Service Starts At Home Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5308
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-10T07:11:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Service Starts At Home Act" (H.R. 5308) aims to promote civic engagement among students by funding programs that encourage participation in local government internships and volunteer service. It directs the U.S. Secretary of Education to establish grant and scholarship initiatives to support these activities, fostering community involvement starting at the local level.
Key Provisions
- Grants for Local Government Internships (Section 2):
- The Secretary must launch a competitive grant program within one year of enactment, awarding funds to eligible entities (states or local governments) to create paid internships for high school seniors and undergraduate students.
- Grantees must identify internship opportunities in local government offices, select students, set pay rates and conditions, and cover costs.
- Programs must collaborate with colleges to ensure educational value and provide accommodations like flexible schedules or telework for challenges such as childcare or transportation.
- Funding: $50 million authorized annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
- Scholarships for Volunteer Service (Section 3):
- The Secretary allocates funds to states based on their public school enrollment (proportional to national totals), with states applying to participate; up to 20% of funds can be reserved for a federal supplemental program.
- States award competitive scholarships to eligible students who complete at least 100 hours of volunteer work in the prior year (or equivalent period), prioritizing renewals for college students in good standing.
- Eligibility: First-time applicants must be high school seniors or college students; renewals require ongoing enrollment and service hours.
- Scholarship amounts scale with hours volunteered: $1,000 (100–137 hours), $1,500 (138–174 hours), $2,000 (175–212 hours), $2,500 (213–249 hours), or $3,000 (250+ hours).
- Funds cover college costs of attendance (e.g., tuition, books); scholarships last one year, renewable up to four years total.
- Federal supplemental awards go directly to students, prioritizing those without state scholarships.
- Funding: $100 million authorized annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
- Recognition Program for Community Service (Section 4):
- The Secretary establishes a program to honor elementary/secondary schools, school districts, and colleges based on their students' volunteer achievements and community contributions.
- Definitions (Section 5):
- Incorporates standard terms from existing education laws (e.g., "secondary school" means grades 9–12; "institution of higher education" includes accredited colleges).
- Defines "eligible entity" as a state or local government unit (including tribal governments); "volunteer service work" as unpaid help for nonprofits or government, excluding religious proselytizing, political lobbying, court-ordered service, or family-benefiting activities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces entirely new federal programs without explicitly amending prior laws. It builds on frameworks from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965) and Higher Education Act (1965) by adding funding mechanisms for internships and scholarships tied to civic service, which were not previously mandated at this scale. No direct repeals or modifications to existing statutes are specified.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education gains new administrative responsibilities for grants, allocations, applications, and recognition, potentially increasing workload and requiring new oversight for compliance. Local governments and states benefit from funding but must manage internship programs and scholarship awards.
- On Citizens: High school and college students, especially those from public schools, gain access to paid work experience and financial aid for higher education, incentivizing volunteerism and local involvement. This could boost community service participation, particularly among underserved students via accommodations.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts; the focus is domestic civic education and local service.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Students: Primary beneficiaries, including public high school seniors and undergraduates eligible for internships, scholarships, and recognition.
- Educational Institutions: Schools, districts, and colleges partner in program design, provide academic credit, and can receive honors for service efforts.
- State and Local Governments: Eligible for grants and allocations; responsible for implementing internships and scholarships, including tribal organizations.
- Department of Education: Oversees all programs, funding distribution, and evaluations.
- Nonprofit and Community Organizations: Indirectly supported through increased student volunteering.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes clear eligibility criteria and funding formulas to ensure equitable distribution, with built-in priorities for renewals and underserved students. Volunteer work exclusions (e.g., no political lobbying) prevent misuse of federal funds.
- Constitutional: Aligns with federal spending power under Article I to promote education and welfare, though it involves states in implementation, respecting the 10th Amendment's state role in education via voluntary applications and proportional allocations.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan goals of youth civic engagement and workforce development without partisan mandates; potential for broad support in promoting local service, but implementation depends on congressional appropriations, which are authorized but not guaranteed.
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 House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Service Starts At Home Act — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (11 pages)