,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dajj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bc1 #bjba,mr4 ,price of ,north ,carolina 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,matsui1 ,mr4 ,cole1 ,mr4 ,waltz1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,moore of ,wisconsin1 ,mr4 ,suozzi1 ,ms4 ,houlahan1 ,ms4 ,scanlon1 ,mr4 ,larson of ,connecticut1 ,mr4 ,sarbanes1 ,mr4 ,san ,nicolas1 ,mr4 ,evans1 ,mr4 ,carson1 ,ms4 ,schrier1 ,mr4 ,kilmer1 ,mrs4 ,trahan1 ,mr4 ,nadler1 ,mr4 ,swalwell1 ,mr4 ,de,saulnier1 ,mr4 ,lamb1 ,mr4 ,meijer1 ,mr4 ,kahele1 ,mr4 ,auchincloss1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 ,mr4 ,carbajal1 ,mr4 ,taylor1 ,mr4 ,harder of ,california1 ,mr4 ,bergman1 ,mr4 ,moulton1 ,ms4 ,sherrill1 ,ms4 ,sewell1 ,mr4 ,bacon1 ,mr4 ,crow1 ,mr4 ,neguse1 and ,mr4 ,baird7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend the national service laws to prioritize national service programs and projects that are directly related to the response to and recovery from the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,cultivating ,opportunity and ,recovery from the ,pandemic through ,service ,act or the ,,corps ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states has a strong history of citizen response to national calls to service in order to help the ,nation recover in times of crisis4 7#b7 ,more than #hj years ago1 the ,nation rose to the challenge of the ,great ,depression with the creation of citizen service programs4 7#c7 ,millions of participants benefitted from paid employment and opportunities to develop their skills while constructing national parks and public lands infrastructure and producing cultural works still enjoyed today4 7#d7 ,founded in #aiij1 the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service today coordinates national service by individuals in the ,united ,states across every ,state and territory1 partnering with ,state-level commissions and supporting locally driven services in partnership with nongovernmental organizations and ,state governments4 7#e7 ,national service programs provide public health1 education1 employment training1 and nutrition services for which the ,nation has a critical need in the current crisis4 7#f7 ,the signature programs of the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service1 which are the ,ameri,corps ,state and ,national1 ,ameri,corps ,national ,civilian ,community ,corps1 ,ameri,corps ,volunteers in ,service to ,america 7referred to in this ,act as ,,vista71 and ,national ,senior ,service ,corps programs1 can and should be expanded to meet current needs4 7#g7 ,the novel coronavirus pandemic has infected and killed individuals in every ,state and territory1 causing more than #ca1jjj1jjj cases and #efj1jjj deaths so far4 7#h7 ,in response1 ,states1 ,tribal governments1 and cities across the country have closed down businesses1 schools1 and public events1 leading to dramatic swings in the economy4 7#i7 ,millions of people in the ,united ,states have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the pandemic1 with unemployment rates peaking at an unprecedented level4 7#aj7 ,more than #a in every #aj adults in the ,united ,states has applied for unemployment insurance since the crisis began4 7#aa7 ,the pandemic and the associated economic consequences have disproportionately impacted people of color across many ,states4 7#ab7 ,to recover1 the ,nation needs meaningful employment opportunities1 as well as a significant expansion of the human capital working to address community needs around public health1 behavioral health1 hunger1 education1 and conservation4 7#ac7 ,experience has demonstrated the centrality of community participation in pandemic response1 to overcome stigma and structural barriers and meet the full needs of all members of a diverse community4 7#ad7 ,as the ,nation works to respond to and recover from the current twin challenges of a public health pandemic and an economic crisis1 national service presents a unique opportunity for flexible1 locally driven responses to meet ,state and local employment and recovery needs4 #c4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to provide for annual growth in the number of participants1 over #c years1 in national service programs that will provide services in response to the pandemic and economic crisis2 7#b7 to ensure that participant allowances cover the reasonable cost of participation and provide participants with economic and educational opportunity2 7#c7 to stabilize such national service programs during economic crisis1 including by supporting adaptations to service models in light of the crisis2 and 7#d7 to support opportunities for all individuals in the ,united ,states to engage in service1 including through the recruitment of increasingly diverse and representative participants4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,national and ,community ,service ,act definitions ,the terms approved national service position1 ,corporation1 disadvantaged youth1 national service laws1 participant1 service sponsor1 and ,state ,commission have the meanings given such terms in section #aja of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeaa74 7#b7 ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period ,the term ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period means the period beginning on the date of enactment of this ,act and ending at the end of fiscal year #bjbd4 7#c7 ,high-poverty area ,the term high-poverty area means a census tract defined as high-poverty by the ,bureau of the ,census4 #e4 ,economic equity and opportunity 7a7 ,living allowance 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding section #aje7;b7 of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diee7;b77 and section #adj of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeid71 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 the minimum subsistence or living allowance for an individual under section #aje of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc and section #adj of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij shall1 subject to paragraph 7#c71 be an amount equal to #age percent of the poverty line 7as defined in section #fgc7b7 of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb7b777 for a single individual as expected for each fiscal year4 7#b7 ,grants for living allowance increases ,notwithstanding the limits described in subsections 7a7 and 7e7 of section #ahi of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfde;c7 or any other limitation imposed by the ,corporation1 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 the ,corporation shall1 for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 award supplemental grant funds to entities operating a program receiving grant funds under the national service laws 7referred to in this paragraph as grantees71 including continuing grantees1 to-- 7,a7 increase the minimum subsistence or living allowance provided under section #aje7;b7 of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diee7;b77 or section #adj of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeid72 and 7,b7 cover additional costs associated with the increase to the minimum subsistence or living allowance required under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,limitation 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 a stipend or allowance under section #aje of the ,domestic and ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diee7 or an allowance under section #adj of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeid7 shall not be increased by this ,act unless the funds appropriated for carrying out part ,a of the ,domestic and ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diea et seq47 or subtitle ,c of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abega et seq471 respectively1 are sufficient to maintain1 for the fiscal year involved1 a number of participants to serve under that part ,a or that subtitle ,c1 respectively1 that is at least equal to the number of such participants so serving during the fiscal year preceding such fiscal year involved4 7,b7 ,adjustment for insufficient appropriations ,in the event that sufficient appropriations for any fiscal year are not available to increase any stipend or allowance under section #aje of the ,domestic and ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc or allowance under section #adj of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij to the minimum amount specified under paragraph 7#a71 the ,corporation shall increase the stipend or allowance involved to such amount as appropriations for such year permit consistent with subparagraph 7,a74 7b7 ,concurrent ,,covid-#ai educational award 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,corporation shall award to any individual who successfully completes a term of service resulting in an educational award under section #adg of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfjc71 with any part of such term of service occurring within the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 a concurrent ,,covid-#ai educational award for an amount described under paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,amount of award ,the concurrent ,,covid-#ai educational award awarded under this subsection shall be in an amount which bears the same proportion to the full amount of the education award the individual received under section #adg of such ,act as the length of time of the term of service of such individual that occurs within the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period bears to the total length of time of the term of service of such individual4 7c7 ,national ,senior ,service ,corps ,notwithstanding section #bja1 subsections 7d7 and 7e7 of section #baa1 and section #bac7;a7 of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ejja1 #ejaa1 #ejac7;a771 to address the critical needs of local communities across the ,united ,states1 during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic emergency recovery period-- 7#a7 individuals age #de or older may be enrolled as volunteers to provide services under part ,a of title ,,ii of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ejja72 and 7#b7 for purposes of parts ,b and ,c of title ,,ii of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ejjb1 #ejjc71 the terms low-income person and person of low income mean a person whose income is not more than #djj percent of the poverty line defined in section #fgc7b7 of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb7b77 and adjusted by the ,director of the ,retired and ,senior ,volunteer and ,foster ,grandparent programs in the manner described in such parts4 7d7 ,tax provisions 7#a7 ,income tax exclusion for living allowance 7,a7 ,in general ,part ,,iii of subchapter ,b of chapter #a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf is amended by inserting after section #aci;,i the following new section3 #aci;,j4 ,living allowance for national service participants ,gross income does not include the amount of any living allowance provided under section #aje7;b7 of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diee7;b77 or section #adj7;a7 or #aeh7;b7 of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeid7;a71 #abfah7;b774 4 7,b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections for part ,,iii of subchapter ,b of chapter #a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #aci;,i the following new item3 ,sec4 #aci;,j4 ,living allowance for national service participants4 4 7,c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this paragraph shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 ,exclusion from gross income of national service educational awards 7,a7 ,in general ,section #aag of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7relating to qualified scholarships7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7e7 ,national service educational awards ,gross income shall not include any payments from the ,national ,service ,trust established under section #ade of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfja71 including the national service educational award described in subtitle ,d of title ,i of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfja et seq474 4 7,b7 ,exclusion of discharge of student loan debt ,subsection 7f7 of section #ajh of such ,code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#f7 ,payments under national service educational award programs ,in the case of an individual1 gross income shall not include any amount received as a national service educational award under subtitle ,d of title ,i of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfja et seq474 4 7,c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this paragraph shall apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #f4 ,supporting expansion 7a7 ,grants and pilot program 7#a7 ,priority ,the ,corporation1 in awarding grants under paragraph 7#b71 and ,state ,commissions1 in directly placing individuals in approved national service positions under paragraph 7#c71 shall-- 7,a7 give priority to-- 7i7 entities serving communities-- 7,i7 disproportionately impacted by ,,covid-#ai2 7,,ii7 using culturally competent and multilingual strategies in the provision of services2 and 7,,iii7 with proposals for activities directly related to recovery from the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency and the attendant economic and social consequences of such public health emergency1 such as-- 7aa7 work that furthers the capacity of nonprofit and community-based organizations to respond to the immediate needs of individuals affected by ,,covid-#ai2 7bb7 services that support economic opportunity2 7cc7 educational activities1 including enrichment and adult education and literacy activities2 7dd7 services to address housing and food insecurity2 and 7ee7 jobs for youth in preserving and restoring nature1 including ensuring environmental resiliency2 and 7ii7 community-based organizations located in rural or high-poverty areas1 or community-based organizations that serve ,tribal communities1 with greater priority for community-based organizations that propose recruiting applicants for positions to serve in the same metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area or county as the area or county in which such applicants attended a secondary school or institution of higher education2 and 7,b7 take into account the diversity of communities and participants served by entities seeking funding under this ,act1 including racial1 ethnic1 socioeconomic1 linguistic1 or geographic diversity4 7#b7 ,augmentation and expansion grants ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 the ,corporation may award noncompetitive augmentation grants to meet the compelling needs of grantees or subgrantees and expansion grants under the national service laws1 at such time and in such manner and from such funds as the ,corporation determines appropriate4 7#c7 ,pilot program 7,a7 ,in general 7i7 ,establishment ,notwithstanding section #agh7;h7 of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfch7;h771 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 the ,corporation shall implement a pilot program under section #aba and #abb of such ,act allowing ,state ,commissions to directly place individuals in approved national service positions4 7ii7 ,application and review process ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,corporation may establish the time1 place1 and manner of the application and review process for the pilot program established under this paragraph4 7,b7 ,priorities ,in addition to the priorities under paragraph 7#a71 ,state ,commissions participating in the pilot program shall1 to the extent practicable1 prioritize the placement of individuals in national service programs carried out by entities that have not previously been service sponsors for participants4 7,c7 ,report ,the ,corporation shall prepare and submit a report to ,congress at the end of the pilot program described in subparagraph 7,a71 containing recommendations about whether and how to continue such a program of direct placements4 7b7 ,flexibility during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period 7#a7 ,match waiver ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 an entity 7including a ,state ,commission and an entity receiving subgrant funds7 that receives assistance from the ,corporation for any program under the national service laws1 including under sections #e7;a77#b7 and #f7;a77#b71 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period 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 7#b7 ,vista limitation applicability ,notwithstanding subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of section #ajh of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act of #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dieh71 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 in order to address the needs of underserved communities related to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 of funds appropriated for the purposes of part ,a of title ,i of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diea et seq47 under section #eja of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ejha71 not more than #ge percent may be obligated for the direct cost of supporting volunteers in programs and projects 7including new programs and projects that begin after the date of enactment of this ,act7 carried out pursuant to part ,a of title ,i of such ,act1 and such funds may be obligated regardless of when grant recipients commenced such programs and projects4 7#c7 ,seasonal program ,notwithstanding sections #aeb7;b77#b7 and #aed of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfab7;b77#b71 #abfad71 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 members of the ,national ,civilian ,community ,corps established under subtitle ,e of title ,i of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfaa et seq47 may receive training and perform service in a seasonal national service program established under section #aed of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfad7 with service lasting for a period of not less than #c months and not more than #f months1 as specified by the ,director appointed pursuant to section #aei7;c77#a7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfai7;c77#a774 7#d7 ,increase in limitation on total grant amount for educational award only program during ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period ,notwithstanding the limit described in section #abi;,a7b7 of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeha;a7b771 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 the ,corporation may provide operational support under section #abi;,a of such ,act for a program in an amount that is not more than #a1fjj per individual enrolled and serving in an approved national service position1 or not more than #b1jjj per such individual if at least #ej percent of the persons enrolled and serving in the program are disadvantaged youth4 7#e7 ,no summer limitation 7,a7 ,enrollment ,notwithstanding any other provision of part ,a of title ,i of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diea et seq471 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency recovery period1 the ,director of the ,,vista program may enroll full-time ,,vista associates in a program1 during any months of the year1 under such terms and conditions as such ,director shall determine to be appropriate4 ,such individuals shall be assigned to projects that address the needs of underserved communities impacted by the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 7,b7 ,reports ,in preparing reports relating to programs under the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #diej et seq471 the ,director of the ,,vista program shall report on participants1 costs1 and accomplishments under the program under this subsection separately4 7,c7 ,limitation ,the limitation on funds appropriated for grants and contracts1 as contained in section #ajh of the ,domestic ,volunteer ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dieh71 shall not apply to the program under this subsection4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #ij days after the enactment of this ,act1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service shall prepare and submit a report to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives containing recommendations on-- 7#a7 how to improve grant programs related to the national service laws1 including those under subtitle ,c of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abega et seq471 such as any recommended changes to-- 7,a7 the requirements of section #aba7;e7 such ,act and section #beba4fj of title #de1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this ,act72 and 7,b7 the fixed-amount grants awarded under section #abi7l7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abeha7l771 including improvements to account for start-of-year costs and to ensure robust member benefits and the long-term strength and viability of such program2 7#b7 whether a new unit within the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service should be established to provide additional assistance or manage the enrollment process to ensure compliance with sections #ahi;,d and #aii;,i of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abfde;g2 #abfee;i7 for incoming participants in national service programs1 particularly new national service programs receiving program assistance for the first time2 and 7#c7 actions to maximize flexibility for ,state ,commissions that would strengthen the work of ,state ,commissions and their grantees4 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations ,in addition to any amounts appropriated to carry out activities or programs under the national service laws 7including under the ,american ,rescue ,plan ,act of #bjba 7,public ,law #aag-b771 there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #h1jjj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba1 which shall remain available to be expended through fiscal year #bjbd4