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HR7910119th CongressWALLET
ACTION for National Service Act
Sponsored By: Representative Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would elevate AmeriCorps into an Executive department and replace the Corporation for National and Community Service with a new AmeriCorps Administration to centralize federal national service. It would expand outreach to people aged 17–30, raise living allowances and per‑participant grant limits, and set a long term goal of 1,000,000 annual participants by 2036.
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- Creates a 21st Century American Service Outreach Program to contact people aged 17–30 at age 17 and every two years about service options like AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and military service, and to simplify applying with opt out choices.
- Raises statutory per‑participant grant caps and living allowance formulas and ties any increases to available appropriations so participant numbers are maintained; for example, two grant caps move from $18,000 to $30,000 and from $19,500 to $39,000.
- Establishes the AmeriCorps Administration led by a Director with executive department rank, reorganizes advisory boards and creates a National Service Foundation, and sets a goal of 1,000,000 participants while authorizing $2.5 million in initial FY2027 funding to begin operations.
*Authorizes $2.5 million in initial FY2027 funding to establish the Administration and says larger expansions depend on future appropriations.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Bigger Education Award for Participants
If enacted, the bill would raise the national service educational award by making it equal to twice the national average yearly in‑state tuition and fees at public four‑year colleges for the award year. The award amount would change each year with that national average. This would give individual recipients a larger education benefit than a fixed dollar award.
Tax-Free National Service Payments
If enacted, the bill would exclude national service educational awards, loan discharges from those awards, and living allowances from federal gross income for tax purposes. The exclusion for awards and loan discharges would apply to taxable years ending after enactment, and the living allowance exclusion would apply to taxable years beginning after enactment. This would reduce or eliminate federal income tax on those amounts for recipients.
Plan and Funding to Grow Service
If enacted, the bill would authorize funding for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 to grow national service toward at least 1,000,000 participants by September 30, 2036. The Administration would have to plan for 250,000 approved positions in FY2027 and phased increases through FY2035, balance full‑ and part‑time roles, and report on the plan within one year and progress within eight years. The Director would also have 90 days after enactment to report recommendations on changing matching funds to help reach the goal. All expansion steps would depend on future appropriations and quality service opportunities.
Higher Stipends and Grant Caps
If enacted, the bill would raise statutory formulas used to set living stipends and allowances for participants and increase statutory per‑FTE grant caps (for example, one per‑FTE cap would rise to $30,000 and another to $39,000). Those increases could let programs pay higher stipends and grants. But the bill says any increases can only occur if appropriations are sufficient to keep the prior year’s number of participants; if money is short, the Director must limit increases to preserve participant counts.
AmeriCorps Administration and Governance
If enacted, the bill would replace the Corporation for National and Community Service with an AmeriCorps Administration treated as an Executive department. The agency head would be renamed Director and may be the current CEO at first. The Director would get broader authority to make grants, contracts, and interagency agreements. The bill would also set a seven‑member Advisory Board with new appointment rules and require a working group to study award eligibility and possible federal hiring preference.
National Service Foundation Start-Up
If enacted, the bill would create a tax‑exempt National Service Foundation to accept private gifts for AmeriCorps activities. The Foundation would have a board that includes the Director as an ex‑officio, nonvoting member and nonfederal appointees. The bill would authorize $2,500,000 to start the Foundation in fiscal year 2027, with that money available until spent.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
CT • D
Sponsored 9/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov