[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3487 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3487
To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to expand and
improve opportunities for service, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 12, 2008
Mr. Reid (for Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Obama, Mr.
McCain, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Cochran, and Mrs. Clinton)) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to expand and
improve opportunities for service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Serve America
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--NATIONAL SERVICE
Subtitle A--Service-Learning
Sec. 111. Youth engagement zones to strengthen communities.
Sec. 112. Campus of Service.
Sec. 113. Service-learning impact study.
Subtitle B--Supporting Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Sec. 121. Innovation and entrepreneurship.
Subtitle C--ServeAmerica Corps
Sec. 131. Corps.
Subtitle D--Civic Health Index
Sec. 141. Index.
Subtitle E--ServeAmerica and Encore Fellowships
Sec. 151. ServeAmerica and Encore Fellowships.
Subtitle F--Volunteer Generation Fund; National Service Reserve Corps;
Call To Service Campaign
Sec. 161. Statement of purposes.
Sec. 162. Establishment of Volunteer Generation Fund.
Sec. 163. National Service Reserve Corps.
Sec. 164. Call To Service campaign.
Subtitle G--Conforming Amendments
Sec. 171. Conforming amendments.
TITLE II--VOLUNTEERS FOR PROSPERITY PROGRAM
Sec. 201. Findings.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Sec. 203. Office of Volunteers for Prosperity.
Sec. 204. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE I--NATIONAL SERVICE
Subtitle A--Service-Learning
SEC. 111. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ZONES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Engaging in service-learning and community service
activities at a young age makes individuals more likely to
continue to volunteer and engage in service throughout their
lives.
(2) High-quality service-learning programs keep students
engaged in school and increase the likelihood that they will
graduate.
(3) Since its creation, the Learn and Serve America program
has allowed over 15,000,000 students to take part in service-
learning activities to improve their communities and schools.
(4) Most schools do not offer service-learning activities,
but many students, particularly students at risk of dropping
out, express an interest in service-learning.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to provide increased high-quality service-learning
opportunities for in-school and out-of-school youth in high-
need, low-income communities as a strategy to retain and re-
engage youth likely to drop out and youth who have dropped out;
(2) to encourage more individuals to engage in lifetimes of
service by teaching young people the value of service early in
their lives; and
(3) to establish youth engagement zones with the goal of
involving all secondary school students served by a local
educational agency in service-learning to solve a specific
community challenge, through a program that can serve as a
model for other communities.
(c) General Authority.--Part I of subtitle B of title I of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12521 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subparts B and C as subparts C and D,
respectively;
(2) by redesignating sections 115, 115A, 116, 116A, and
116B as sections 114A through 114E, respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subpart A the following:
``Subpart B--Youth Engagement Zones to Strengthen Communities
``SEC. 115. GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) College-going rate.--The term `college-going rate'
means the percentage of high school graduates who enroll in an
institution of higher education in the school year immediately
following graduation from high school.
``(2) Graduation rate.--The term `graduation rate' means
the graduation rate for public secondary school students, as
defined in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(vi) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(vi)).
``(3) Low-income student.--The term `low-income student'
means a student who is eligible to be counted under one of the
measures of poverty described in section 1113(a)(5) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6313(a)(5)).
``(4) Out-of-school youth.--The term `out-of-school youth'
means youth of an appropriate age to attend secondary school
who are not currently enrolled in secondary schools.
``(5) Youth engagement zone.--The term `youth engagement
zone' means the area in which a youth engagement zone program
is carried out.
``(6) Youth engagement zone program.--The term `youth
engagement zone program' means a service-learning program in
which members of a partnership described in subsection (c)
collaborate to provide coordinated school-based or community-
based service-learning opportunities, to address a specific
community challenge, for secondary school students served by
the local educational agency involved as described in
subsection (d)(2)(B), and for an increasing percentage of out-
of-school youth, over 5 years.
``(b) General Authority and Availability of Funds.--
``(1) General authority.--Subject to paragraph (3), the
Corporation may make grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible partnerships to enable the partnerships to establish
and carry out, in youth engagement zones, youth engagement zone
programs with secondary school students and with out-of-school
youth, in order to carry out projects to improve communities
involving--
``(A) improving student engagement, including
student attendance and student behavior, and student
academic achievement, graduation rates, and college-
going rates, at secondary schools with high
concentrations of low-income students;
``(B) maintaining and improving local parks,
trails, and rivers, assisting in the development of
local recycling programs, or implementing initiatives
to improve local energy effectively;
``(C) improving civic engagement and participation
among individuals of all ages; or
``(D) carrying out another activity that focuses on
solving a community challenge faced by the community
that the eligible partnership involved will serve.
``(2) Grant periods.--The Corporation shall make the grants
for periods of 5 years.
``(3) Grant amounts.--The Corporation shall make such a
grant to a partnership in an amount of not less than $250,000
and not more than $1,000,000, based on the number of students
served by the local educational agency in the partnership.
``(c) Eligible Partnerships.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, a partnership--
``(1) shall include--
``(A) a community-based agency that has a
demonstrated record of success in carrying out service-
learning programs with low-income students, and that
meets such criteria as the Chief Executive Officer may
establish; and
``(B)(i) a local educational agency for which--
``(I) a high number or percentage of the
students served by the agency, as determined by
the Corporation, are low-income students; and
``(II) the graduation rate for the
secondary school students served by the agency
is less than 70 percent; or
``(ii)(I) a State Commission or State educational
agency; and
``(II) more than 1 local educational agency
described in clause (i); and
``(2) may include--
``(A) a local government agency that is not
described in paragraph (1);
``(B) the office of the chief executive officer of
a unit of general local government; or
``(C) an institution of higher education.
``(d) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, a partnership shall submit an application to the Corporation
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Corporation may require, which shall include--
``(1) a description of the project to improve the community
that the partnership is proposing to carry out, including--
``(A) the community challenge the partnership seeks
to address, and relevant data about the challenge in
such community; or
``(B) a description of the process the partnership
will use, as part of the youth engagement zone program,
to identify the community challenge the partnership
will seek to address, including how the partnership
will use relevant data to identify such challenge;
``(2) a description of how the partnership will work with
secondary schools served by the local educational agency that
is included in such partnership in carrying out the project to
assure that--
``(A) by the end of the third year of the grant
period, a majority of the students in the secondary
schools served by the local educational agency will
have participated in service-learning activities as
part of the project; and
``(B) by the end of the fifth year of the grant
period--
``(i) not less than 90 percent of the
students in those schools will have
participated in service-learning activities as
part of the project; or
``(ii) service-learning will be a mandatory
part of the curriculum in all of the secondary
schools served by the local educational agency;
``(3) a description of the amount of time for which the
partnership will seek to have participating individuals
participate in service-learning activities as part of the
project, and how that time will be structured;
``(4) a description of the partnership's plan to provide
high-quality, ongoing service-learning professional development
and assistance to educators conducting service-learning
activities through the youth engagement zone program;
``(5) a description of how the partnership will work to--
``(A) ensure that out-of-school youth in the
community are included as participants in service-
learning activities carried out through the project;
and
``(B) re-engage out-of-school youth;
``(6) a description of how the partnership will work,
through the project, to improve student engagement, including
student attendance and student behavior, and student
achievement, graduation rates, and college-going rates, at
schools served by the local educational agency that is included
in the eligible partnership;
``(7) a description of how the partnership will encourage
participants to continue to engage in service after graduation
from secondary school; and
``(8) a description of how youth in the community were
involved in the development of the proposal for the project.
``(e) Priority and Geographic Diversity.--
``(1) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the
Corporation shall give priority to eligible partnerships that
serve high percentages or numbers of low-income students.
``(2) Consideration.--In making grants under this section,
the Corporation shall take into consideration the relevant data
about the challenges in communities that eligible partnerships
include in their applications, if the relevant partnerships
submit such relevant data under subsection (d)(1)(A).
``(3) Geographic diversity.--The Corporation shall make the
grants to a geographically diverse set of eligible
partnerships, including partnerships that serve urban, and
partnerships that serve rural, communities.
``(f) Use of Funds.--
``(1) Mandatory activities.--A partnership that receives a
grant under this section shall use the funds made available
through the grant to establish and carry out a high-quality
youth engagement zone program designed to--
``(A) solve specific community challenges;
``(B) improve student engagement, including student
attendance and student behavior, and student
achievement, graduation rates, and college-going rates
in secondary schools;
``(C) involve an increasing percentage of secondary
school students and out-of-school youth in the
community in school-based or community-based service-
learning activities each year, with the goal of
involving all students in secondary schools served by
the local educational agency and involving an
increasing percentage of the out-of-school youth in
service-learning activities over the course of 5 years;
and
``(D) encourage participants to continue to engage
in service throughout their lives.
``(2) Permissible activities.--A partnership that receives
a grant under this section may use the funds made available
through the grant for activities described in section 111.
``(g) Rule of Construction.--Any requirement of this subpart that
applies to a local educational agency in a partnership shall be
considered to apply to each local educational agency in the
partnership.''.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations and Reservations.--Section
501(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``title I'' and
inserting ``title I (other than subpart B of part I)'';
(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``subpart B'' and
inserting ``subpart C''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Subpart b of part i.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to carry out subpart B of part I of
subtitle B of title I--
``(i) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(ii) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(iii) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
``(iv) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
and
``(v) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.
SEC. 112. CAMPUS OF SERVICE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Providing service-learning courses to individuals who
are students in institutions of higher education can make such
individuals more likely to engage in service throughout their
lives, and better prepared to take on public service careers in
the nonprofit sector or government.
(2) While many institutions of higher education, in using
work-study funds for community service under part C of title IV
of the Higher Education Act of 1965, considerably exceed the
percentage of such funds required to be used for such service,
nationally the amount of such funds used for such service has
remained relatively constant for the past few years.
(3) The public service sector, including nonprofit
organizations and government, faces many human capital
challenges, and institutions of higher education can be a part
of efforts to address the challenges.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to identify and recognize institutions of higher
education that serve as model Campuses of Service, in terms of
engaging students in community service activities, providing
service-learning courses, and encouraging or assisting
graduates to pursue careers in public service in the nonprofit
sector or government; and
(2) to allow such institutions to increase their ability to
encourage or assist more students to pursue careers in public
service, including public service careers in the nonprofit
sector or government.
(c) General Authority.--Subtitle B of title I of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12521 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``PART III--CAMPUS OF SERVICE PROGRAM
``SEC. 119E. CAMPUSES OF SERVICE.
``(a) In General.--The Corporation, after consultation with the
Secretary of Education, may annually designate not more than 30
institutions of higher education as Campuses of Service, from among
institutions nominated by State Commissions. An institution that
receives the designation shall have an opportunity to apply for funds
under subsection (d), and may nominate additional individuals for
ServeAmerica Fellowships under section 198E, as described in subsection
(e).
``(b) Applications for Nomination.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible for a nomination to
receive designation under subsection (a), and have an
opportunity to apply for funds under subsection (d), for a
fiscal year, an institution of higher education in a State
shall submit an application to the State Commission at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
State Commission may require.
``(2) Contents.--At a minimum, the application shall
include information specifying--
``(A)(i) the number of undergraduate and, if
applicable, graduate service-learning courses offered
at such institution for the most recent full academic
year preceding the fiscal year for which designation is
sought; and
``(ii) the number and percentage of undergraduate
students and, if applicable, the number and percentage
of graduate students at such institution who were
enrolled in the corresponding courses described in
clause (i), for that preceding academic year;
``(B) the percentage of undergraduate students
engaging in and, if applicable, the percentage of
graduate students engaging in activities providing
community services, as defined in section 441(c) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2751(c)),
during that preceding academic year, the quality of
such activities, and the average amount of time spent,
per student, engaged in such activities;
``(C) for that preceding academic year, the
percentage of Federal work-study funds made available
to the institution under part C of title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.)
that is used to compensate students employed in
providing community services, as so defined, and a
description of the efforts the institution undertakes
to make available to students opportunities to provide
such community services and be compensated through such
work-study funds;
``(D) at the discretion of the institution,
information demonstrating the degree to which recent
graduates of the institution, and all graduates of the
institution, have obtained full-time public service
employment in the nonprofit sector or government, with
a private nonprofit organization or a Federal, State,
or local public agency; and
``(E) any programs the institution has in place to
encourage or assist graduates of the institution to
pursue careers in public service in the nonprofit
sector or government.
``(c) Nominations and Designation.--
``(1) Nomination.--
``(A) In general.--A State Commission that receives
applications from institutions of higher education
under subsection (b) may nominate, for designation
under subsection (a), not more than 3 such institutions
of higher education, consisting of--
``(i) not more than one 4-year public
institution of higher education;
``(ii) not more than one 4-year private
institution of higher education; and
``(iii) not more than one 2-year
institution of higher education.
``(B) Submission.--The State Commission shall
submit to the Corporation the name and application of
each institution nominated by the State Commission
under subparagraph (A).
``(2) Designation.--The Corporation shall designate, under
subsection (a), not more than 30 institutions of higher
education from among the institutions nominated under paragraph
(1). In making the designations, the Corporation shall, if
feasible, designate various types of institutions, including
institutions from each of the categories of institutions
described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of paragraph (1)(A).
``(d) Funds.--
``(1) In general.--Using sums appropriated under section
501(a)(1)(D), the Corporation shall provide funds to
institutions designated under subsection (c), to be used by the
institutions to implement strategies to encourage or assist
students from those institutions to pursue careers in public
service in the nonprofit sector or government.
``(2) Plan.--To be eligible to receive funds under this
subsection, an institution designated under subsection (c)
shall submit a plan to the Corporation describing how the
institution intends to use the funds to encourage or assist
those students to pursue those careers.
``(3) Allocation.--The Corporation shall determine how the
funds appropriated under section 501(a)(1)(D) for a fiscal year
will be allocated among the institutions submitting acceptable
plans under paragraph (2). In determining the amount of funds
to be allocated to such an institution, the Corporation shall
consider the number of students at the institution, the quality
and scope of the plan submitted by the institution under
paragraph (2), and the institution's current (as of the date of
submission of the plan) strategies to encourage or assist
students to pursue public service careers in the nonprofit
sector or government.
``(e) Additional ServeAmerica Fellowships.--An institution
designated as a Campus of Service may nominate additional individuals
(relative to the number that other institutions may nominate) for
ServeAmerica Fellowships under section 198E.''.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 501(a)(1) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(1)), as
amended by section 111(d), is further amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subpart B of part
I'' and inserting ``subpart B of part I and part III''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Part iii.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out part III of subtitle B of
title I $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009
through 2013.''.
SEC. 113. SERVICE-LEARNING IMPACT STUDY.
(a) In General.--Subtitle B of title I of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12521 et seq.), as amended by
section 112(c), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART IV--SERVICE-LEARNING IMPACT STUDY
``SEC. 119F. STUDY AND REPORT.
``(a) Study.--
``(1) In general.--The Corporation shall enter into a
contract with an entity that is not otherwise a recipient of
financial assistance under this subtitle, to conduct a 10-year
longitudinal study on the impact of the activities carried out
under this subtitle.
``(2) Contents.--In conducting the study, the entity shall
consider the impact of service-learning activities carried out
under this subtitle on students participating in such
activities, including in particular examining the degree to
which the activities--
``(A) improved student academic achievement;
``(B) improved student engagement;
``(C) improved graduation rates; and
``(D) improved the degree to which the participants
in the activities engaged in subsequent national
service, volunteering, or other service activities.
``(3) Analysis.--In carrying out such study, the entity
shall examine the impact of the service-learning activities on
the 4 factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of
paragraph (2), analyzed in terms of how much time participants
were engaged in service-learning activities.
``(4) Best practices.--The entity shall collect information
on best practices concerning using service-learning activities
to improve the 4 factors.
``(b) Report.--The entity shall submit a report to the Corporation
containing the results of the study and the information on best
practices. The Corporation shall submit such report to the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
``(c) Consultation and Dissemination.--On receiving the report, the
Corporation shall consult with the Secretary of Education to review the
results of the study, and to identify best practices concerning using
service-learning activities to improve the 4 factors described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (a)(2). The Corporation
shall disseminate information on the identified best practices.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 501(a)(1) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(1)), as
amended by section 112(d), is further amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subpart B of part I
and part III'' and inserting ``subpart B of part I, and parts
III and IV''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Part iv.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out part IV of subtitle B of
title I such sums as may be necessary for each of
fiscal years 2009 through 2013.''.
Subtitle B--Supporting Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
SEC. 121. INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
(a) In General.--Title I of the National and Community Service Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subtitles F through I as subtitles H
through K; and
(2) by inserting after subtitle E the following:
``Subtitle F--Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
``PART I--COMMISSION ON CROSS SECTOR SOLUTIONS
``SEC. 167. COMMISSION.
``(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
``(1) Nonprofit organizations play a significant role in
addressing national and local challenges that impact
economically disadvantaged individuals.
``(2) Innovative nonprofit organizations often serve as a
research and development engine for the social service sector,
identifying effective solutions to national and local
challenges.
``(3) Despite the important role effective nonprofit
organizations play in addressing national and local challenges,
such organizations face administrative and efficiency barriers
in maximizing their work with businesses and the government,
and limited resources are available to help such organizations
increase their capacity to deliver services more effectively,
efficiently, on a larger scale, and with greater
accountability.
``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to examine and recommend ways in which the Federal
Government can interact more efficiently and effectively with
nonprofit organizations, philanthropic organizations, and
business to achieve better outcomes with regard to addressing
national and local challenges, accountability, and utilization
of resources;
``(2) to provide advice to the President and Congress
regarding new, more effective ways for the Federal Government
to address national and local challenges in partnership with
the nonprofit sector; and
``(3) to support research that will advance the impact and
effectiveness of the nonprofit sector and the way that the
Federal Government interacts with such sector.
``(c) Establishment of Commission.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established a commission to
be known as the Commission on Cross-Sector Solutions to
America's Problems (in this section referred to as the
`Commission').
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) Composition.--The Commission shall be
composed of 21 members, of whom--
``(i) 9 shall be appointed by the
President;
``(ii) 3 shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate;
``(iii) 3 shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the Senate;
``(iv) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives; and
``(v) 3 shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
``(B) Qualifications of presidential appointees.--
``(i) Experience and expertise.--Subject to
subparagraph (D)(ii), the Commission shall
include members appointed under subparagraph
(A)(i) who, to the extent practicable,
collectively have extensive experience or are
experts in--
``(I) social entrepreneurship and
social enterprise;
``(II) the management and operation
of small nonprofit organizations and
large nonprofit organizations;
``(III) business, including a
business with experience working with a
startup enterprise and a business with
experience working with the nonprofit
sector;
``(IV) philanthropy, including the
specific philanthropic challenges in
urban and rural areas and in areas that
are philanthropically underserved;
``(V) volunteering, including
effective volunteer management; and
``(VI) qualitative and quantitative
social science research.
``(ii) Other qualifications.--The
Commission shall include, among the members
appointed under subparagraph (A)(i), a wide
range of individuals, including young people,
and individuals from diverse economic, racial,
ethnic, and religious backgrounds, and
individuals from diverse geographic areas.
``(C) Qualifications of congressional appointees.--
``(i) Experience and expertise.--Subject to
subparagraph (D)(ii), the Commission shall
include members appointed under clauses (ii)
through (v) of subparagraph (A) who, to the
extent practicable, collectively have extensive
experience or are experts in the matters
described in subparagraph (B)(i).
``(ii) Other qualifications.--The
Commission shall include, among the members
appointed under clauses (ii) through (v) of
subparagraph (A), a wide range of individuals
with the qualifications described in
subparagraph (B)(ii).
``(D) Limitations.--
``(i) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--
The President shall select a Chairperson and a
Vice Chairperson, who may not be members of the
same political party, from among the members of
the Commission appointed under subparagraph
(A).
``(ii) General membership.--Members
appointed under subparagraph (A) shall include
not more than 11 members who are members of the
same political party.
``(E) Ex officio members.--Heads of Federal
agencies, appointed to the Commission by the President,
whose work concerns the nonprofit sector shall serve as
ex officio nonvoting members of the Commission.
``(F) Date.--The appointments of the members of the
Commission shall be made not later than May 31, 2009.
``(3) Period of appointment.--
``(A) In general.--Members appointed under
paragraph (2)(A) shall be appointed for terms of 2
years.
``(B) Exception.--The appointing officer--
``(i) under paragraph (2)(A)(i) shall
designate 4 of the initial members appointed
under that paragraph to serve terms of 3 years;
``(ii) under paragraph (2)(A)(ii) shall
designate 2 of the initial members appointed
under that paragraph to serve terms of 3 years;
``(iii) under paragraph (2)(A)(iii) shall
designate 1 of the initial members appointed
under that paragraph to serve terms of 3 years;
``(iv) under paragraph (2)(A)(iv) shall
designate 1 of the initial members appointed
under that paragraph to serve terms of 3 years;
and
``(v) under paragraph (2)(A)(v) shall
designate 2 of the initial members appointed
under that paragraph to serve terms of 3 years.
``(4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment.
``(5) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the
date on which all voting members of the Commission have been
appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
``(6) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of
the Chairperson, not less than 3 times a year.
``(7) Quorum.--A majority of the voting members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of
voting members may hold hearings.
``(d) Duties of the Commission.--
``(1) Study.--
``(A) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a
thorough study of all matters relating to ways in which
the Federal Government can work more efficiently and
effectively with nonprofit organizations and
philanthropic organizations to assist the organizations
described in this subparagraph, and the Federal
Government, in achieving better outcomes with regard to
addressing pressing national and local challenges, and
improving accountability and utilization of resources,
and relating to assisting the Federal Government, such
organizations, and business in improving their
collaboration to achieve such outcomes.
``(B) Matters studied.--The matters studied by the
Commission shall include--
``(i) ways in which the Federal Government
interacts with nonprofit organizations,
philanthropic organizations, and business to
address national and local challenges;
``(ii) ways in which businesses collaborate
with nonprofit organizations and philanthropic
organizations, and any barriers to maximizing
the effectiveness of those collaborations in
addressing national and local challenges;
``(iii) public and nonprofit sector human
capital challenges, including specific upcoming
human capital needs facing the nonprofit sector
and such needs facing the government sector,
the causes of needs described in this clause,
and ways in which nonprofit organizations and
governments can address the challenges jointly;
``(iv) ways in which government policies
could be improved to foster nonprofit
organization accountability;
``(v) systems for streamlining the process
for nonprofit organizations to obtain Federal
grants and contracts, and eliminating
unnecessary requirements relating to that
process;
``(vi) barriers for smaller nonprofit
organizations to participate in Federal
Government programs;
``(vii) the degree to which, and ways in
which, social entrepreneurs are identifying
innovative ways of addressing national and
local challenges;
``(viii) ways in which the Federal
Government can help build the capacity of
effective social entrepreneurs and effective
nonprofit organizations, including the capacity
of the entrepreneurs and organizations to
replicate programs that provide effective ways
of addressing national and local challenges;
``(ix) ways in which the Federal Government
supports social service sector research and
development, whether there is a need to
increase such support, and, if so, how such
support may be increased;
``(x) ways in which the Federal Government
can partner with nonprofit organizations after
an emergency or disaster to address the needs
of the community involved; and
``(xi) ways in which the Federal Government
can make more data available about the
nonprofit sector, as the Federal Government
does for the business and government sectors.
``(2) Grants.--The Commission shall provide advice to the
President and Congress regarding the establishment of grants to
build the capacity of the nonprofit sector, to support research
on the sector, and to model innovative effective ways for the
Federal Government to address national and local challenges by
supporting social entrepreneurship and enabling nonprofit
organizations to replicate and expand effective solutions to
national and local challenges.
