§ 12501. Findings and purpose

§ 12501. Findings and purpose

(a) Findings The Congress finds the following:

(1) Throughout the United States, there are pressing unmet human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs.

(2) Americans desire to affirm common responsibilities and shared values, and join together in positive experiences, that transcend race, religion, gender, age, disability, region, income, and education.

(3) The rising costs of postsecondary education are putting higher education out of reach for an increasing number of citizens.

(4) Americans of all ages can improve their communities and become better citizens through service to the United States.

(5) Nonprofit organizations, local governments, States, and the Federal Government are already supporting a wide variety of national service programs that deliver needed services in a cost-effective manner.

(6) Residents of low-income communities, especially youth and young adults, can be empowered through their service, and can help provide future community leadership.

(b) Purpose It is the purpose of this chapter to—

(1) meet the unmet human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs of the United States, without displacing existing workers;

(2) renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community and service throughout the varied and diverse communities of the United States;

(3) expand educational opportunity by rewarding individuals who participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue higher education or job training;

(4) encourage citizens of the United States, regardless of age, income, geographic location, or disability, to engage in full-time or part-time national service;

(5) reinvent government to eliminate duplication, support locally established initiatives, require measurable goals for performance, and offer flexibility in meeting those goals;

(6) expand and strengthen existing national service programs with demonstrated experience in providing structured service opportunities with visible benefits to the participants and community;

(7) build on the existing organizational service infrastructure of Federal, State, and local programs, agencies, and communities to expand full-time and part-time service opportunities for all citizens;

(8) provide tangible benefits to the communities in which national service is performed;

(9) expand and strengthen service-learning programs through year-round opportunities, including opportunities during the summer months, to improve the education of children and youth and to maximize the benefits of national and community service, in order to renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community for children and youth throughout the United States;

(10) assist in coordinating and strengthening Federal and other service opportunities, including opportunities for participation in emergency and disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery;

(11) increase service opportunities for the Nation’s retiring professionals, including such opportunities for those retiring from the science, technical, engineering, and mathematics professions, to improve the education of the Nation’s youth and keep America competitive in the global knowledge economy, and to further utilize the experience, knowledge, and skills of older individuals;

(12) encourage the continued service of the alumni of the national service programs, including service in times of national need;

(13) encourage individuals age 55 or older to partake of service opportunities;

(14) focus national service on the areas of national need such service has the capacity to address, such as improving education, increasing energy conservation, improving the health status of economically disadvantaged individuals, and improving economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals;

(15) recognize and increase the impact of social entrepreneurs and other nonprofit community organizations in addressing national and local challenges;

(16) increase public and private investment in nonprofit community organizations that are effectively addressing national and local challenges and encourage such organizations to replicate and expand successful initiatives;

(17) leverage Federal investments to increase State, local, business, and philanthropic resources to address national and local challenges;

(18) support institutions of higher education that engage students in community service activities and provide high-quality service-learning opportunities; and

(19) recognize the expertise veterans can offer to national service programs, expand the participation of the veterans in the national service programs, and assist the families of veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty.

(Pub. L. 101–610, § 2, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3129; Pub. L. 103–82, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 787; Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1101, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1463.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 101–610, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3127, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1101(1), substituted “community and service throughout the varied and diverse communities of” for “community throughout”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1101(2), inserted “geographic location,” after “income,”.

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1101(3), inserted “national” after “existing”.

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1101(4)(A), substituted “programs, agencies, and communities” for “programs and agencies”.

Subsec. (b)(9) to (19). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1101(4)(B)–(6), added pars. (9) to (19).

1993—Pub. L. 103–82 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to findings and purposes for former provisions setting forth the purposes of this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.

Short Title of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–13, § 1(a), Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1460, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Serve America Act’.”

Short Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–117, div. B, § 1301(a), Jan. 10, 2002, 115 Stat. 2339, provided that: “This section [enacting subchapter III of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Unity in the Spirit of America Act’ or the ‘USA Act’.”

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–304, § 1, Aug. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 1565, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 4953, 5024, 12591, 12602, 12615, 12619, 12622, 12651d, 12653, and 12655n of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 4953 of this title] may be cited as the ‘King Holiday and Service Act of 1994’.”

Short Title of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–82, § 1(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 785, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993’.”

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–384, § 1, Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1455, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 12511, 12522, 12523, 12525, 12526, 12541, 12550, 12612, 12614, 12615, 12622, 12639, 12651, and 12681 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National and Community Service Technical Amendment Act of 1992’.”

