizes those #c programs4 7#c7 ,the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency 7referred to in this section as ,,fema71 tasked with leading aspects of the whole-of-government response to the coronavirus outbreak1 is reportedly understaffed of those frontline workers that are essential to responding to the public health emergency4 7#d7 ,on ,march #ae1 #bjbj1 the ,peace ,corps involuntarily ended the service of approximately #g1cjj volunteers4 ,many of them acquired public health skills in countries abroad1 which may also be applied to further service in ,ameri,corps1 service in ,,fema1 or continuing service in the ,peace ,corps once operations of the ,peace ,corps are to resume4 #c4 ,sense of the ,senate ,it is the sense of the ,senate that-- 7#a7 the ,president should fully utilize the competencies of the ,federal ,government workforce to battle the outbreak of coronavirus1 the worst global health emergency the ,united ,states has faced in a century1 as well as make available expanded opportunities for individuals in the ,united ,states desiring to serve their country in its time of need2 7#b7 the ,president should elevate the role of ,,cncs within the whole-of-government response to the coronavirus outbreak1 including by urging its ,chief ,executive ,officer to-- 7,a7 take steps to actively encourage volunteerism and specifically encourage individuals in the ,united ,states to serve as volunteers in ,ameri,corps programs2 7,b7 prioritize ,ameri,corps grants that provide assistance to those most impacted by the coronavirus public health emergency and recruit the maximum number of volunteers authorized by law1 particularly focusing on the recently unemployed2 and 7,c7 provide ,state ,commissions1 as defined in section #aja of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeaa71 with the flexibility to award and amend grants and to remove undue burdens relating to the onboarding of volunteers2 7#c7 the ,united ,states should expand the ,cadre of ,on-,call ,response_/,recovery ,employees 7,,core7 program1 administered by the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 to enlist individuals in the ,united ,states to solve public health and supply-management challenges related to the coronavirus outbreak1 as well as challenges related to wildfires1 hurricanes1 and other disasters2 and 7#d7 bolstering the number full-time positions at the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency will also expand national service opportunities for qualified individuals in the ,united ,states who have become unemployed or underemployed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak1 including the approximately #g1cjj ,peace ,corps volunteers whose service ended on ,march #ae1 #bjbj4 #d4 ,mobilizing programs in the coronavirus public health emergency 7a7 ,prioritizing certain agreements 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any provision of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diej et seq47 or the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeja et seq471 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of ,,cncs1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 ,state governments1 and ,state ,commissions1 as defined in section #aja of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij1 shall1 for the period described in paragraph 7#b71 prioritize existing agreements1 or enter into new agreements1 with public and private nonprofit organizations1 that will direct volunteers in programs administered by ,,cncs to assignments that assist individuals most impacted by the coronavirus public health emergency1 including assignments-- 7,a7 providing support services to veterans1 homeless populations1 the elderly1 and other individuals who may be most vulnerable during the coronavirus public health emergency2 7,b7 supporting health care professionals and related positions2 7,c7 offering before- and after-school tutoring and instruction for children in low-income areas1 and offering adult basic skills and literacy tutoring and instruction1 including through remote learning2 7,d7 expanding broadband infrastructure for underserved and rural communities2 7,e7 performing functions consistent with implementation of the decennial census2 and 7,f7 performing other functions consistent with addressing the coronavirus public health emergency1 including assisting with testing and contact tracing4 7#b7 ,period ,the period described in this paragraph-- 7,a7 shall begin on the date of enactment of this ,act2 and 7,b7 shall end-- 7i7 not earlier than the date of the conclusion of the coronavirus public health emergency2 and 7ii7 not later than #b years after the conclusion of such emergency4 7b7 ,authorization for additional recruitment of ,ameri,corps volunteers 7#a7 ,in general 7,a7 ,increase in number of positions ,section #aba7;f77#a77;,b7 of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abega7;f77#a77;,b77 is amended-- 7i7 in clause 7vi71 by striking and at the end2 7ii7 in clause 7vii71 by adding and at the end2 and 7iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7viii7 #ejj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbb2 4 7,b7 ,reauthorizations 7i7 ,ameri,corps vista ,section #eja7;a77#a7 of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ejha7;a77#a77 is amended by striking #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjaj and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years #bjaa through #bjad and inserting such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbb4 7ii7 ,ameri,corps ,,nccc ,section #eja7;a77#a77;,a7 of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfha7;a77#a77;,a77 is amended-- 7,i7 by striking clauses 7i7 and 7ii72 and 7,,ii7 by striking title ,i-- and inserting title ,i1 such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbb44 7iii7 ,ameri,corps ,state and national volunteers ,section #eja7;a77#b7 of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfha7;a77#b77 is amended by striking #bjaj through #bjad and inserting #bjbj through #bjbb4 7#b7 ,requirement ,to fulfill the purposes of subsection 7a71 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of ,,cncs shall expedite the recruitment and selection of volunteers for an assignment described in subsection 7a7 who are-- 7,a7 unemployed veterans2 7,b7 individuals who become unemployed or underemployed as a result of the coronavirus public health emergency2 and 7,c7 ,ameri,corps members1 ,peace ,corps volunteers1 and ,united ,states ,fulbright scholars1 who have had their service ended as a result of such emergency4 7#c7 ,eligibility 7,a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any other provision of law-- 7i7 any individual who is authorized to work in the ,united ,states1 including any individual granted ,deferred ,action for ,childhood ,arrivals 7,,daca7 pursuant to the program announced by the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security on ,june #ae1 #bjab1 and any individual granted ,temporary ,protected ,status pursuant to section #bdd7;a77#a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abed;a7a77#a771 may not be disqualified from being recruited or selected for any assignment described in subsection 7a7 based solely on his or her citizenship or immigration status2 and 7ii7 any individual who has filed for bankruptcy1 or who has a poor credit rating1 determined by the ,chief ,executive ,officer of ,,cncs to be the result of the coronavirus public health emergency may not be disqualified from being recruited or selected for any assignment described in subsection 7a7 based solely on such bankruptcy or credit reporting4 7,b7 ,clarification ,no individual described in clause 7i7 or 7ii7 of subparagraph 7,a7 who is recruited or selected for an assignment described in subsection 7a7 shall become disqualified from continuing to serve in such assignment after the expiration of the period described in subsection 7a77#b7 solely on the basis of his or her citizenship or immigration status1 bankruptcy status1 or credit score4 7c7 ,briefing to ,congress ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #ahj days thereafter through fiscal year #bjbb1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of ,,cncs shall submit a report1 to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives1 on the operating plan of the ,,cncs to carry out subsections 7a7 and 7b71 including the amendments under subsection 7b74 7d7 ,enhanced stipend ,section #aje7;b77#b77;,a7 of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diee7;b77#b77;,a77 is amended to read as follows3 7,a7 beginning for fiscal year #bjbj1 the minimum allowance is not less than an amount equal to #bjj percent of the income official poverty line 7as defined by the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 and revised annually in accordance with section #fgc7b7 of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb7b777 applicable to a family of #a2 and 4 7e7 ,ceiling on stipend for grantees ,section #ahi of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfde;c7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking #ah1jjj and inserting #be1jjj2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7e77#a71 by striking #ai1ejj and inserting #cj1jjj4 7f7 ,waiver of matching funds requirements ,section #ahi;,a of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfde;d7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1 by inserting 2 matching funds during coronavirus public health emergency after communities2 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7b7 as subsection 7c72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7a7 the following3 7b7 ,,covid-#ai response ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 an entity that receives assistance from the ,corporation for any program under the national service laws 7including a ,state ,commission and an entity receiving subgrant funds7 during the coronavirus public health emergency1 as defined in section #d7;g7 of the ,undertaking ,national ,initiatives to ,tackle ,epidemic ,act of #bjbj1 shall not be subject to any requirements to provide matching funds for any such program1 and the ,federal share of such assistance for a recipient 7including for a ,state ,commission and a subgrant recipient7 may be #ajj percent4 4 7g7 ,coronavirus public health emergency defined ,in this section1 the term coronavirus public health emergency means the public health emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 with respect to ,,covid-#ai4 #e4 ,authorization for surge capacity for ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency 7a7 ,in general ,for fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbb and subject to the appropriation of funds1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall appoint1 administer1 and expedite the training of an additional #fb1jjj ,cadre of ,on-,call ,response_/,recovery ,employees1 under the ,response and ,recover ,directorate 7referred to in this section as ,,core employees7 under the ,office of ,response and ,recovery1 above the level of such employees in fiscal year #bjai1 to address the coronavirus public health emergency and other disasters and public emergencies4 7b7 ,detail of ,,core employees ,a ,,core employee may be detailed1 through mutual agreement and on a non-reimbursable basis1 to any ,federal agency or to a ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government to fulfill an assignment consistent with the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq47 and emergency work 7as defined in section #bjf4bbe of title #dd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor thereto71 including-- 7#a7 providing logistical support for the supply chain of medical equipment and other goods involved in ,,covid-#ai response efforts2 7#b7 facilitating ,,covid-#ai testing and surveillance activities2 7#c7 tracing contacts of infected individuals and the status of the individuals while being quarantined2 7#d7 providing nutritional assistance to vulnerable populations2 and 7#e7 carrying out other disaster preparedness and response functions for other emergencies and natural disasters4 7c7 ,requirement ,as soon as feasible1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall make public job announcements to fill the ,,core employee positions authorized under subsection 7a71 which shall prioritize hiring from among the following groups of individuals3 7#a7 ,unemployed veterans of the ,armed ,forces4 7#b7 ,individuals who have become unemployed or underemployed as a result of the coronavirus public health emergency4 7#c7 ,ameri,corps members1 ,peace ,corps ,volunteers1 and ,united ,states ,fulbright ,scholars who have had their service terms ended as a result of the coronavirus public health emergency4 7#d7 ,recent graduates of public health1 medical1 nursing1 social work1 or related health-services programs4 7d7 ,hiring ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall-- 7#a7 hire the employees authorized under this section in accordance with section #cjf7;b77#a7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eadi7;b77#a772 and 7#b7 use relevant statutory authority in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this ,act to allow regional offices and site managers to advertise for and hire employees under this section4 7e7 ,training ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency may make appropriate adjustments to the standard training course curriculum for employees under this section to include on-site trainings at regional offices of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 virtual trainings1 or trainings conducted by other ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal agencies to fulfill functions described in subsection 7b74 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency #f1ejj1jjj1jjj1 for each of fiscal years #bjbj1 #bjba1 and #bjbb1 of which not less than #a1ejj1jjj1jjj shall be used each fiscal year for the administrative costs associated with carrying out this section4 7g7 ,eligibility for hiring ,for the purposes of hiring employees under this section-- 7#a7 any individual who is authorized to work in the ,united ,states1 including any individual granted ,deferred ,action for ,childhood ,arrivals 7,,daca7 pursuant to the program announced by the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security on ,june #ae1 #bjab1 and any individual granted ,temporary ,protected ,status pursuant to section #bdd7;a77#a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abed;a7a77#a771 may not be disqualified from being hired as an employee under this section based solely on his or her citizenship or immigration status2 and 7#b7 any individual who has filed bankruptcy1 or who has a poor credit rating1 determined by the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency to be a result of the coronavirus public health emergency may not be disqualified from being hired as an employee under this section based solely on such bankruptcy or credit rating4 7h7 ,coronavirus public health emergency defined ,in this section1 the term coronavirus public health emergency has the meaning given the term in section #d7;g74 #f4 ,peace ,corps volunteer reenrollment eligibility and transition assistance 7a7 ,assistance for ,peace ,corps volunteers whose service ended involuntarily ,notwithstanding section #e of the ,peace ,corps ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bejd71 with respect to any ,peace ,corps volunteer whose service ended involuntarily on ,march #ae1 #bjbj 7or earlier1 in the case of any volunteer who was serving in ,china or ,mongolia71 when the ,director of the ,peace ,corps suspended all volunteer operations due to the coronavirus public health emergency1 the ,director of the ,peace ,corps shall-- 7#a7 continue to provide the health care described in section #e7;e7 of such ,act to the volunteer during the period beginning on ,march #ae1 #bjbj1 and ending on the earlier of ,september #ae1 #bjbj1 or the date on which the volunteers begins employment1 to supplement the benefits to which the volunteer is otherwise entitled under section #e of such ,act2 7#b7 waive all nonmedical application requirements for the reenrollment of the volunteer during the #a-year period beginning on ,march #ae1 #bjbj2 7#c7 expedite the medical clearance for such volunteer to facilitate reenrollment2 7#d7 permit the volunteer1 to the extent possible1 to resume the activity in which the volunteer had been serving at the time of his or her involuntary end of service1 or any other activity1 by mutual agreement2 and 7#e7 provide the volunteer1 beginning on the date of reenrollment1 with the compensation1 allowances1 benefits1 and other terms and conditions of service to which the volunteer is entitled under such ,act4 7b7 ,report on restart of ,peace ,corps operations following end of public health emergency ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,peace ,corps shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives that describes the efforts of the ,peace ,corps-- 7#a7 to offer reenrollment to each ,peace ,corps volunteer whose service ended involuntarily on ,march #ae1 #bjbj 7or earlier1 in the case of any volunteer who was serving in ,china or ,mongolia71 due to the coronavirus public health emergency2 7#b7 to obtain approval from countries1 as necessary1 to return reenrolled volunteers to their previous assignments2 7#c7 to provide additional measures necessary for the safety and health of volunteers1 including developing contingency plans in the event overseas operations are disrupted by a future ,,covid-#ai outbreak2 7#d7 to maintain adequate volunteer recruitment levels for future cohorts2 and 7#e7 to identify the anticipated additional appropriations or new statutory authorities that would be necessary to achieve the goal of safely redeploying #g1cjj ,peace ,corps volunteers during the #a-year period beginning on the date on which ,peace ,corps operations resume4