42 USC § 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.

Source

(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.)

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

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) ofPub. 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

Section 1(a) ofPub. L. 103–82provided 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

Section 1(a) ofPub. L. 101–610provided 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’.”

Section 110 of subtitle B (§§ 110–118) of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, 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.

Section 199 [formerly 120] of subtitle I (§§ 199–199O) [formerly subtitle C (§§ 120–136)] of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, as renumbered by Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 101(a),Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 788, provided that: “This subtitle [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’.”

Section 140 of subtitle D (§§ 140–150) of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, 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.

Compliance With Buy American Act

Pub. L. 103–82, title V, § 501,Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 922, provided that: “No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act [see Tables for classification] (including the amendments made by this Act) may be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 ([former] 41 U.S.C. 10a–10c, popularly known as the ‘Buy American Act’ [see 41 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.]).”

Sense of Congress; Requirement Regarding Notice

Section 502 ofPub. L. 103–82provided that:

“(a) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products.—In the case of any equipment or product that may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided under this Act [see Tables for classification] (including the amendments made by this Act), it is the sense of the Congress that entities receiving such assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products.

“(b) Notice to Recipients of Assistance.—In providing financial assistance under this Act (including the amendments made by this Act), the Secretary of Education shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a notice describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the Congress.”

Prohibition of Contracts With Persons Falsely Labeling Products as Made in America

Section 503 ofPub. L. 103–82provided that: “If it has been finally determined by a court or Federal agency that any person intentionally affixed a label bearing a ‘Made in America’ inscription, or any inscription with the same meaning, to any product sold in or shipped to the United States that is not made in the United States, the person shall be ineligible to receive any contract or subcontract made with funds appropriated to carry out this Act, pursuant to the debarment, suspension, and ineligibility procedures described in sections 9.400 through 9.409 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations.”

Ex. Ord. No. 13254. Establishing the USA Freedom Corps

Ex. Ord. No. 13254, Jan. 29, 2002, 67 F.R. 4869, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13286, § 6, Feb. 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 10620, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Building on our Nation’s rich tradition of citizen service, this Administration’s policy is to foster a culture of responsibility, service, and citizenship by promoting, expanding, and enhancing public service opportunities for all Americans and by making these opportunities readily available to citizens from all geographic areas, professions, and walks of life. More specifically, this Administration encourages all Americans to serve their country for the equivalent of at least 2 years (4,000 hours) over their lifetimes. Toward those ends, the executive departments, agencies, and offices constituting the USA Freedom Corps shall coordinate and strengthen Federal and other service opportunities, including opportunities for participation in homeland security preparedness and response, other areas of public and social service, and international service. The executive branch departments, agencies, and offices also will work with State and local governments and private entities to foster and encourage participation in public and social service programs, as appropriate.

Sec. 2. USA Freedom Corps. The USA Freedom Corps shall be an interagency initiative, bringing together executive branch departments, agencies, and offices with public service programs and components, including but not limited to programs and components with the following functions:

(i) recruiting, mobilizing, and encouraging all Americans to engage in public service;

(ii) providing concrete opportunities to engage in public service;

(iii) providing the public with access to information about public service opportunities through Federal programs and elsewhere; and

(iv) providing recognition and awards to volunteers and other participants in public service programs.

Sec. 3. USA Freedom Corps Council. (a) Establishment and Mission. There shall be a USA Freedom Corps Council (Council) chaired by the President and composed of heads of executive branch departments, agencies, and offices, which shall have the following functions:

(i) serving as a forum for Federal officials responsible for public service programs to coordinate and improve public service programs and activities administered by the executive branch;

(ii) working to encourage all Americans to engage in public service, whether through Federal programs or otherwise;

(iii) advising the President and heads of executive branch departments, agencies, and offices concerning the optimization of current Federal programs to enhance public service opportunities;

(iv) coordinating public outreach and publicity of citizen service opportunities provided by Federal programs;

(v) encouraging schools, universities, private public service organizations, and other non-Federal entities to foster and reward public service;

(vi) studying the availability of public service opportunities provided by the Federal Government and elsewhere; and

(vii) tracking progress in participation in public service programs.

(b) Membership. In addition to the Chair, the members of the Council shall be the heads of the executive branch departments, agencies, and offices listed below, or their designees, and such other officers of the executive branch as the President may from time to time designate. Every member of the Council or designee shall be a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the Federal Government. Members shall not be compensated for their service on the Council in addition to the salaries they receive as employees or officers of the Federal Government.

(i) Vice President;

(ii) Attorney General;

(iii) Secretary of State;

(iv) Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(v) Secretary of Commerce;

(vi) Secretary of Education;

(vii) Secretary of Veterans Affairs;

(viii) Secretary of Homeland Security;

(ix) Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service;

(x) Director of the Peace Corps;

(xi) Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development;

(xii) Director of the USA Freedom Corps Office; and

(xiii) Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

(c) Chair. The President shall be the Chair of the USA Freedom Corps Council, and in his absence, the Vice President shall serve as Chair. The Director of the USA Freedom Corps Office may, at the President’s direction, preside over meetings of the Council in the President’s and Vice President’s absence.

(d) Honorary Co-Chair. The President may, from time to time, designate an Honorary Co-Chair or Co-Chairs, who shall serve in an advisory role to the Council and to the President on matters considered by the Council. Any Honorary Co-Chair shall be a full-time or permanent part-time employee or officer of the Federal Government.

(e) Meetings. The Council shall meet at the President’s direction. The Director of the USA Freedom Corps Office shall be responsible, at the President’s direction, for determining the agenda, ensuring that necessary papers are prepared, and recording Council actions and Presidential decisions.

(f) Responsibilities of Executive Branch Departments, Agencies, and Offices.

(i) Members of the Council shall remain responsible for overseeing the programs administered by their respective departments, agencies, and offices. Each such department, agency, and office will retain its authority and responsibility to administer those programs according to law;

(ii) Each executive branch department, agency, or office with responsibility for programs relating to the functions and missions of the USA Freedom Corps as described in section 2 of this order shall be responsible for identifying those public service opportunities and coordinating with the USA Freedom Corps Council to ensure that such programs are, if appropriate, publicized and encouraged by the Council; and

(iii) Upon the request of the Chair, and to the extent permitted by law, the heads of executive branch departments and agencies shall provide the Council with relevant information.

Sec. 4. USA Freedom Corps Office. (a) General. The USA Freedom Corps also shall be supported by a USA Freedom Corps Office (Office), which shall be a component of the White House Office. The USA Freedom Corps Office shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the President. The Director shall be assisted by an appropriate staff within the White House Office.

(b) Presidential Recognition to Participants in USA Freedom Corps Programs. In addition to supporting and facilitating the functions of the Council listed in section 3 of this order, the Office shall support the President in providing recognition to volunteers and other participants in programs and activities relating to the functions and missions of the USA Freedom Corps as described in section 2 of this order.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The White House Office shall provide the Council and Office with such funding and administrative support, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, as directed by the Chief of Staff to the President to carry out the provisions of this order.

(b) This order does not alter the existing authorities or roles of executive branch departments, agencies, or offices. Nothing in this order shall supersede any requirement made by or under law.

(c) This order does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity, against the United States, its departments, agencies, or other entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

George W. Bush.

Ex. Ord. No. 13331. National and Community Service Programs

Ex. Ord. No. 13331, Feb. 27, 2004, 69 F.R. 9911, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to strengthen the ability of programs authorized under the national service laws to build and reinforce a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility throughout our Nation, and to institute reforms to improve accountability and efficiency in the administration of those programs, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) “National service laws” means the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501et seq.) and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950et seq.);

(b) “National and community service programs” means those programs authorized under the national service laws;

(c) “Policies governing programs authorized under the national service laws” refers to all policies, programs, guidelines, and regulations, including official guidance and internal agency procedures and practices, that are issued by the Corporation for National and Community Service (Corporation) and have significant effects on national and community service programs; and

(d) “Professional corps programs” means those programs described in section 122(a)(8) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572 (a)(8)) [see 42 U.S.C. 12572 (c)(1)(D)].

Sec. 2. Fundamental Principles and Policymaking Criteria. In formulating and implementing policies governing programs authorized under the national service laws, the Corporation shall, to the extent permitted by law, adhere to the following fundamental principles:

(a) National and community service programs should support and encourage greater engagement of Americans in volunteering;

(b) National and community service programs should be more responsive to State and local needs;

(c) National and community service programs should make Federal support more accountable and more effective; and

(d) National and community service programs should expand opportunities for involvement of faith-based and other community organizations.

Sec. 3. Agency Implementation. (a) The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (Chief Executive Officer) shall, in coordination with the USA Freedom Corps Council, review and evaluate existing policies governing national and community service programs in order to assess the consistency of such policies with the fundamental principles and policymaking criteria described in section 2 of this order.

(b) The Chief Executive Officer shall ensure that all policies governing national and community service programs issued by the Corporation are consistent with the fundamental principles and policymaking criteria described in section 2 of this order. To that end, the Chief Executive Officer shall, to the extent permitted by law,

(i) amend all such existing policies to ensure that they are consistent with the fundamental principles and policymaking criteria articulated in section 2 of this order; and

(ii) where appropriate, implement new policies that are consistent with and necessary to further the fundamental principles and policymaking criteria set forth in section 2 of this order.

(c) In developing implementation steps, the Chief Executive Officer should address, at a minimum, the following objectives:

(i) National and community service programs should leverage Federal resources to maximize support from the private sector and from State and local governments, with an emphasis on reforms that enhance programmatic flexibility, reduce administrative burdens, and calibrate Federal assistance to the respective needs of recipient organizations;

(ii) National and community service programs should leverage Federal resources to enable the recruitment and effective management of a larger number of volunteers than is currently possible;

(iii) National and community service programs should increase efforts to expand opportunities for, and strengthen the capacity of, faith-based and other community organizations in building and strengthening an infrastructure to support volunteers that meet community needs;

(iv) National and community service programs should adopt performance measures to identify those practices that merit replication and further investment, as well as to ensure accountability;

(v) National and community service programs should, consistent with the principles of Federalism and the constitutional role of the States and Indian tribes, promote innovation, flexibility, and results at all levels of government;

(vi) National and community service programs based in schools should employ tutors who meet required paraprofessional qualifications, and use such practices and methodologies as are required for supplemental educational services;

(vii) National and community service programs should foster a lifetime of citizenship and civic engagement among those who serve;

(viii) National and community service programs should avoid or eliminate practices that displace volunteers who are not supported under the national service laws; and

(ix) Guidelines for the selection of national and community service programs should recognize the importance of professional corps programs in light of the fundamental principles and policymaking criteria set forth in this order.

Sec. 4. Management Reforms. (a) The Corporation should implement internal management reforms to strengthen its oversight of national and community service programs through enforcement of performance and compliance standards and other management tools.

(b) Management reforms should include, but should not be limited to, the following:

(i) Institutionalized changes to the budgetary and grant-making processes to ensure that financial commitments remain within available resources;

(ii) Enhanced accounting and management systems that would ensure compliance with fiscal restrictions and provide timely, accurate, and readily available information about enrollment in AmeriCorps and about funding and obligations incurred for all national and community service programs;

(iii) Assurance by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer in the Corporation’s Management Representation Letter that its financial statements, including the Statement of Budgetary Resources, are accurate and reliable; and

(iv) Management reforms that tie employee performance to fiscal responsibility, attainment of management goals, and professional conduct.

Sec. 5. Report. Within 180 days after the date of this order, the Chief Executive Officer shall report to the President, through the Assistant to the President and Director of the USA Freedom Corps Office, the actions the Corporation proposes to undertake to accomplish the objectives set forth in this order.

Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or other entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

George W. Bush.