Short Title of 1991 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–10, § 1, Mar. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 29, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 12645 of this title, amending sections 5091m, 12511, 12521, 12522, 12524, 12527, 12531, 12542 to 12544, 12548, 12553, 12575, 12576, 12602, 12638, and 12651 of this title, and repealing section 12556 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National and Community Service Technical Amendments Act of 1991’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 101–610, § 1(a), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3127, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter, sections 5091 to 5091n of this title, and section 2452a of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, amending sections 1018c, 1018e, 1070a–6, 1087vv, 1092, and 1092b of Title 20, Education, and former section 546 of Title 45, Railroads, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 24301 of Title 49, Transportation] may be cited as the ‘National and Community Service Act of 1990’.”

Pub. L. 101–610, title I, subtitle B (§§ 110–118), § 110, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3132, which provided that such subtitle (enacting former part B (§§ 12521–12531) of subchapter I of this chapter) be cited as the “Serve-America: The Community Service, Schools and Service-Learning Act of 1990”, was repealed by Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 103(a)(2), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 825.

Pub. L. 108–45, § 1, July 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 844, which provided that Pub. L. 108–45, enacting section 12605 of this title, could be cited as the “Strengthen AmeriCorps Program Act”, was repealed by Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1406(b), Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1521.

Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 199, formerly § 120, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3140, as renumbered by Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 101(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 788, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle I (§§ 199–199O) (formerly subtitle C (§§ 120–136)) of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, enacting division I (formerly part C) of subchapter I of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘American Conservation and Youth Service Corps Act of 1990’.”

Pub. L. 101–610, title I, subtitle D (§§ 140–150), § 140, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3150, which provided that such subtitle (enacting former part D (§§ 12571–12580) of subchapter I of this chapter) be cited as the “National and Community Service Act”, was omitted in the general amendment of part D (now division D) by Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 102(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 816.

Pub. L. 101–610, title III, § 301, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3180, which provided that title III of Pub. L. 101–610, enacting subchapter II of this chapter, could be cited as “The Points of Light Foundation Act”, was repealed by Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1831(a), Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1578.

Provisions Related to the Corporation for National and Community Service

Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3514, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 405, as amended by Pub. L. 116–159, div. A, § 156(d)(1), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 721, provided that: “(a) Accrual of Service Hours.—“(1) Accrual through other service hours.—“(A) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.) or the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.), the Corporation for National and Community Service shall allow an individual described in subparagraph (B) to accrue other service hours that will count toward the number of hours needed for the individual’s education award. “(B) Affected individuals.—Subparagraph (A) shall apply to any individual serving in a position eligible for an educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.)—“(i) who is performing limited service due to COVID–19; or “(ii) whose position has been suspended or placed on hold due to COVID–19. “(2) Provisions in case of early exit.—In any case where an individual serving in a position eligible for an educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.) was required to exit the position early at the direction of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service may—“(A) deem such individual as having met the requirements of the position; and “(B) award the individual the full value of the educational award under such subtitle for which the individual would otherwise have been eligible. “[(b) Repealed. Pub. L. 116–159, div. A, § 156(d)(1), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 721.] “(c) No Required Return of Grant Funds.—Notwithstanding section 129(l)(3)(A)(i) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12581(l)(3)(A)(i)), the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service may permit fixed-amount grant recipients under such section 129(l) to maintain a pro rata amount of grant funds, at the discretion of the Corporation for National and Community Service, for participants who exited, were suspended, or are serving in a limited capacity due to COVID–19, to enable the grant recipients to maintain operations and to accept participants. “(d) Extension of Terms and Age Limits.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation for National and Community Service may extend the term of service (for a period not to exceed the 1-year period immediately following the end of the national emergency) or waive any upper age limit (except in no case shall the maximum age exceed 26 years of age) for national service programs carried out by the National Civilian Community Corps under subtitle E of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.), and the participants in such programs, for the purposes of—“(1) addressing disruptions due to COVID–19; and “(2) minimizing the difficulty in returning to full operation due to COVID–19 on such programs and participants.”

[Pub. L. 116–159, div. A, § 156(d)(1), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 721, provided that: “Section 3514(b) of title III of division A of Public Law 116–136 [formerly set out above] is hereby repealed, and such section shall be applied hereafter as if such subsection had never been enacted.” ]

[Pub. L. 116–159, div. A, § 156(e), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 721, provided that:

[“(1) This section [amending section 3514 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out above] shall become effective immediately upon enactment of this Act [div. A of Pub. L. 116–159, approved Oct. 1, 2020].

[“(2) If this Act is enacted after September 30, 2020, this section shall be applied as if it were in effect on September 30, 2020.”]

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