Unity through Service Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2324
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-20T08:08:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Unity through Service Act of 2025 aims to create a unified federal approach to encourage military service (active duty in the armed forces), national service (volunteer programs like the Peace Corps or community service initiatives), and public service (civilian jobs in government). It seeks to build civic responsibility and connect people to these opportunities without authorizing new funding.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Interagency Council on Service: Creates a council to advise the President on expanding service opportunities. The council will review and coordinate recruitment strategies across federal agencies to promote a culture of service.
- Council Composition and Operations: Includes representatives from major federal departments (e.g., Defense, Education, Veterans Affairs) and agencies (e.g., Peace Corps, Selective Service). The President designates a Senate-confirmed chair annually, and the group meets quarterly or more often as needed.
- Council Responsibilities:
- Develop strategies and goals for service promotion.
- Recommend joint recruitment and outreach efforts.
- Share best practices among agencies and create pilot programs.
- Consult with non-federal groups like states, tribes, schools, nonprofits, and businesses.
- Produce a "Service Strategy" report every four years (first due within two years of enactment), covering federal programs, online resources, trends, and messaging ideas.
- Identify successful non-federal initiatives.
- Joint Market Research and Advertising: Allows the Department of Defense (DoD), Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), and Peace Corps to collaborate on recruitment studies, advertising, and information sharing, overriding certain restrictions on DoD data use.
- Transition Support for Service Participants:
- Updates military transition programs to include info on national and public service jobs.
- Requires the Department of Labor to provide public service career guidance to separating service members.
- Directs CNCS to inform national service participants about military and public service options.
- Reporting Requirements:
- Quadrennial joint report (starting four years after enactment) on cross-service recruitment efforts, including data on participants transitioning between programs, feasibility of expansions, and improvement ideas.
- Study and report within 270 days on past advertising effectiveness and the impact of vaccine requirements on recruitment/retention.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "national service" (e.g., Peace Corps or YouthBuild programs funded by government or schools) and "public service" (government civilian jobs).
- No Additional Funds and Oversight: Relies on existing budgets; requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report 30 months after enactment assessing the law's effectiveness.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code (governing armed forces) to expand transition assistance for service members, adding CNCS as a partner and requiring public service info in job training.
- Modifies the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to mandate CNCS provide military/public service guidance to its participants.
- Permits DoD, CNCS, and Peace Corps to share recruitment data, bypassing a prior limit in Title 10 that restricted such collaborations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances coordination among federal entities, potentially streamlining recruitment and reducing silos, but may strain existing resources without new funding.
- Citizens: Increases awareness and access to diverse service options, fostering civic engagement and career pathways; could help address recruitment shortfalls in military and volunteer programs.
- International Relations: Indirectly supports U.S. soft power through Peace Corps promotion, but focuses mainly on domestic service.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: DoD, CNCS, Peace Corps, Departments of Labor, Education, Veterans Affairs, and others involved in the council.
- Citizens: Especially young people, veterans, and volunteers seeking service opportunities; broader public through promoted civic responsibility.
- Non-Federal Entities: State, local, and tribal governments; schools; nonprofits; faith-based and philanthropic groups; private sector for consultations and pilots.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing service laws without creating new mandates or entitlements; ensures compliance with privacy rules by explicitly allowing targeted data sharing for recruitment.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers to raise armies (Article I, Section 8) and promote general welfare, emphasizing voluntary service over compulsion.
- Political: Promotes bipartisanship in civic engagement (introduced by cross-party sponsors); the no-new-funds clause avoids budget fights but may limit scope; GAO review provides accountability to Congress.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Unity through Service Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (15 pages)