A Democratic bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1048-1049)
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the AmeriCorps Administration as an Executive department to manage national and volunteer service programs. It creates a new Advisory Board and a National Service Foundation to handle private gifts. The act increases national service educational awards and living allowances for participants. It also starts an outreach program to notify individuals aged 17 to 30 about service opportunities. Finally, it sets a ten-year goal to support at least 1,000,000 participants per year by 2036.
Yes· 3 of 21
- Scored +9
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Specifically targets 17-30 year olds with an outreach program, increased stipends, and significant educational awards.
- Scored +9
Would students be better off under this?
Directly improves college affordability and provides substantial educational funding.
- Scored +8
Does this make college cost less?
Provides educational awards equal to twice the national average of yearly in-state tuition and fees.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Increases spending on living allowances, grants, and the establishment of a new Executive department.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
Authorizes additional spending and increased stipends, which may increase the national deficit.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Higher Education Funding: Participants are entitled to an educational award equal to twice the national average of yearly in-state tuition and fees at public 4-year institutions (Section 6).
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Increased Living Support: The bill increases living allowance percentages for domestic volunteers (Section 10(a)) and National Civilian Community Corps participants (Section 10(b)).
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Tax Relief: National service educational awards and living allowances are excluded from gross income for tax purposes (Section 13 and Section 14).
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Increased Opportunity Awareness: A new outreach program will contact individuals on their 17th birthday and every two years after to notify them of eligibility and how to apply for service programs (Section 9).
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Expanded Service Positions: The bill establishes a plan to increase the number of approved national service positions, targeting 1,000,000 participants per year by September 30, 2036 (Section 11).
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Potential Employment Benefits: An interagency working group will evaluate the possibility of granting Federal hiring preference to individuals who complete specific terms of service (Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Budget-Dependent Benefits: Increases to stipends, allowances, and grant amounts are limited by whether sufficient funds are appropriated to maintain participant numbers from the previous year (Section 10).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — Directly improves college affordability and provides substantial educational funding. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Specifically targets 17-30 year olds with an outreach program, increased stipends, and significant educational awards. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Provides significant financial support through tax-free living allowances and higher education grants. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Offers a pathway to college affordability through service. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Aims to increase service opportunities in underserved communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Aims to increase service opportunities in underserved communities. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Aims to increase service opportunities in underserved communities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Increases service positions and focuses on underserved areas. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Includes representation for individuals aged 55 or older on the Advisory Board. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Increases service positions and focuses on underserved areas. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Aims to increase service opportunities in underserved communities. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Broadly increases availability of national service positions.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — Provides educational awards equal to twice the national average of yearly in-state tuition and fees. Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — Excludes discharge of student loan debt from gross income for national service participants.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increases living allowances and provides tax-free educational awards for participants. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Focuses on increasing service opportunities in underserved communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Sets a goal to support 1,000,000 national service participants per year by 2036. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Potential for growth through increased workforce engagement and educational funding. Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — Excludes national service educational awards and living allowances from gross income for tax purposes. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Increases spending on living allowances, grants, and the establishment of a new Executive department. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Authorizes additional spending and increased stipends, which may increase the national deficit.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Establishes the AmeriCorps Administration as a new Executive department.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Prioritizes increasing national service opportunities in underserved communities, often rural.
- 3/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1048-1049)
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey