ACTION for National Service Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7910
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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
- 2026-04-30T19:59:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The ACTION for National Service Act (H.R. 7910) aims to restructure and expand national and volunteer service programs by replacing the independent Corporation for National and Community Service with a new AmeriCorps Administration as a cabinet-level executive department. It seeks to increase participation through enhanced benefits, outreach, funding, and tax incentives, targeting up to 1,000,000 participants annually by fiscal year 2036.
Key Provisions
- AmeriCorps Administration: Establishes it as an executive department (like the Departments of State or Defense) under a Director with cabinet-rank status.
- Advisory Board: Transitions the existing board into a 7-member advisory body with staggered terms; appointments by the President, congressional leaders; meets quarterly to advise on policies, grants, and priorities.
- National Service Educational Awards: Doubles awards to equal twice the national average in-state tuition and fees at public 4-year colleges.
- Living Allowances: Increases stipends (e.g., to 175-210% of the federal poverty line for volunteers; $30,000 per full-time position for grants), tied to maintaining or growing participant numbers.
- National Service Foundation: Creates a nonprofit entity to accept private donations for service programs; tax-exempt with board oversight.
- Outreach Program: Requires notifying individuals aged 17-30 on their birthday (and biennially) about service opportunities, including AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and military; enables streamlined applications; aims to offer positions to all eligible applicants.
- Interagency Working Group: Studies eligibility of non-AmeriCorps service for awards and federal hiring preferences.
- Appropriations and Goals: Authorizes funds to sustain/grow programs; plans for 250,000 positions in FY2027, scaling to support 1M participants by FY2036.
- Tax Benefits: Excludes educational awards and living allowances from gross income (no federal taxes owed).
- Reports: Mandates reports on matching funds, expansion plans, and progress.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Structural Shift: Converts the Corporation (a government corporation) into an executive department, altering oversight from an independent board to an advisory one reporting to a presidentially appointed Director.
- Benefit Increases: Doubles education awards and living stipends; previously lower fixed amounts.
- Tax Code Amendments: Adds exclusions under IRC Sections 117 and 108 for awards; new Section 139M for stipends (previously taxable).
- Conforming Amendments: Replaces "Corporation" and "Chief Executive Officer" with "Administration" and "Director" across the National and Community Service Act of 1990, Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, and 20+ other laws (e.g., retirement, IG Act, Social Security).
- Eliminations: Removes certain donation authorities from the Corporation; expands Director's grant-making powers.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Integrates service programs into the executive branch, potentially streamlining operations but increasing presidential control; requires new funding/reporting; affects interagency coordination (e.g., hiring preferences).
- Citizens: Boosts access to paid service with tax-free stipends/awards, encouraging youth (17-30) participation in community, education, and disaster response; expands slots in underserved areas.
- Nonprofits/Communities: More grants and positions could enhance local programs; matching fund reviews may ease burdens.
- No Direct International Relations Impact: Mentions Peace Corps outreach but focuses domestically.
Main Stakeholders
- Service Participants: Especially youth (17-30) and seniors; gain higher pay, tax-free benefits, education awards.
- Nonprofit Organizations: Receive expanded grants/contracts for programs.
- Federal Government: Executive branch (new department), Congress (oversight/reports), Treasury (tax changes).
- Communities: Underserved areas benefit from scaled-up service in education, health, environment.
- Private Donors: Channel gifts via new Foundation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Executive Reorganization: Elevating to cabinet level (added to 5 U.S.C. §101) enhances stature but shifts from quasi-independent status, potentially raising separation-of-powers questions if seen as consolidating power (though Congress can statutorily create departments).
- Tax Policy: Permanent exclusions reduce federal revenue; applies immediately post-enactment.
- Mandated Outreach: Requires age-based notifications, raising privacy/data-sharing concerns (opt-out provided).
- Funding Conditions: Ties increases to participant maintenance/growth, preventing dilution; "sense of Congress" for 1M goal is non-binding.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsors; aims for long-term expansion amid volunteerism debates, with reports ensuring accountability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
- 2026-03-12: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- America’s Call To Improve Opportunities Now for National Service Act — issued 2026-03-12 — PDF (51 pages)