ACTION for National Service Act
Sponsored By: Senator John Reed
Introduced
Summary
Would replace the Corporation for National and Community Service with a cabinet-level AmeriCorps Administration and push a major expansion of national service. It would rename the agency head to a Director, expand outreach and benefits for participants, and set a ten-year goal to reach 1,000,000 participants by 2036.
Show full summary
- Young people (ages 17-30) would get proactive outreach and application help. The Administration must notify each person on their 17th birthday and every two years unless they opt out, and it aims to offer at least one service position to any eligible applicant as capacity grows.
- Service participants would see higher living allowances and larger per-participant grants. The bill raises grant caps to about $30,000 per full-time equivalent and ties increases to available appropriations to protect participant levels.
- Nonprofits and federal programs would operate under a new AmeriCorps Administration led by a Director with expanded authority to award grants and make interagency agreements. The bill also creates a private National Service Foundation with $2.5 million in startup funding for FY2027.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Bigger education award and study
This bill would change the national service educational award so it equals twice the national average yearly in‑state tuition at public 4‑year colleges for the award year. The Administration would determine that national average for each award year. The bill would also require an interagency working group to study award eligibility for participants in programs not administered under this Act and to study the feasibility of federal hiring preference; that group must report to Congress within 12 months. The award formula change would increase the dollar value available to eligible participants if implemented.
Tax exclusion for service pay
This bill would exclude national service educational awards and living allowances from federal gross income. The educational award exclusion would apply to taxable years ending after enactment. The living allowance exclusion would apply to taxable years beginning after enactment. If enacted, recipients would not count these amounts as taxable income for the indicated tax years, which would lower federal tax owed on those dollars.
Plan to reach 1,000,000 participants
This bill would set a goal of at least 1,000,000 national service participants per year by September 30, 2036 and require a ten-year expansion plan. The Administration would have to start 250,000 approved positions in FY2027 and increase positions each year through FY2035, while balancing full- and part-time slots. The bill would also require outreach to people ages 17–30, including a notice on each person's 17th birthday and follow-up every two years unless they opt out or are serving. Within 90 days the Director would report recommendations on matching fund rules to help reach the goal. Actual growth would depend on future appropriations and maintaining program quality.
Higher stipends and grant caps
This bill would raise several living allowance and per‑FTE grant caps for national service programs. Examples include raising one per‑FTE cap from $18,000 to $30,000 and another from $19,500 to $39,000, and increasing certain stipend percentage caps. However, these increases would only be implemented if appropriations are sufficient to keep participant or approved position numbers at least equal to the previous year. If funding is insufficient, the Director may raise amounts only up to what appropriations allow. The actual cash increases for participants and host sites would therefore depend on future Congress funding decisions.
New AmeriCorps agency and boards
This bill would replace the Corporation for National and Community Service with a cabinet-level AmeriCorps Administration led by a Director. The Director would have expanded authority to make grants, enter agreements, and set evaluation and cost-sharing rules. The bill would create an internal seven-member Advisory Board to advise the Director and require regular meetings. It would also create a private, tax-exempt National Service Foundation (the United States would not be liable for its debts) and authorize $2,500,000 in initial funding for FY2027.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Reed
RI • D
Cosponsors
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Tammy Baldwin
WI • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Andy Kim
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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