Unity through Service Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Introduced
Summary
The bill would create an Interagency Council on Service to coordinate recruitment, marketing, and transition supports across military, national, and public service. It would align federal outreach, share best practices, and run joint marketing and research to boost participation.
Show full summary
- Prospective participants would see coordinated outreach. The Department of Defense, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Peace Corps would be authorized to do joint market research and advertising to increase recruitment for military, national, and public service.
- Service members and national service participants would get expanded transition support. The bill would add CNCS to military and federal employment assistance, add training and information on public service, and require that people who complete service receive information about service opportunities.
- Federal and nonfederal partners would get a new coordination forum. A quarterly council of senior officials would produce a Service Strategy (first due within two years and quadrennial thereafter) and submit reports to Congress every four years on joint recruitment, data, and feasibility of expanded initiatives.
*No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out the Act.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Easier paths from service to public jobs
If enacted, transitioning servicemembers would get added help finding public service and national service jobs. The bill would add the federal AmeriCorps agency to transition services and require training on public service recruiting and the advantages of federal careers. Transition classes would include instruction on national and community service with AmeriCorps. People who finish covered AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs would receive information about military and public service roles they may qualify for.
Government-wide push to recruit for service
If enacted, a new Interagency Council on Service would bring cabinet and agency leaders together to promote military, national, and public service. The President would pick a Chair each year. The Council would meet at least every quarter. It would deliver a Service Strategy within 2 years and every 4 years after. The Chair would send Congress a joint cross-service recruiting report within 4 years and every 4 years, plus a study on past ads and vaccine requirements within 270 days. The bill would also let Defense, AmeriCorps, and the Peace Corps run joint recruiting and advertising and share information for that work.
No new money for this bill
If enacted, no new funds would be authorized to carry out the bill. Agencies would need to use existing budgets unless Congress later provides money.
Standard meanings of national and public service
If enacted, "national service" would mean non-military programs funded or run by schools or government under the Peace Corps Act, YouthBuild, the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, or the National and Community Service Act of 1990. "Public service" would mean civilian jobs in federal, state, tribal, or local government.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
MI • R
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/31/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
IA • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov