Edward Markey (D-MA)
Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act
A Democratic bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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 Civilian Climate Corps to help communities respond to climate change and transition to a clean economy. It creates a national climate service program and a national climate service grant program under the National and Community Service Act of 1990. The legislation sets participation targets scaling up to hundreds of thousands of positions annually by fiscal year 2031. It provides participants with living allowances, healthcare, educational benefits, and career training. Additionally, the bill prioritizes climate projects within existing national service programs like AmeriCorps and VISTA, and provides supplemental appropriations to fund these initiatives.
Yes· 3 of 38
- Scored +8
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Young adults and opportunity youth gain valuable job experience, living allowances, and educational benefits through the Corps.
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income individuals receive job opportunities, fair wages of at least $20 per hour, and targeted community investments.
- Scored +8
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill funds extensive weatherization, renewable energy integration, and building retrofits to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes tens of billions of dollars in supplemental appropriations and funding for national service programs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Economic Support and Living Allowances: Section 199S(b) ensures that members receive a living allowance equivalent to at least $20 per hour, with higher rates for laborers, mechanics, or service workers covered by prevailing wage laws. This provides participants with a reliable and fair income while they complete service projects.
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Healthcare Coverage: Section 199D entitles each Civilian Climate Corps member to healthcare benefits equal to the annual premium for a gold-level health plan purchased on the American Health Benefit Exchange for themselves and their dependents, provided they do not receive equivalent benefits elsewhere.
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Educational Assistance and Tax Relief: Section 199S(f) provides members with up to $25,000 per term of service for higher education expenses or student loan repayments. Furthermore, Section 6 excludes these educational benefits and the discharge of student loan debt from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code.
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Targeted Environmental Justice and Community Support: Sections 199Q(i) and 199R(j) require that at least 50 percent of labor and investment support climate projects based in under-resourced communities of need, with at least 10 percent of those funds dedicated to projects in Indian country. This ensures historically underserved populations directly benefit from the program's resources.
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Job Training and Career Pathways: Section 199U mandates that members receive extensive training, including career and technical education and pre-apprenticeship pipelines, helping participants secure local employment in the clean energy workforce after their service ends.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Taxpayer Burden from Massive Spending: Section 5 authorizes tens of billions of dollars in supplemental appropriations and funding authorizations—including over $91 billion for the Civilian Climate Corps and billions more for existing national service programs—which places a substantial financial demand on taxpayers.
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Strict Terms and Service Hour Requirements: Section 199Q(d) and Section 199R(r) require participants to commit to demanding service terms ranging from nine months to one full year, or a minimum of 1,700 hours, which may create a significant time barrier for individuals who need immediate or flexible employment.
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income individuals receive job opportunities, fair wages of at least $20 per hour, and targeted community investments. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults and opportunity youth gain valuable job experience, living allowances, and educational benefits through the Corps. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — At least 50 percent of investments are directed toward under-resourced communities of need, helping narrow racial disparities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Targeted environmental justice provisions ensure Hispanic and other underserved communities receive project resources. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The legislation dedicates at least 10 percent of under-resourced community funds to projects in Indian country while protecting tribal sovereignty. Would students be better off under this? — Students and Corps alumni benefit from substantial education awards, loan repayment assistance, and career training. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill strongly supports labor organizing rights, collective bargaining, and prevailing wage standards for participants and contractors. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Eligibility for the national climate service program is open regardless of immigration status. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural communities benefit from dedicated representation requirements, forestry management, and local conservation projects. Would farmers be better off under this? — Service projects support farmers and ranchers in transitioning to regenerative agriculture and climate-conscious management practices. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Broad investments in clean energy and community infrastructure benefit middle-class households. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban areas benefit from green infrastructure, energy efficiency retrofits, and local resilience projects. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veterans can participate in service corps programs offering training, stable living allowances, and career pathways. Would women be better off under this? — The program emphasizes inclusive gender representation and provides supportive services like childcare for participants. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Supportive services and accessible program design help individuals with disabilities participate in service opportunities. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Community resilience projects and disaster mitigation efforts improve living conditions for older adults and seniors.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Projects include habitat restoration, wildfire risk reduction, invasive species removal, and pollution remediation. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The legislation explicitly targets a transition to a clean economy through renewable energy and conservation service projects. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill funds extensive weatherization, renewable energy integration, and building retrofits to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Service projects prepare communities for disasters, support emergency management, and assist with post-disaster recovery and rebuilding. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Corps members are tasked with renewing and rehabilitating public and tribal lands, trails, and forests. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes specific provisions and rural representation requirements to invest in rural forests, farms, and communities. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — Corps projects include installing and upgrading public transit and electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Providing reliable living allowances of at least $20 per hour and educational benefits helps lift participants out of poverty. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The legislation mandates that at least 50 percent of labor and investment support projects based in under-resourced communities of need. Does this make housing cost less? — Service projects under the bill include building and retrofitting energy-efficient affordable housing units. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The Director is directed to ensure inclusion and representation of all genders among participants in the program. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Supportive services and community resilience projects can assist vulnerable populations facing housing instability.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — This bill establishes the Civilian Climate Corps, scaling up to hundreds of thousands of public service and green jobs annually. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The legislation requires entities working with the Corps to remain neutral in organizing efforts and bargain with recognized labor organizations. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Investing in clean energy transitions and workforce development is likely to stimulate local economies and green infrastructure. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Small businesses and local entities may benefit from clean energy and resilience infrastructure projects carried out by Corps members. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes tens of billions of dollars in supplemental appropriations and funding for national service programs.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — Participants receive up to $25,000 per term of service for higher education expenses, exempted from gross income. Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — Educational benefits can be applied to qualified student loan repayments, and discharge of such debt is excluded from gross income. Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Permissible service projects include expanding broadband access and adoption in underserved areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal authority and funding through the Corporation for National and Community Service to manage a national climate corps. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The advisory board and Director are required to collect data and report on Corps activities and benchmarks for success.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Members of the Civilian Climate Corps are entitled to comprehensive health care benefits equivalent to gold-level exchange plans.
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts