Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5307
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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
- 2025-12-09T21:26:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act" (H.R. 5307) aims to provide dedicated funding for the Learn and Serve America program, which is part of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. This program supports service-learning initiatives—hands-on educational activities where students learn by performing community service. The bill seeks to ensure stable funding and broaden access to these programs by including more types of organizations and entities.
Key Provisions
- Direct Funding Appropriation (Section 2):
- Allocates $40 million annually starting in fiscal year 2026 (and for all future years) to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency overseeing the program.
- Requires at least 20% of funds for Part I (school-based service-learning programs) and at least 80% for Part II (community-based service-learning programs).
- Provides additional funds as needed to hire at least 10 full-time staff at CNCS to support planning, program design, and technology improvements for the program.
- Expansion of Eligibility (Section 3):
- Updates definitions to include "local educational agency" (a school district or similar local public school authority, as defined in federal education law).
- Expands eligible recipients to include local educational agencies or groups of two or more such agencies within a state.
- Allows state educational agencies to delegate program responsibilities to experienced community-based organizations, nonprofits that train teachers and youth workers, or state service commissions.
- Shifts funding distribution: For fiscal years through 2025, maintains existing allotment rules; starting in 2026, reserves 2-3% of funds for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and awards the rest through competitive grants to state educational agencies, U.S. territories, and Indian tribes.
- Requires CNCS to submit an annual report to Congress detailing how funds are distributed by grantee type and their uses.
- Technical Updates:
- Makes conforming changes to terminology (e.g., replacing "allotments" with "awards" or "competitive grants") and updates the table of contents in the underlying law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a permanent direct appropriation of $40 million per year, replacing reliance on variable annual funding through the appropriations process.
- Broadens eligibility beyond state educational agencies to include local school districts, consortia of districts, and other nonprofits, potentially increasing participation in service-learning.
- Transitions from formula-based allotments (pre-2026) to a mix of reservations and competitive grants (post-2025), which could make funding more merit-based and targeted.
- Adds delegation options for states and mandates annual congressional reporting for greater transparency.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: CNCS will receive stable funding and new staff, enabling better program management and expansion. State and local educational agencies, territories, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs may see increased resources for service-learning, but they'll need to compete for grants after 2025.
- On Citizens: Students, teachers, and youth workers could benefit from more widespread service-learning opportunities, fostering skills like civic engagement and problem-solving. Communities may see more volunteer-driven projects addressing local needs.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic education and community service programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS): Primary beneficiary, gaining funds and staff to administer the program.
- Educational Entities: State and local educational agencies, including school districts, which can now directly apply for or receive delegated grants.
- Underserved Groups: Indian tribes, U.S. territories, and community-based nonprofits, with expanded access to funding for service-learning.
- Students and Educators: Direct participants who gain from enhanced programs promoting learning through service.
- Congress and Taxpayers: Affected by ongoing federal spending commitments and required reporting on fund usage.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the National and Community Service Act by embedding permanent funding and eligibility expansions, reducing uncertainty in program operations. The competitive grant process may introduce more administrative requirements but ensures compliance with federal grant rules.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to promote education and welfare without raising federalism concerns, as it involves voluntary state and local participation.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan investment in youth civic education amid debates on federal education funding; the direct appropriation bypasses annual budget fights, potentially stabilizing the program but increasing long-term federal expenditures without offsets. The annual reporting enhances congressional oversight.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (7 pages)