``(3) Advice to the president and congress.--The Commission
shall advise the President and Congress on matters concerning
the nonprofit sector and social entrepreneurship.
``(4) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the first
meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit a report
to Congress, which shall contain a detailed statement of the
findings of the Commission resulting from the study described
in paragraph (1), and the advice provided under paragraphs (2)
and (3). The report shall contain recommendations resulting
from the study.
``(5) Advice on implementation.--At the request of Congress
or the head of any Federal department or agency, the Commission
shall provide advice on the implementation of any of the
recommendations contained in the report.
``(e) Powers of the Commission.--
``(1) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit
and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and
receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to
carry out this section.
``(2) Information from federal agencies.--
``(A) In general.--The Commission may secure
directly from any Federal agency such information as
the Commission considers necessary to carry out this
Act.
``(B) Agency cooperation.--Upon request of the
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of any Federal
agency shall furnish information requested under this
paragraph to the Commission.
``(3) Postal services.--The Commission may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions
as other agencies of the Federal Government.
``(4) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose
of gifts or donations of services or property.
``(f) Commission Personnel Matters.--
``(1) Travel expenses.--The members of the Commission shall
serve without compensation for their work on the Commission.
Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code,
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation may accept the
voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the
Commission. The members of the Commission shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from
their homes or regular places of business in the performance of
services for the commission.
``(2) Staff.--Any Corporation for National and Community
Service employee may be detailed to the Commission without
reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or
loss of civil service status or privilege.
``(g) Termination of the Commission.--The Commission shall
terminate in 6 years.
``(h) Availability.--Any sums appropriated to carry out this
section shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until
expended.
``PART II--COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FUNDS PILOT PROGRAM
``SEC. 167A. FUNDS.
``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
``(1) Social entrepreneurs and other nonprofit community
organizations are developing innovative and effective solutions
to national and local challenges.
``(2) Increased public and private investment in
replicating and expanding proven effective solutions developed
by social entrepreneurs and other nonprofit community
organizations, could allow those entrepreneurs and
organizations to replicate and expand proven initiatives in
communities.
``(3) A network of Community Solutions Funds could leverage
Federal investments to increase State, local, business, and
philanthropic resources to replicate and expand proven
solutions to tackle specific identified community challenges.
``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to recognize and increase the impact of social
entrepreneurs and other nonprofit community organizations in
tackling national and local challenges;
``(2) to stimulate the development of a network of
Community Solutions Funds that will increase private and public
investment in nonprofit community organizations that are
effectively addressing national and local challenges to allow
such organizations to replicate and expand successful
initiatives;
``(3) to assess the effectiveness of such Funds in--
``(A) leveraging Federal investments to increase
State, local, business, and philanthropic resources to
address national and local challenges; and
``(B) providing resources to replicate and expand
effective initiatives; and
``(4) to strengthen the infrastructure to invest in, and
replicate and expand, initiatives with effective solutions to
national and local challenges.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Community organization.--The term `community
organization' means a nonprofit organization that carries out
innovative, effective initiatives to address community
challenges.
``(2) Covered entity.--The term `covered entity' means--
``(A) an existing grantmaking institution (existing
as of the date on which the institution applies for a
grant under this section); or
``(B) a partnership between--
``(i) such an existing grantmaking
institution; and
``(ii) an additional grantmaking
institution, a State Commission, or a chief
executive officer of a unit of general local
government.
``(3) Issue area.--The term `issue area' means an area
described in subsection (f)(3).
``(d) Program.--The Corporation shall establish a Community
Solutions Fund grant program to make grants on a competitive basis to
eligible entities to assist the entities in paying for the cost of
providing national leveraging capital for Community Solution Funds.
``(e) Periods; Amounts.--The Corporation shall make such grants for
periods of 5 years, and may renew the grants for additional periods of
5 years, in amounts of not less than $1,000,000 and not more than
$10,000,000 per year.
``(f) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an entity shall--
``(1) be a covered entity;
``(2) be focused on--
``(A) serving a specific local geographical area;
or
``(B) addressing a specific issue area, in
geographical areas that have the highest need in that
issue area, as demonstrated by statistics concerning
that need;
``(3) be focused on improving measurable outcomes relating
to--
``(A) education for economically disadvantaged
students in public schools;
``(B) child and youth development;
``(C) reductions in poverty or increases in
economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged
individuals;
``(D) health, including access to health care and
health education;
``(E) resource conservation and local environmental
quality;
``(F) individual or community energy efficiency;
``(G) civic engagement; or
``(H) reductions in crime;
``(4) make data-driven decisions about subgrant awards and
internal policies;
``(5) have well-articulated processes for assessing
community organizations for subgrants; and
``(6) have appropriate policies, as determined by the
Corporation, that protect against conflict of interest, self-
dealing, and other improper practices.
``(g) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (d) for national leveraging capital, an eligible entity
shall submit an application to the Corporation at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may specify,
including, at a minimum--
``(1) an assurance that the eligible entity will--
``(A) use the funds received through that capital
in order to make subgrants to community organizations
that will use the funds to replicate or expand proven
initiatives in low-income communities;
``(B) in making decisions about subgrants for
communities, consult with a diverse cross section of
community representatives in the decisions, including
individuals from the public, nonprofit private, and
for-profit private sectors; and
``(C) make subgrants of a sufficient size and scope
to enable the community organizations to build their
capacity to manage initiatives, and sustain replication
or expansion of the initiatives;
``(2) an assurance that the eligible entity will not make
any subgrants to the parent organizations of the eligible
entity, a subsidiary organization of the parent organization,
or, if the eligible entity applied for funds under this section
as a partnership, any member of the partnership;
``(3) an identification of, as appropriate--
``(A) the specific local geographical area referred
to in subsection (f)(2)(A) that the eligible entity is
proposing to serve; or
``(B) geographical areas referred to in subsection
(f)(2)(B) that the eligible entity is likely to serve;
``(4)(A) information identifying the issue areas in which
the eligible entity will work to improve measurable outcomes;
``(B) statistics on the needs related to those issue areas
in, as appropriate--
``(i) the specific local geographical area
described in paragraph (3)(A); or
``(ii) the geographical areas described in
paragraph (3)(B), including statistics demonstrating
that those geographical areas have the highest need in
the specific issue area that the eligible entity is
proposing to address; and
``(C) information on the specific measurable outcomes
related to the issue areas involved that the eligible entity
will seek to improve;
``(5) information describing the process by which the
eligible entity selected, or will select, community
organizations to receive the subgrants, to ensure that the
community organizations--
``(A) are institutions with proven initiatives,
with track records of achieving specific outcomes
related to the measurable outcomes for the eligible
entity;
``(B) articulate measurable outcomes for the use of
the subgrant funds that are connected to the measurable
outcomes for the eligible entity;
``(C) will use the funds to replicate or expand
their initiatives;
``(D) provide a well-defined plan for replicating
or expanding the initiatives funded;
``(E) can sustain the initiatives after the
subgrant period concludes through reliable public
revenues, earned income, or private sector funding;
``(F) have strong leadership and financial and
management systems;
``(G) are committed to the use of data collection
and evaluation for improvement of the initiatives;
``(H) will implement and evaluate innovative
initiatives, to be important contributors to knowledge
in their fields; and
``(I) will meet the requirements for providing
matching funds specified in subsection (k);
``(6) information about the eligible entity, including its
experience managing collaborative initiatives, or assessing
applicants for grants and evaluating the performance of grant
recipients for outcome-focused initiatives, and any other
relevant information;
``(7) a commitment to meet the requirements of subsection
(i) and a plan for meeting the requirements, including
information on any funding that the eligible entity has secured
to provide the matching funds required under that subsection;
``(8) a description of the eligible entity's plan for
providing technical assistance and support, other than
financial support, to the community organizations that will
increase the ability of the community organizations to achieve
their measurable outcomes;
``(9) information on the commitment, institutional
capacity, and expertise of the eligible entity concerning--
``(A) collecting and analyzing data required for
evaluations, compliance efforts, and other purposes;
``(B) supporting relevant research; and
``(C) submitting regular reports to the
Corporation, including information on the initiatives
of the community organizations, and the replication or
expansion of such initiatives; and
``(10) a commitment to use data and evaluations to
continuously improve the initiatives funded by the eligible
entity.
``(h) Selection Criteria.--In selecting eligible entities to
receive grants under this section, the Corporation shall--
``(1) select eligible entities on a competitive basis;
``(2) select eligible entities on the basis of the quality
of their selection process, as described in subsection (g)(5),
the capacity of the eligible entities to manage Community
Solutions Funds, and the potential of the eligible entities to
sustain the Funds after the conclusion of the grant period; and
``(3) include among the grant recipients eligible entities
that propose to provide subgrants to community organizations
serving rural low-income communities.
``(i) Matching Funds for Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Corporation may not make a grant to
an eligible entity under this section for a Community Solutions
Fund unless the entity agrees that, with respect to the cost
described in subsection (d) for that Fund, the entity will make
available matching funds in an amount not less that $1 for
every $1 of funds provided under the grant.
``(2) Non-federal share.--
``(A) Type and sources.--The eligible entity shall
provide the matching funds in cash. The eligible entity
shall provide the matching funds from State, local, or
private sources, which may include State or local
agencies, businesses, private philanthropic
organizations, or individuals.
``(B) Eligible entities including state commissions
or local government offices.--
``(i) In general.--In a case in which a
State Commission, a local government office, or
both entities are a part of the eligible
entity, the State involved, the local
government involved, or both entities,
respectively, shall contribute not less than 30
percent and not more than 50 percent of the
matching funds.
``(ii) Local government office.--In this
subparagraph, the term `local government
office' means the office of the chief executive
officer of a unit of general local government.
``(3) Reduction.--The Corporation may reduce by 50 percent
the matching funds required by paragraph (1) for an eligible
entity serving a community (such as a rural low-income
community) that the eligible entity can demonstrate is
significantly philanthropically underserved.
``(j) Subgrants.--
``(1) Subgrants authorized.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section is authorized to use the funds made
available through the grant to award subgrants on a competitive
basis to--
``(A) community organizations serving low-income
communities within the specific local geographical area
referred to in subsection (f)(2)(A); or
``(B) community organizations addressing a specific
issue area referred to in subsection (f)(2)(B), in low-
income communities in geographical areas referred to in
that subsection.
``(2) Periods; amounts.--The eligible entity shall make
such subgrants for periods of not less than 3 and not more than
5 years, and may renew the grants for such periods, in amounts
of not less than $100,000.
``(3) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a subgrant
from an eligible entity under this section, including receiving
a payment for that subgrant each year, a community organization
shall submit an application to an eligible entity that serves
the specific local geographical area, or geographical areas,
that the community organization proposes to serve, at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
eligible entity may require, including--
``(A) a description of the initiative the community
organization carries out and plans to replicate or
expand using funds received from the eligible entity,
and how the initiative relates to the issue areas
identified under subsection (g)(4)(A) in which the
eligible entity has committed to work;
``(B) data on the measurable outcomes the community
organization has improved, and information on the
measurable outcomes the community organization seeks to
improve by replicating or expanding an initiative,
which shall be among the measurable outcomes the
eligible entity is seeking to improve as identified
under subsection (g)(4)(C);
``(C) an identification of the community in which
the community organization proposes to carry out an
initiative, which shall be within the specific local
geographical area referred to in subsection (f)(2)(A)
or the geographical areas referred to in subsection
(f)(2)(B), that the eligible entity serves;
``(D) a description of how the community
organization uses data to analyze and improve its
initiatives;
``(E) specific evidence of how the community
organization will meet the requirements for providing
matching funds specified in subsection (k);
``(F) a description of how the community
organization will sustain the replicated or expanded
initiative after the conclusion of the subgrant period;
and
``(G) any other information the eligible entity may
require, including information necessary for the
eligible entity to fulfill its obligations under
subsection (g)(5).
``(k) Matching Funds for Subgrants.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity may not make a
subgrant to a community organization under this section for an
initiative described in subsection (j)(3)(A) unless the
organization agrees that, with respect to the cost of carrying
out that initiative, the organization will make available, on
an annual basis, matching funds in an amount not less than $1
for every $1 of funds provided under the subgrant. If the
community organization fails to make such matching funds
available for a fiscal year, the eligible entity shall not make
payments for the remaining fiscal years of the subgrant period,
notwithstanding any other provision of this part.
``(2) Types and sources.--The community organization shall
provide the matching funds in cash. The community organization
shall provide the matching funds from State, local, or private
sources, which may include funds from State or local agencies,
or private sector funding.
``(l) National Functions.--
``(1) Corporation.--The Corporation shall enter into a
contract with an independent entity (referred to in this
subsection as a `national contractor') to evaluate the eligible
entities, and the initiatives supported by the eligible
entities.
``(2) National contractor.--
``(A) Research and reports.--
``(i) In general.--The national contractor
shall collect data and conduct or support
research with respect to the eligible entities,
and the initiatives supported by the eligible
entities, to determine the success of the
program carried out under this section in
replicating and expanding initiatives,
including--
``(I) the success of the replicated
or expanded initiatives in improving
measurable outcomes; and
``(II) the success of the program
in increasing philanthropic investments
in philanthropically-underserved
communities.
``(ii) Reports.--The national contractor
shall submit reports to Congress and the
Corporation including--
``(I) the data collected and the
results of the research;
``(II) information on lessons
learned about best practices from the
activities carried out under this
section, to improve those activities;
and
``(III) a list of all eligible
entities and community organizations
receiving funds under this section.
``(B) Technical assistance.--The national
contractor shall provide technical assistance to the
eligible entities that receive grants under this
section.
``(C) Knowledge management.--The national
contractor shall maintain a clearinghouse for
information on best practices resulting from
initiatives supported by the eligible entities.
``(D) Reservation.--Of the funds appropriated under
section 501(a)(5)(B) for a fiscal year, not more than 5
percent may be used to carry out this subsection.
``PART III--INNOVATION FELLOWSHIPS PILOT PROGRAM
``SEC. 167B. PROGRAM.
``(a) Grants.--The Corporation shall make grants, on a competitive
basis, to individuals to pay for the Federal share of carrying out
projects in which the individuals establish innovative nonprofit
organizations to address national and local challenges.
``(b) Amounts, Periods, and Number of Grants.--The Corporation
shall make the grants for periods of 2 years. The Corporation shall
make the grants in amounts of not more than $100,000. The Corporation
shall make not more than 25 grants under subsection (a) in a fiscal
year.
``(c) Payments.--The Corporation shall make the grant awards
through annual payments, for the 2 years of the grant periods.
``(d) Eligible Applicant.--To be eligible to apply for a grant
under this section, an individual shall--
``(1) have completed at least 1 term or period of service
as a participant in a national service program under subtitle C
or G, as a participant in a program under subtitle E or section
198E, or as a volunteer in a program under part A of title I of
the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 et
seq.); or
``(2) be a veteran, as defined in section 101 of title 38,
United States Code.
``(e) Initial Application.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, and a payment for the first year of the grant
period, an individual shall submit an application to the
Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Corporation may require.
``(2) Contents.--At a minimum, the application shall
include--
``(A) a description of the national or local
challenge that the individual seeks to address through
the project involved;
``(B) a description of the project the individual
is proposing or the organization the individual is
proposing to establish through the project, including
information describing why the individual's proposal to
address the challenge is innovative;
``(C) information describing how the individual
proposes to address the challenge at the community
level; and
``(D) information describing the location of the
project and the community the individual proposes to
serve through the project, including relevant data
about the challenge in that community.
``(f) Subsequent Application.--To be eligible to receive a payment
for the second year of the grant period, the individual shall submit to
the Corporation--
``(1) a report on the actions taken by the individual, and,
if applicable, the nonprofit organization established using
funds provided under this section, to carry out the project;
and
``(2) information describing how the individual will comply
with the non-Federal share requirement described in subsection
(g) for the second year of the grant period.
``(g) Non-Federal Share.--
``(1) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of
carrying out a project under this section shall be--
``(A) 100 percent for the first year of the grant
period; and
``(B) 50 percent for the second year of the grant
period.
``(2) Non-federal share.--The individual may provide the
non-Federal share of the cost in cash or in kind, fairly
evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services. The
individual may provide the non-Federal share from State, local,
or private sources.
``(h) Consideration.--In reviewing applications, the Corporation
shall take into consideration the likelihood that a project proposed to
serve a community, if successful, will be replicable in other
communities.
``(i) Technical Assistance.--The Corporation may reserve 15 percent
of the funds appropriated to carry out this section to provide
technical assistance to individuals and nonprofit organizations
carrying out projects under this section.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 501(a) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Subtitle f.--There are authorized to be
appropriated--
``(A) to carry out section 167, such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013;
``(B) to carry out section 167A, $50,000,000 for
fiscal year 2009, $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2010,
$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, $80,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012, and $100,000,000 for fiscal year
2013, and such sums as may be necessary for each
subsequent fiscal year; and
``(C) to carry out section 167B, $3,500,000 for
fiscal year 2009, and $5,000,000 for each subsequent
fiscal year.''.
Subtitle C--ServeAmerica Corps
SEC. 131. CORPS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Since 1993, over 500,000 individuals have served in
national service positions, meeting unmet human, educational,
environmental, and public safety needs of the United States.
(2) Full- and part-time national service can effectively
promote an ethic of service and volunteering, and former
national service participants are likely to remain engaged in
national service, and participate in community and public
service.
(3) Focused national service efforts can effectively tackle
pressing national challenges, such as improving education for
low-income students, increasing energy conservation, and
improving the health, well-being, and economic opportunities of
the neediest individuals in the Nation.
(4) An increasing number of individuals in the United
States who are retiring or age 50 or older indicate an interest
in service, with almost 60 percent of such individuals
indicating that they would consider taking jobs now or in the
future to serve their communities.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to provide opportunities by 2013 for 250,000
individuals annually to participate in a year of service, by
providing funding for an additional 175,000 individuals (in
addition to the 75,000 individuals already participating) each
year to so participate, and to continue growing national
service in the future;
(2) to focus national service in the areas of national need
such service has the capacity to address, such as improving
education for low-income students, increasing energy
conservation, improving access to health care for, and the
health status of, individuals in medically underserved
populations, and creating new economic opportunities for low-
income individuals; and
(3) to encourage ``encore service'' and draw on the talents
and experience of individuals age 50 and older, by providing
better opportunities and incentives for individuals of that age
to serve.
(c) General Authority.--Title I of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511 et seq.), as amended by section
121, is further amended by inserting after subtitle F the following:
``Subtitle G--ServeAmerica Corps
``SEC. 168. CORPS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) 21st century community learning center.--The term
`21st century community learning center' has the meaning given
the term `community learning center', as defined in section
4201 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7171).
``(2) Clean energy service corps.--The term `Clean Energy
Service Corps' means the participants who improve performance
on clean energy indicators through the grants funded under
subsection (c)(3).
``(3) Clean energy service corps fund.--The term `Clean
Energy Service Corps Fund' means the Clean Energy Service Corps
Fund established under subsection (b)(3).
``(4) Clean energy indicators.--The term `clean energy
indicators' means--
``(A) number of housing units of low-income
households weatherized or retrofitted to improve energy
efficiency;
``(B) annual energy costs (to determine savings in
those costs) at facilities where participants have
provided service;
``(C) number of national parks, State parks, city
parks, county parks, forest preserves, or trails or
rivers owned or maintained by the Federal Government or
a State, that are cleaned or improved;
``(D) another indicator relating to clean energy
that the Corporation, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
and the Secretary of Energy, establishes for a given
year; and
``(E) a local indicator (applicable to a particular
eligible entity and on which an improvement in
performance is needed) relating to clean energy,
proposed by that eligible entity in an application
submitted to, and approved by, a State Commission or
the Corporation under this section.
``(5) College-going rate.--The term `college-going rate'
means the percentage of high school graduates who enroll in an
institution of higher education in the school year immediately
following graduation from high school.
``(6) Education corps.--The term `Education Corps' means
the participants who improve performance on education
indicators through the grants funded under subsection (c)(1).
``(7) Education corps fund.--The term `Education Corps
Fund' means the Education Corps Fund established under
subsection (b)(1).
``(8) Education indicators.--The term `education
indicators' means--
``(A) student engagement, including student
attendance and student behavior;
``(B) student academic achievement;
``(C) high school graduation rates;
``(D) college-going rates for high school
graduates;
``(E) college persistence rates for high school
graduates;
``(F) an additional indicator relating to improving
education for students that the Corporation, in
consultation with the Secretary of Education,
establishes for a given year; and
``(G) a local indicator (applicable to a particular
eligible entity and on which an improvement in
performance is needed) relating to improving education
for students, proposed by that eligible entity in an
application submitted to, and approved by, a State
Commission or the Corporation under this section.
``(9) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an
entity that--
``(A) is a nonprofit organization with a proven
record of improving, or a promising strategy to
improve, performance on appropriate indicators
described in this subsection;
``(B) meets the eligibility requirements to receive
a grant under subtitle C; and
``(C) if the entity is seeking to receive (or has
received) a grant directly under subsection (c), is
seeking to carry out (or is carrying out) a national
service program in 2 or more States.
``(10) Encore service program.--The term `encore service
program' means a program, carried out by an eligible entity
under subsection (c), that--
``(A) involves a significant number of participants
age 50 or older in the program; and
``(B) takes advantage of the skills and experience
that such participants offer in the design and
implementation of the program.
``(11) Healthy futures corps.--The term `Healthy Futures
Corps' means the participants who improve performance on health
indicators through the grants funded under subsection (c)(2).
``(12) Healthy futures corps fund.--The term `Healthy
Futures Corps Fund' means the Healthy Futures Corps Fund
established under subsection (b)(2).
``(13) Health indicators.--The term `health indicators'
means--
``(A) access to health care among economically
disadvantaged individuals and individuals who are
members of medically underserved populations;
``(B) access to health care for uninsured
individuals, including such individuals who are
economically disadvantaged children;
``(C) participation, among economically
disadvantaged individuals and individuals who are
members of medically underserved populations, in
disease prevention and health promotion initiatives,
particularly those with a focus on addressing common
health conditions, addressing chronic diseases, and
decreasing health disparities;
``(D) health literacy of patients;
``(E) an additional indicator, relating to
improving or protecting the health of economically
disadvantaged individuals and individuals who are
members of medically underserved populations, that the
Corporation, in consultation with the Secretary of
Health and Human Services and the Director of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, establishes
for a given year; and
``(F) a local indicator (applicable to a particular
eligible entity and on which an improvement in
performance is needed) relating to improving or
protecting the health of economically disadvantaged
individuals and individuals who are members of
medically underserved populations, proposed by that
eligible entity in an application submitted to, and
approved by, a State Commission or the Corporation
under this section.
``(14) High school.--The term `high school' means a public
school, including a public high school, that provides high
school education, as determined by State law.
``(15) Medically underserved area.--The term `medically
underserved area' means an urban or rural area designated by
the Secretary of Health and Human Services as an area with a
shortage of personal health services.
``(16) Medically underserved population.--The term
`medically underserved population' has the meaning given the
term in section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)).
``(17) Opportunity corps.--The term `Opportunity Corps'
means the participants who improve performance on opportunity
indicators through the grants funded under subsection (c)(4).
``(18) Opportunity corps fund.--The term `Opportunity Corps
Fund' means the Opportunity Corps Fund established under
subsection (b)(4).
``(19) Opportunity indicators.--The term `opportunity
indicators' means--
``(A) financial literacy among economically
disadvantaged individuals;
``(B) housing units built or improved for
economically disadvantaged individuals or low-income
families;
``(C) economically disadvantaged individuals with
access to job training and other skill enhancement;
``(D) economically disadvantaged individuals with
access to information about job placement services;
``(E) an additional indicator relating to improving
economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged
individuals that the Corporation, in consultation with
the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the
Secretary of Labor, establishes for a given year; and
``(F) a local indicator (applicable to a particular
eligible entity and on which an improvement in
performance is needed) relating to improving economic
opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals,
proposed by that eligible entity in an application
submitted to, and approved by, a State Commission or
the Corporation under this section.
``(20) Poverty line.--The term `poverty line' has the
meaning given the term in section 673 of the Community Services
Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902).
``(21) Student.--The term `student' means a public
elementary school or public secondary school student.
``(b) Funds and Availability.--
``(1) Education corps fund.--The Corporation shall
establish an account to be known as the Education Corps Fund.
``(2) Healthy futures corps fund.--The Corporation shall
establish an account to be known as the Healthy Futures Corps
Fund.
``(3) Clean energy service corps fund.--The Corporation
shall establish an account to be known as the Clean Energy
Service Corps Fund.
``(4) Opportunity corps fund.--The Corporation shall
establish an account to be known as the Opportunity Corps Fund.
``(c) Program Authorized.--
``(1) Education corps.--
``(A) Grants.--The Corporation may use the amounts
made available for the Education Corps Fund to make
grants under this paragraph to State Commissions and
eligible entities, as described in paragraph (5).
``(B) Programs.--The Corporation shall make the
grants to pay for the Federal share of the cost of
carrying out full- or part-time national service
programs that are consistent with subtitle C and that
improve performance on education indicators, through
the service of the participants in the programs.
``(2) Healthy futures corps.--
``(A) Grants.--The Corporation may use the amounts
made available for the Healthy Futures Corps Fund to
make grants under this paragraph to State Commissions
and eligible entities, as described in paragraph (5).
``(B) Programs.--The Corporation shall make the
grants to pay for the Federal share of the cost of
carrying out full- or part-time national service
programs that are consistent with subtitle C and that
improve performance on health indicators, through the
service of the participants in the programs.
``(3) Clean energy service corps.--
``(A) Grants.--The Corporation may use the amounts
made available for the Clean Energy Service Corps Fund
to make grants under this paragraph to State
Commissions and eligible entities, as described in
paragraph (5).
``(B) Programs.--The Corporation shall make the
grants to pay for the Federal share of the cost of
carrying out full- or part-time national service
programs that are consistent with subtitle C and that
improve performance on clean energy indicators, through
the service of the participants in the programs.
``(4) Opportunity corps.--
``(A) Grants.--The Corporation may use the amounts
made available for the Opportunity Corps Fund to make
grants under this paragraph to State Commissions and
eligible entities, as described in paragraph (5).
``(B) Programs.--The Corporation shall make the
grants to pay for the Federal share of the cost of
carrying out full- or part-time national service
programs that are consistent with subtitle C and that
improve performance on opportunity indicators, through
the service of the participants in the programs.
``(5) Formula and competitive grants.--For purposes of
making grants under paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4), the
Corporation shall carry out the following:
``(A) Formula grants.--
``(i) Grants to certain states.--
``(I) In general.--From 33\1/3\
percent of the amount available in the
Fund described in that paragraph for a
fiscal year (after the Corporation
makes the reservation described in
subsection (i)), the Corporation shall
make grants (including financial
assistance and a corresponding
allotment of approved national service
positions). The Corporation shall make
the grants to the State Commission of
each of the several States, the
District of Columbia, and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that has an
application approved by the Corporation
under subsection (e), from allotments
described in subclause (II).
``(II) Allotment.--The amount
allotted as a grant to each such State
under subclause (I) for a fiscal year
shall be equal to the amount that bears
the same ratio to that 33\1/3\ percent
of the amount available in that Fund
for that fiscal year as the population
of the State bears to the total
population of the several States, the
District of Columbia, and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
``(ii) Grants to certain territories and
possessions.--
``(I) In general.--From 1 percent
of the amount available in the Fund
described in that paragraph for a
fiscal year (after the Corporation
makes the reservation described in
subsection (i)), the Corporation shall
make grants (including financial
assistance and a corresponding
allotment of approved national service
positions). The Corporation shall make
the grants to the State Commission for
each of the United States Virgin
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands that has an application
approved by the Corporation under
subsection (e), from allotments
described in subclause (II).
``(II) Allotment.--The amount
allotted as a grant to each such State
under subclause (I) for a fiscal year
shall be equal to the amount that bears
the same ratio to that 1 percent of the
amount available in that Fund for that
fiscal year as the population of the
State bears to the total population of
the States referred to in subclause
(I).
``(iii) Grants to indian tribes.--
``(I) In general.--From 1 percent
of the amount available in the Fund
described in that paragraph for a
fiscal year (after the Corporation
makes the reservation described in
subsection (i)), the Corporation shall
make grants (including financial
assistance and a corresponding
allotment of approved national service
positions) to Indian tribes that have
applications approved by the
Corporation under subsection (e). The
funds allotted for such grants shall be
allotted by the Corporation on a
competitive basis in accordance with
the respective needs of the Indian
tribes.
``(II) Application.--For purposes
of this subtitle, other than this
subparagraph, a reference to a State
Commission shall be considered to
include a reference to the governing
body of an Indian tribe, and a
reference to a State shall be
considered to include a reference to an
Indian tribe or the geographic area in
which the tribe resides. The
Corporation shall have authority to
issue standards to apply the provisions
of this subtitle (other than this
subparagraph) to Indian tribes.
``(iv) Effect of failure to apply.--If a
State or Indian tribe fails to apply for, or
fails to give notice to the Corporation of its
intent to apply for, an allotment under this
subparagraph, the Corporation shall use the
amount that would have been allotted under this
subparagraph to the State or Indian tribe--
``(I) to make grants (including
financial assistance and a
corresponding allotment of approved
national service positions) to other
eligible entities that propose to carry
out national service programs in the
State on behalf of the Indian tribe;
and
``(II) after making grants under
subclause (I), to make a reallotment to
other States and Indian tribes that
have applications approved by the
Corporation under subsection (e).
``(B) Competitive grants.--From the remainder of
the amount available in that Fund for that fiscal year,
the Corporation shall make grants (including such
assistance and corresponding allotment), on a
competitive basis, to State Commissions and eligible
entities that have such approved applications.
``(6) Terms and conditions.--
``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this section and subtitle D, the terms and
conditions of grants made under this subsection shall
be consistent with the provisions of subtitle C
concerning terms and conditions of grants made under
section 121(a). Those terms and conditions shall apply
with respect to grants and allotments requested,
national service positions and national service
programs proposed, and applications submitted, under
this section.
``(B) Investment in national service.--For purposes
of applying the provisions of part I of subtitle C
under this subsection, sections 122(c), 125, and 126
shall not apply.
``(C) Application, approval, and allocation.--State
Commissions and eligible entities shall apply for the
grants, and the grants (and the financial assistance
and approved national service positions made available
through the grants) shall be allocated among State
Commissions and eligible entities, in a manner
consistent with this section. Except as otherwise
provided in this section, subsections (a) through (d)
of section 129, subsections (a) through (d), and (g),
of section 130, subsections (a)(1) and (f) of section
131, and subsections (a), (b), (d), and (e) of section
133 shall not apply to such applications and
allocations.
``(D) National service participants.--Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this section and
subtitle D, the terms and conditions that apply to
participants in programs carried out under such grants
(including provisions relating to participant
eligibility, selection, terms of service, and benefits)
shall be consistent with the provisions of subtitle C
concerning terms and conditions that apply to
participants in programs under subtitle C.
``(7) Number of positions.--The Corporation shall--
``(A) establish or increase the number of positions
that are approved as approved national service
positions under this subtitle during each of fiscal
years 2009 through 2013;
``(B) establish the number of the approved
positions as 25,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
``(C) increase the number of the approved positions
to--
``(i) 50,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(ii) 75,000 for fiscal year 2011;
``(iii) 125,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
``(iv) 175,000 for fiscal year 2013.
``(d) Eligible Entities.--
``(1) In general.--Eligible entities shall carry out the
national service programs under subsection (c).
``(2) Qualification.--To be qualified to carry out a
national service program under subsection (c), an eligible
entity shall--
``(A) receive a grant under subsection (c); or
``(B) be selected to carry out the program through
a competitive process, by a State Commission that
receives a grant under subsection (c).
``(e) Application.--
``(1) In general.--To be qualified to receive a grant under
subsection (c) for a national service program, a State
Commission or an eligible entity shall submit an application to
the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Corporation may require, which shall
include--
``(A) information describing how the eligible
entity proposed to carry out the program proposes to
utilize funds under a paragraph of subsection (c) to
improve performance on the corresponding indicators
described in subsection (a) utilizing participants,
including the activities in which such participants
will engage to improve performance on those indicators;
``(B) information identifying the geographical area
in which the eligible entity proposed to carry out the
program proposes to use funds under a paragraph of
subsection (c) to improve performance on the
corresponding indicators described in subsection (a),
including demographic information on the students or
individuals, as appropriate, in such area, and
statistics demonstrating the need to improve such
indicators in such area;
``(C) with respect to a grant to carry out a
national service program under a paragraph of
subsection (c), information describing the experience
of the eligible entity proposed to carry out the
program in improving performance on the corresponding
indicators described in subsection (a), including
whether the entity has previously utilized participants
to improve performance on such indicators, and if so,
the activities in which such participants have engaged;
``(D) if applicable, information on how the
eligible entity described in subparagraph (A) will work
with other community-based agencies to carry out
activities to improve performance on the corresponding
indicators described in subsection (a) using such
funds;
``(E) a description of--
``(i) the type of positions into which
participants will be placed, using the
assistance provided under subsection (c),
including descriptions of the specific tasks to
be performed by such participants, and the
minimum qualifications that individuals will be
required to meet to become participants in such
program; and
``(ii) the number of proposed full- and
part-time national service positions for which
participants will receive the national service
educational award described in subtitle D;
``(F) a description consistent with the description
required by section 130(b)(12) for the national service
positions proposed;
``(G) information and assurances consistent with
those described in subsections (e) and (f) of section
130, subsections (a)(2), (b), (c), (d)(1), and (e) of
section 131, and section 132(a), for the grant
requested and the national service program and national
service positions proposed, except as provided in
subsection (g)(1)(B);
``(H) measurable goals, to be used for annual
measurements of the program on 1 or more of the
corresponding indicators described in subsection (a);
``(I) in the case of a grant under subsection
(c)(1), information on how the eligible entity
described in subparagraph (A) will enter into
partnerships with local educational agencies and
schools to carry out activities to improve performance
on education indicators using funds received under this
subsection (c);
``(J) in the case of a grant under subsection
(c)(4)--
``(i) if the program is designed to improve
economic opportunity by engaging economically
disadvantaged individuals as participants--
``(I) the minimum and maximum
percentages of participants who will be
economically disadvantaged individuals;
and
``(II) if applicable, information
on the skills and training those
individuals will receive that will
assist those individuals in obtaining
jobs after completion of their service
under the grant; and
``(ii) information on the number and
percentage of individuals, including children,
in families with family incomes below the
poverty line in the community to be served; and
``(K) any other information the Corporation may
require.
``(2) Request for waiver.--
``(A) Requirements relating to educational
awards.--An applicant may include in the application a
request for a waiver (including a justification of the
need for such waiver and information describing how
such waiver will assist the applicant in improving
performance on the appropriate indicators described in
subsection (a)) of requirements relating to the
Corporation's provision of a national service
educational award to or on behalf of a participant in
the program, which may include--
``(i) in the case of a grant under
subsection (c)(1), requirements relating to the
minimum age for a participant under section
137(a)(4); and
``(ii) in the case of a grant under any
paragraph of subsection (c), requirements
relating to individuals who receive a national
service educational award under section 146(a)
and related provisions, to allow the eligible
entity proposed to carry out the program to
select participants to serve in approved
national service positions (with eligibility
for national service educational awards) from
among a prespecified group of participants, if
the request describes the process by which the
participants serving in such positions will be
selected from such group.
``(B) Requirements relating to use of allotments
for programs.--
``(i) In general.--A State Commission may
include in the application a request that the
Corporation--
``(I) waive provisions requiring
the State to use an allotment from a
Fund, described in subsection
(c)(5)(A), for corresponding programs
described in a paragraph of subsection
(c); and
``(II) permit the State to use
funds from the allotment for other
programs described in another paragraph
of subsection (c).
``(ii) Information.--The State Commission
shall include in the request--
``(I) information demonstrating
that the State has not received a
sufficient number of applications of
adequate quality to carry out the
corresponding programs referred to in
clause (i)(I); and
``(II) information identifying the
other programs referred to in clause
(i)(II), and the amount of funds from
the allotment that the State intends to
use for each such program.
``(iii) Treatment.--If the Corporation
approves the waiver, and permits the State to
use funds from the allotment for programs
described in a paragraph of subsection (c), for
purposes of this subtitle (other than
subsection (c)(5)(A)), the funds shall be
considered to be part of a grant made under
that paragraph.
``(3) Limitation on same project in multiple
applications.--The Corporation shall reject an application
submitted under this subsection if a project proposed to be
conducted using assistance requested by the applicant is
already described in another application pending before the
Corporation.
``(f) Consultation.--
``(1) Officials.--
``(A) Education corps.--The Corporation shall
consult with the Secretary of Education as appropriate
in making grants under subsection (c)(1) and developing
additional indicators described in subsection
(a)(8)(F).
``(B) Healthy futures corps.--The Corporation shall
consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services
and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention as appropriate in making grants under
subsection (c)(2) and developing additional indicators
described in subsection (a)(13)(E).
``(C) Clean energy service corps.--The Corporation
shall consult with the Secretary of Energy and the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency as
appropriate in making grants under subsection (c)(3)
and developing additional indicators described in
subsection (a)(4)(D).
``(D) Opportunity corps.--The Corporation shall
consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services
and the Secretary of Labor as appropriate in making
grants under subsection (c)(4) and developing
additional indicators described in subsection
(a)(19)(E).
``(2) Review panels.--The Corporation shall--
``(A) establish panels of experts for the purpose
of securing recommendations on applications submitted
under subsection (e) for more than $250,000 in
assistance, or for a number of national service
positions that would require more than $250,000 in
national service educational awards; and
``(B) consider the opinions of such panels prior to
making determinations on such applications.
``(g) Allocation of Financial Assistance and Positions.--
``(1) Allocation.--
``(A) In general.--In making grants under
subsection (c), the Corporation shall allocate the
financial assistance and approved national service
positions provided through the grants among eligible
entities proposed to carry out national service
programs described in subsection (c).
``(B) Approved national service positions only.--In
making those grants, the Corporation--
``(i) may make some grants that provide
only approved national service positions (as
opposed to financial assistance and such
positions) for some or all of the participants
in the national service programs involved; but
``(ii) shall ensure that not more than 35
percent of the participants in the national
service programs described in subsection (c)
will receive only approved national service
positions through the grants.
``(C) Full-time positions.--In making the grants,
the Corporation shall ensure that 50 percent of the
approved national service positions provided through
the grants shall be full-time national service
positions.
``(2) Priority.--In awarding financial assistance and
approved national service positions to eligible entities
proposed to carry out national service programs described in
subsection (c)--
``(A) in the case of a grant under subsection
(c)(2)--
``(i) the Corporation may give priority to
such eligible entities that propose to develop
policies to provide, and provide, support for
participants who, after completing service
under this section, will undertake careers to
improve performance on health indicators; and
``(ii) the Corporation shall give priority
to such eligible entities that propose to carry
out national service programs in medically
underserved areas;
``(B) in the case of a grant under subsection
(c)(3), the Corporation shall give priority to such
eligible entities that propose to recruit individuals
for the Clean Energy Service Corps so that significant
percentages of participants in the Corps are
economically disadvantaged individuals, and provide to
such individuals training to develop skills needed for
clean energy jobs for which there is ongoing demand or
there is predicted to be future demand; and
``(C) in the case of a grant under subsection
(c)(4), the Corporation shall give priority to such
eligible entities that propose to--
``(i) improve economic opportunity by
engaging a significant percentage of
economically disadvantaged individuals as
participants to provide services and benefits
to other economically disadvantaged
individuals; or
``(ii) serve a community with a high number
and percentage of individuals, including
children, in families with family incomes below
the poverty line.
``(3) Geographic diversity.--The Corporation shall ensure
that eligible entities receiving financial assistance or
positions under subsection (c) are geographically diverse and
include entities proposing national service programs to be
conducted in urban or rural areas.
``(4) Encore service programs.--
``(A) Formula grants.--Each State receiving a grant
under subsection (c)(5)(A) for a fiscal year shall make
an effort to make available not less than 10 percent of
the financial assistance and approved national service
positions provided through the grant for that fiscal
year to eligible entities proposed to carry out encore
service programs, unless the State Commission involved
does not receive a sufficient number of applications of
adequate quality to justify making that percentage
available to those eligible entities.
``(B) Competitive grants.--In making grants under
subsection (c)(5)(B) for a fiscal year, the Corporation
shall make an effort to allocate not less than 10
percent of the financial assistance and approved
national service positions provided through the grants
for that fiscal year to eligible entities proposed to
carry out encore service programs, unless the
Corporation does not receive a sufficient number of
applications of adequate quality to justify making that
percentage available to those eligible entities.
``(5) Educational awards.--A participant who serves in a
national service program that receives a grant under subsection
(c) shall be considered to have served in an approved national
service position and, upon meeting the requirements of section
147 (or the requirements specified in a waiver granted under
subsection (e)(2)(A)), shall be eligible for a national service
educational award described in section 147. The Corporation
shall transfer an appropriate amount of funds to the National
Service Trust to provide for the national service educational
awards for such participants.
``(h) Use of Assistance.--
``(1) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity that receives
financial assistance or positions under a paragraph of
subsection (c) shall use the financial assistance or positions
to carry out full-time or part-time national service programs,
including summer programs, described in that paragraph of
subsection (c) that are designed to improve performance on the
corresponding indicators described in subsection (a) in low-
income communities.
``(2) Participant activities.--A participant in such a
program shall address identified community needs by carrying
out activities (which may include providing direct service,
recruiting and coordinating the activities of volunteers
providing direct service, and building the capacity of local
organizations and communities) designed to improve performance
on the corresponding indicators described in subsection (a),
such as--
``(A) in the case of a program carried out under
subsection (c)(1)--
``(i) tutoring, or providing other academic
support to students;
``(ii) mentoring students, including adult
or peer mentoring;
``(iii) linking needed integrated services
and comprehensive supports with students, their
families, and their public schools;
``(iv) improving the school climate
involved;
``(v) providing assistance to a school in
expanding the school day by strengthening the
quality of staff in an expanded learning time
initiative, a program of a 21st century
community learning center, or a high-quality
after-school program;
``(vi) assisting schools and local
educational agencies in improving and expanding
high-quality service-learning programs that
keep students engaged in schools by providing
service-learning coordinators; and
``(vii) involving family members of
students in supporting teachers and students;
``(B) in the case of a program carried out under
subsection (c)(2)--
``(i) assisting economically disadvantaged
individuals in navigating the health care
system;
``(ii) assisting individuals in obtaining
access to health care for themselves or their
children;
``(iii) educating economically
disadvantaged individuals and individuals who
are members of medically underserved
populations about, and engaging individuals
described in this clause in, initiatives
regarding navigating the health care system and
regarding disease prevention and health
promotion, with a particular focus on common
health conditions, chronic diseases, and
conditions, for which disease prevention and
health promotion measures exist and for which
socioeconomic, geographic, and racial and
ethnic health disparities exist, such as
initiatives concerning--
``(I) cardiovascular disease;
``(II) diabetes education;
``(III) cancer screening;
``(IV) HIV infection or AIDS;
``(V) immunizations; and
``(VI) infant mortality;
``(iv) improving health literacy of
patients;
``(v) providing translation services at
clinics and in emergency rooms to improve
health care; and
``(vi) assisting in health promotion
interventions that improve health status, and
helping people adopt and maintain healthy
lifestyles and habits to improve health status;
``(C) in the case of a program carried out under
subsection (c)(3)--
``(i) weatherizing and retrofitting housing
units for low-income households to improve the
energy efficiency of such housing units;
``(ii) building energy efficient housing
units in low-income communities;
``(iii) conducting energy audits for low-
income households and recommending ways for the
households to improve energy efficiency;
``(iv) working with schools and youth
programs to educate students and youth about
ways to reduce home energy use and improve the
environment, including conducting service-
learning projects to provide such education;
``(v) assisting in the development of local
recycling programs;
``(vi) improving national and State parks,
city parks, county parks, forest preserves, and
trails owned or maintained by the Federal
Government or a State, including planting
trees, carrying out reforestation, and making
trail enhancements; and
``(vii) cleaning and improving rivers
maintained by the Federal Government or a
State; and
``(D) in the case of a program carried out under
subsection (c)(4)--
``(i) providing financial literacy
education to economically disadvantaged
individuals, including financial literacy
education with regard to credit management,
financial institutions including banks and
credit unions, and utilization of savings
plans;
``(ii) assisting in the construction of
housing units including energy efficient homes,
in low-income communities;
``(iii) assisting individuals in obtaining
access to health care for themselves or their
children;
``(iv) assisting individuals in obtaining
information about Federal, State, local, or
private programs or benefits focused on
assisting economically disadvantaged
individuals, economically disadvantaged
children, or low-income families;
``(v) improving opportunities for
economically disadvantaged children and youth
to become involved in youth development
organizations;
``(vi) facilitating enrollment in and
completion of job training for economically
disadvantaged individuals; and
``(vii) assisting economically
disadvantaged individuals in obtaining access
to job placement assistance.
``(i) Reservation of Funds for Review Panels and Training and
Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--Before allotting funds under subsection
(c)(5), the Corporation shall reserve an equal percentage (but
not more than 4 percent) of the amounts available in each Fund
described in a paragraph of subsection (b), to--
``(A) carry out activities concerning review panels
as provided in subsection (f)(2); and
``(B) provide training and technical assistance to
eligible entities, including training and technical
assistance to assist eligible entities carrying out
national service programs with a Corps described in
subsection (a) in--
``(i) coordinating efforts; and
``(ii) improving the ability of the Corps
to improve performance on the corresponding
indicators described in subsection (a).
``(2) Training and technical assistance.--The Corporation
may, as appropriate, consult with the corresponding officials
described in subsection (f)(1) in planning and carrying out the
training and technical assistance.
``(j) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal
year for which the Corporation makes grants under a paragraph of
subsection (c), the Corporation shall prepare and submit to Congress a
report containing--
``(1) information describing how the Corporation allocated
financial assistance and approved national service positions
among eligible entities proposed to carry out national service
programs described in that paragraph for that fiscal year;
``(2) a measure of the extent to which the national service
programs improved performance on the corresponding indicators
described in subsection (a); and
``(3) information describing how the Corporation is
coordinating--
``(A) the national service programs funded under
that paragraph; with
``(B) applicable programs, as determined by the
Corporation, carried out under subtitles B and C of
this title, and part A of title I and parts A and B of
title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
(42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq., 5001, 5011) that improve
performance on those indicators or otherwise address
identified community needs.
``(k) Incentives for Encore Service.--
``(1) Incentives study.--
``(A) Study.--The Corporation shall study the use
of additional incentives (other than incentives
provided by this Act on the date of enactment of the
Serve America Act), to attract individuals who are age
50 or older to perform service under subtitle C or this
subtitle.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of the Serve America Act, the
Corporation shall prepare and submit to Congress a
report containing the results of the study.
``(2) Incentives.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Serve America Act, the Corporation shall,
notwithstanding any other provision of this title, implement
through a pilot program additional incentives that the
Corporation has found, through the study described in paragraph
(1), to be effective to attract individuals described in
paragraph (1)(A) to perform service under subtitle C or this
subtitle.''.
(d) National Service Educational Awards.--
(1) Trust.--Section 145 of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``section
501(a)(2)'' and inserting ``paragraph (2) or (6) of
section 501(a)''; and
(B) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``subtitle
C'' and inserting ``subtitle C or G''.
(2) Increased number of terms of service to encourage
encore service opportunities.--Section 146 of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12602) is amended--
(A) in subsection (c)--
(i) by striking ``Although'' and inserting
the following:
``(1) In general.--Although''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Terms of service for encore service opportunities.--
``(A) Number of terms.--Notwithstanding paragraph
(1) and section 147, a participant who is age 50 or
older on the first day of the participant's service
under subtitle C or G may receive a national service
educational award for not more than 3 terms of service
under subtitle C or G.
``(B) Amount of award.--The participant shall
receive--
``(i) a national service educational award
in the amount described in the corresponding
provision of section 147, for the first or
second term of such service; and
``(ii) a reduced national service
educational award equal to \1/2\ of the amount
described in the corresponding provision of
section 147, for the third term of such
service.''; and
(B) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the
following:
``(3) Term for transferred educational awards.--For
purposes of applying paragraphs (1) and (2)(A) to an individual
who is eligible to receive an educational award as a designated
individual (as defined in section 148(f)(3)), references to a
seven-year period shall be considered to be references to a 15-
year period that begins on the date the individual who
transferred the educational award to the designated individual
completed the term of service in the approved national service
position that is the basis of the award.''.
(3) Educational award transfers to encourage encore service
opportunities.--Section 148 of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12604) is amended--
(A) in subsection (c)(5), by striking ``subtitle
C'' and inserting ``subtitle C or the appropriate
national service program under subtitle G, as
applicable'';
(B) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as
subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and
(C) by inserting after subsection (e) the
following:
``(f) Transfer of Educational Awards.--
``(1) In general.--An individual who is eligible to receive
a national service educational award under a program described
in paragraph (2) may elect to receive a reduced national
service educational award (equal to \1/2\ of the amount
described in the corresponding provision of section 147) and
transfer the award to a designated individual. Subsections (b),
(c), and (d) shall apply to the designated individual in lieu
of the individual who is eligible to receive the national
service educational award, except that amounts refunded to the
account under subsection (c)(5) on behalf of a designated
individual may be used by the Corporation to fund additional
placements in the national service program in which the
eligible individual who transferred the national service
educational award participated for such award.
``(2) Conditions for transfer.--A national service
educational award may be transferred under this subsection if--
``(A) the educational award is for service in a
national service program that receives a grant under
subtitle G; and
``(B) the eligible individual is age 50 or older.
``(3) Definition of a designated individual.--In this
subsection, the term `designated individual' is an individual--
``(A) whom an individual who is eligible to receive
a national service educational award under a program
described in paragraph (2) designates to receive the
educational award;
``(B) who meets the eligibility requirements of
paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 146(a); and
``(C) who is a child or grandchild of the
individual described in subparagraph (A).''.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 501(a) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)), as
amended by section 121(b), is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(6) Serveamerica corps.--
``(A) In general.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of
fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide financial
assistance under subtitle G of title I and to provide
national service educational awards under subtitle D of
title I (including providing financial assistance and
national service educational awards to participants in
national service positions, established or increased as
provided in section 168(c)(7).
``(B) Availability.--Of the amounts appropriated
under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the
Corporation shall make available--
``(i) not less than 35 percent for the
Education Corps Fund; and
``(ii) not less than 35 percent for the
Clean Energy Service Corps Fund.''.
Subtitle D--Civic Health Index
SEC. 141. INDEX.
(a) In General.--Section 179 of the National and Community Service
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12639) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(j) Civic Health Index.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Corporation.--The term `Corporation' means
the Corporation for National and Community Service, in
conjunction with the Director of the Bureau of the
Census, the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, and
(consistent with the terms of an agreement entered into
between the Corporation and the National Conference)
the National Conference.
``(B) National conference.--The term `National
Conference' means the National Conference on
Citizenship referred to in section 150701 of title 36,
United States Code.
``(2) In general.--The Corporation shall establish a Civic
Health Index by collecting civic health data, conducting
related analyses, and reporting the data and analyses, as
described in this subsection.
``(3) Collection of data.--
``(A) Indicators.--
``(i) In general.--In collecting data for
the Index, the Corporation shall collect data
on various indicators established by the
Corporation, including indicators related to--
``(I) volunteering and community
service;
``(II) voting and other forms of
political engagement;
``(III) charitable giving;
``(IV) connecting to civic groups
and faith-based organizations; and
``(V) understanding and obtaining
knowledge of United States history and
government.
``(ii) Updating.--The Corporation shall
periodically evaluate and update the
indicators.
``(B) Age groups and education levels.--The
Corporation shall collect data for the Index in a
manner that will permit the Corporation to analyze the
data by the age group and education level of the
individuals involved.
``(C) Other issues.--In collecting data for the
Index, the Corporation shall collect such information
as may be necessary to analyze the role of internet
technology in strengthening and inhibiting civic
activities, the role of specific programs in
strengthening civic activities, and the civic attitudes
and activities of new citizens and immigrants.
``(D) Relationship to other data.--To collect data
for the Index, the Corporation shall consider methods
of expanding data collection conducted by the Bureau of
the Census, through the Current Population Survey, or
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
``(4) Reporting of data.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall, not less
often than once each year, prepare a report containing
detailed data collected under paragraph (3), including
data on each of the indicators described in paragraph
(3)(A), and containing the analyses described in
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (3).
``(B) Aggregation and presentation.--The
Corporation shall aggregate the data collected under
paragraph (3) by community, by State, and nationally.
The report shall present the aggregated data in a form
that enables communities and States to assess their
civic health, as measured on each of the indicators,
and compare those measures with comparable measures of
other communities and States.
``(C) Submission.--The Corporation shall submit the
report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and make
the report available to the general public.
``(5) Conferences and forums.--The Corporation shall hold
conferences and forums to discuss the implications of the data
and analyses reported under paragraph (4).
``(k) Research and Evaluation.--
``(1) Research.--The Corporation, acting in conjunction
with the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, shall provide for
baseline research and tracking of domestic and international
volunteering, and baseline research and tracking related to
relevant data on the indicators described in subsection (j)(3).
In providing for the research and tracking under this
paragraph, the Corporation and the Commissioner shall consider
methods of expanding research and tracking conducted by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
``(2) Impact research and evaluation.--The Corporation,
acting in conjunction with the Commissioner of Labor
Statistics, shall provide for research on, and evaluations of,
the impact of domestic and international volunteering,
including an assessment of best practices for such
volunteering, and methods of improving such volunteering
through enhanced collaboration among entities that recruit,
manage, support, and utilize volunteers, institutions of higher
education, and research institutions.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 501(a) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)), as
amended in section 131(e), is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(7) Civic health index; research and evaluation.--In
addition to any amounts appropriated under paragraph (4), there
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsections (j)
and (k) of section 179, $5,600,000 for fiscal years 2009 though
2013, of which--
``(A) not more than $800,000 may be used for a
fiscal year to carry out data collection under
paragraph (3) of section 179(j);
``(B) not more than $200,000 may be used for a
fiscal year to carry out paragraphs (4) and (5) of
section 179(j); and
``(C) for fiscal years 2009, 2011, and 2013, not
more than $200,000 may be used to establish or update
indicators under paragraph (3) of section 179(j).''.
Subtitle E--ServeAmerica and Encore Fellowships
SEC. 151. SERVEAMERICA AND ENCORE FELLOWSHIPS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Full- and part-time volunteer service, both at the
national and State levels, can effectively tackle pressing
national challenges and improve communities throughout the
United States.
(2) Individual service plans and opportunities can improve
the ability of the nonprofit sector to address areas of
national need by introducing more personal innovation and
ingenuity into volunteer service efforts.
(3) Many individuals in the United States who are retiring
or age 50 or older have shown an increasing interest in
community service and, by utilizing their individual skills and
expertise, volunteer organizations can find creative solutions
to pressing national problems.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to provide, by 2013, individual fellowships to 5,000
individuals annually, allowing the individuals to propose their
own plans for serving in their communities and addressing areas
of national need;
(2) to focus the ideas and creativity of individuals into
addressing national challenges such as improving education for
low-income students, increasing energy conservation, improving
access to health care for, and the health status of, low-income
individuals, and creating new economic opportunities for low-
income individuals; and
(3) to provide Encore Fellowships to individuals over the
age of 50 to draw on the individuals' talents and experience,
to improve the effectiveness of volunteer service
organizations, and to provide the individuals with the support
they need to make a transition to longer-term public service
work.
(c) General Authority.--Subtitle J of title I of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.), as
redesignated by section 121, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 198E. SERVEAMERICA AND ENCORE FELLOWSHIPS.
``(a) ServeAmerica Fellowships.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Area of national need.--The term `area of
national need' means an area related to--
``(i) improving education in public schools
for economically disadvantaged students;
``(ii) expanding and improving access to
health care;
``(iii) improving clean energy indicators,
as defined in section 168(a);
``(iv) improving economic opportunities for
economically disadvantaged individuals; or
``(v) improving disaster preparedness and
response.
``(B) Campus of service.--The term `Campus of
Service' means an institution of higher education
designated as a Campus of Service under section 119E.
``(C) Eligible fellowship recipient.--The term
`eligible fellowship recipient' means an individual who
is selected by a State Commission under paragraph
(4)(E) and, as a result of such selection, is eligible
for a ServeAmerica Fellowship.
``(D) Fellow.--The term `fellow' means an eligible
fellowship recipient who is awarded a ServeAmerica
Fellowship and is designated a fellow under paragraph
(5)(B).
``(2) Serveamerica fellowship program.--The Corporation
shall establish and carry out a ServeAmerica Fellowship
program.
``(3) Grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall make
grants (including financial assistance and a
corresponding allotment of approved national service
positions), from allotments described in subparagraph
(B), to the State Commissions of each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico that has an application approved by the
Corporation, to enable the State Commissions to award
ServeAmerica Fellowships under paragraph (5). The
fellowships shall be used to enable fellows to carry
out service projects in areas of national need.
``(B) Reservation; allotment.--
``(i) Reservation.--From the amount
appropriated under section 501(a)(2)(C) for a
fiscal year, the Corporation shall reserve not
more than 3 percent to administer the program
under this subsection.
``(ii) Allotment.--The amount allotted as a
grant to a State Commission under subparagraph
(A) for a fiscal year shall be equal to the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount
appropriated under section 501(a)(2)(C) and not
reserved under clause (i) for that fiscal year,
as the population of the State bears to the
total population of the several States, the
District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico.
``(C) Number of positions.--The Corporation shall--
``(i) establish or increase the number of
positions that are approved as approved
national service positions under this
subsection during each of fiscal years 2009
through 2013;
``(ii) establish the number of approved
positions at 1,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
``(iii) increase the number of the approved
positions to--
``(I) 2,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(II) 3,000 for fiscal year 2011;
``(III) 4,000 for fiscal year 2012;
and
``(IV) 5,000 for fiscal year 2013.
``(D) Applications.--To be eligible to receive such
a grant, a State Commission shall submit an application
to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Corporation may
require, including information on the criteria and
procedures that the State Commission will use for
coordinating placements for service projects, and
awarding ServeAmerica Fellowships, under paragraph (5).
``(4) Eligible fellowship recipients.--
``(A) In general.--In carrying out the program, the
Corporation shall, each fiscal year, maintain a list of
eligible fellowship recipients selected under
subparagraph (E).
``(B) Application.--An individual desiring to be
selected as an eligible fellowship recipient shall
submit an application to a State Commission, a Campus
of Service, or an institution of higher education, that
has elected to participate in the program carried out
under this subsection, at such time and in such manner
as the Commission, Campus, or institution may require,
and containing the information described in
subparagraph (C) and such additional information as the
Commission, Campus, or institution may require. An
individual may submit such application to only 1 entity
under this subparagraph for a fiscal year.
``(C) Contents.--The Corporation shall specify
information to be provided in the application, which
shall include--
``(i) a description of the area of national
need that the applicant hopes to address
through service in the service project;
``(ii) a description of the skills and
experience the applicant has to address the
area of national need;
``(iii) a description of the type of
service that the applicant plans to provide as
a fellow; and
``(iv) information identifying the State in
which the applicant will serve (which, in the
case of an application submitted to a State
Commission, shall be the State served by the
Commission) and the local area in which the
applicant plans to serve, for the service
project.
``(D) Nominations by campuses of service and
institutions.--After reviewing the applications--
``(i) each Campus of Service may nominate
not fewer than 8 individuals for consideration
by the State Commission as eligible fellowship
recipients; and
``(ii) each institution of higher education
that is not a Campus of Service may nominate
not fewer than 4 individuals for consideration
by the State Commission as eligible fellowship
recipients.
``(E) Selection.--Each State Commission shall
select, from the applications nominated by Campuses of
Service and institutions of higher education serving
the State and the applications received by the State
Commission for a fiscal year, the number of eligible
fellowship recipients that may be supported for that
fiscal year based on the allotment received by the
State Commission under paragraph (3)(B). A total of not
less than 10 percent and not more than 15 percent of
the eligible fellowship recipients selected by the
State Commission for a fiscal year shall be individuals
nominated by a Campus of Service or an institution of
higher education.
``(5) Fellows.--
``(A) In general.--To be eligible to participate in
a service project through the program as a fellow and
receive a ServeAmerica Fellowship, an eligible
fellowship recipient shall--
``(i) within 6 months after being selected
as an eligible fellowship recipient, select an
appropriate service sponsor organization
described in paragraph (6) in the State
described in paragraph (4)(C)(iv), with which
the individual is interested in serving under
this subsection;
``(ii) enter into an agreement with the
organization--
``(I) that specifies the service
the individual will provide if the
placement is approved; and
``(II) in which the individual
agrees to serve for 1 year on a (as
determined by the Corporation) full-
time, part-time, or reduced part-time
basis; and
``(iii) submit such agreement to the State
Commission.
``(B) Award.--Upon receiving the eligible
fellowship recipient's agreement under subparagraph
(A), the State Commission shall award a ServeAmerica
Fellowship to the recipient and designate the recipient
as a fellow.
``(C) Fellowship amount.--
``(i) In general.--From funds received
under paragraph (3), each State Commission
shall award each fellow a ServeAmerica
Fellowship amount that is equal to 50 percent
of the amount of the total average annual
subsistence allowance provided to VISTA
volunteers under section 105 of the Domestic
Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955).
``(ii) Amount from service sponsor
organization.--Except as provided in clause
(iii), the service sponsor organization shall
award to the fellow serving such organization
an amount that will ensure that the total award
received by the fellow for service in the serve
project (consisting of that amount and the
ServeAmerica Fellowship amount the fellow
receives under clause (i)) is equal to or
greater than 70 percent of the average annual
subsistence allowance provided to VISTA
volunteers under section 105 of the Domestic
Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955).
``(iii) Maximum living allowance.--The
total amount that may be provided to a fellow
under this subparagraph shall not exceed 100
percent of the average annual subsistence
allowance provided to VISTA volunteers under
section 105 of the Domestic Volunteer Service
Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955).
``(iv) Proration of amount.--In the case of
a fellow who is authorized to serve a part-time
or reduced part-time term of service under the
agreement described in subparagraph (A)(ii),
the amount provided to a fellow under this
subparagraph shall be prorated accordingly.
``(v) Waiver.--The Corporation may allow a
State Commission to waive the amount required
under clause (ii) from the service sponsor
organization for a fellow serving the
organization if--
``(I) such requirement is
inconsistent with the objectives of the
Fellowship program; and
``(II) the amount provided to the
fellow under clause (i) is sufficient
to meet the necessary costs of living
(including food, housing, and
transportation) in the area in which
the fellowship program is located.
``(6) Service sponsor organizations.--
``(A) In general.--Each service sponsor
organization shall--
``(i) be a nonprofit organization;
``(ii) agree, by registering with a State
Commission, to abide by all program
requirements;
``(iii) agree to provide an amount
described in paragraph (5)(C)(ii) for each
fellow serving with the organization through
the ServeAmerica Fellowship;
``(iv) be responsible for certifying
whether each fellow serving with the
organization successfully completed the
ServeAmerica Fellowship; and
``(v) agree--
``(I) to record and certify in a
manner specified by the Corporation the
number of hours served by a fellow for
purposes of determining the fellow's
eligibility for benefits; and
``(II) to provide timely access to
records relating to the ServeAmerica
Fellowship to the State Commission, the
Corporation, or the Corporation's
Inspector General.
``(B) Registration.--
``(i) Requirement.--No service sponsor
organization may receive a fellow under this
subsection until the organization registers
with the State Commission.
``(ii) Revocation.--A State Commission
shall revoke the registration of any service
sponsor organization if the State Commission
determines after a hearing that the
organization is in violation of any of the
applicable provisions of this subsection.
``(7) Compliance with ineligible service categories.--
Service under a ServeAmerica Fellowship shall comply with
section 132(a).
``(8) Reports.--Each service sponsor organization that
receives a fellow under this subsection shall, on a biweekly
basis, report to the Corporation on the number of hours served
and the services provided by that fellow. The Corporation shall
establish a web portal for the organizations to use in
reporting the information.
``(9) Educational awards.--A fellow who serves in a service
project under this subsection shall be considered to have
served in an approved national service position and, upon
meeting the requirements of section 147 for full-time, part-
time, or reduced part-time national service, shall be eligible
for a national service educational award described in such
section. The Corporation shall transfer an appropriate amount
of funds to the National Service Trust to provide for the
national service educational awards for such fellows.
``(b) Encore Fellowships.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Area of national need.--The term `area of
national need' has the meaning given the term in
subsection (a)(1).
``(B) Eligible encore fellowship recipient.--The
term `eligible Encore Fellowship recipient' means an
individual who is selected under paragraph (3)(B) and,
as a result of such selection, is eligible for an
Encore Fellowship.
``(C) Encore fellow.--The term `Encore fellow'
means an eligible Encore Fellowship recipient who is
awarded an Encore Fellowship and is designated an
Encore fellow under paragraph (5)(C).
``(2) Encore Fellowship program.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall establish
and carry out an Encore Fellowship program. In carrying
out the program, the Corporation shall award 1-year
Encore Fellowships to enable individuals age 50 or
older--
``(i) to carry out service projects in
areas of national need; and
``(ii) to receive training and development
in order to transition to full- or part-time
public service in the nonprofit sector or
government.
``(B) Program.--In carrying out the program, the
Corporation shall--
``(i) maintain a list of eligible Encore
Fellowship recipients who are eligible to
participate in service projects through the
program and receive fellowships;
``(ii) maintain a list of organizations
that are eligible to have eligible Encore
Fellows placed with the organizations to carry
out service projects through the program and
provide the list to all eligible Encore
Fellowship recipients described in clause (i);
and
``(iii) at the request of an Encore
Fellowship recipient--
``(I) determine whether the
requesting eligible Encore Fellowship
recipient is able to meet the service
needs of a listed organization, or
another organization that the recipient
requests in accordance with paragraph
(5)(B), for a service project; and
``(II) upon making a favorable
determination under subclause (I),
award the recipient with an Encore
Fellowship and place the recipient with
the organization as an Encore Fellow.
``(3) Eligible encore fellowship recipients.--
``(A) In general.--An individual desiring to be
selected as an eligible Encore Fellowship recipient
shall--
``(i) be an individual who is--
``(I) at least 50 years of age as
of the time the individual applies for
the program; and
``(II) not engaged in, but who
wishes to make a transition to being
engaged in, full- or part-time public
service in the nonprofit sector or
government; and
``(ii) submit an application to the
Corporation, at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Corporation
may require, including--
``(I) a description of the area of
national need that the applicant hopes
to address through the service project;
``(II) a description of the skills
and experience the applicant has to
address an area of national need; and
``(III) information identifying the
area of the country in which the
applicant wishes to serve.
``(B) Selection basis.--In determining which
individuals to select as eligible Encore Fellowship
recipients, the Corporation shall--
``(i) select not more than 10 individuals
from each State; and
``(ii) give priority to individuals with
skills and experience for which there is an
ongoing high demand in the nonprofit sector and
government.
``(4) Listed organizations.--To be listed under paragraph
(2)(B)(ii), an organization shall--
``(A) be a nonprofit organization; and
``(B) submit an application to the Corporation at
such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Corporation may require, including--
``(i) a description of--
``(I) the services and activities
the organization carries out generally;
``(II) the area of national need
that the organization seeks to address
through a service project; and
``(III) the services and activities
the organization seeks to carry out
through the proposed service project;
``(ii) a description of the skills and
experience that an eligible Encore Fellowship
recipient needs to be placed with the
organization as an Encore Fellow for the
service project;
``(iii) a description of the training and
leadership development the organization shall
provide an Encore Fellow placed with the
organization to assist the Encore Fellow in
obtaining a public service job in the nonprofit
sector or government after the period of the
Encore Fellowship; and
``(iv) evidence of the organization's
financial stability.
``(5) Placement.--
``(A) Request for placement with listed
organizations.--To be placed with a listed organization
under paragraph (2)(B)(iii) for a service project, an
eligible Encore Fellowship recipient shall submit an
application for such placement to the Corporation at
such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Corporation may require.
``(B) Request for placement with other
organizations.--An eligible Encore Fellowship recipient
may apply to the Corporation to serve the recipient's
Encore Fellowship year with a nonprofit organization
that is not a listed organization. Such application
shall be submitted to the Corporation at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the
Corporation shall require, and shall include--
``(i) an identification and description
of--
``(I) the organization;
``(II) the area of national need
the organization seeks to address; and
``(III) the services or activities
the organization carries out to address
such area of national need;
``(ii) a description of the services the
eligible Encore Fellowship recipient shall
provide for the organization as an Encore
Fellow;
``(iii) a description of the training and
leadership development the organization will
provide to the eligible Encore Fellowship
recipient if placed with the organization as an
Encore Fellow, to assist the Encore Fellow in
obtaining a public service job in the nonprofit
sector or government after the period of the
Encore Fellowship; and
``(iv) a letter of support from the leader
of the organization, including--
``(I) a description of the
organization's need for the eligible
Encore Fellowship recipient's services;
``(II) evidence that such
organization is financially sound; and
``(III) an assurance that such
organization will provide leadership
training and development consistent
with the description in the
application.
``(C) Placement and award of fellowship.--If the
Corporation determines that the eligible Encore
Fellowship recipient is able to meet the service needs
(including skills and experience to address an area of
national need) of the organization that the eligible
fellowship recipient requests under subparagraph (A) or
(B), the Corporation shall--
``(i) approve the placement of the eligible
Encore Fellowship recipient with the
organization;
``(ii) award the eligible Encore Fellowship
recipient an Encore Fellowship for a period of
1 year and designate the eligible Encore
Fellowship recipient as an Encore Fellow; and
``(iii) make a payment, in the amount of
$11,000, to the listed organization to enable
the organization to provide living expenses to
the Encore Fellow for the year in which the
Encore Fellow agrees to serve.
``(6) Matching requirement.--An organization that receives
an Encore Fellow under this subsection shall agree to provide,
for the living expenses of the Encore Fellow during the year of
service, non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not
less than $1 for every $1 of Federal funds provided to the
organization for the Encore Fellow through the fellowship.
``(7) Training and assistance.--Each organization that
receives an Encore Fellow under this subsection shall provide
training, leadership development, and assistance to the Encore
Fellow, and conduct oversight of the service provided by the
Encore Fellow.
``(8) Leadership development.--Each year, the Corporation
shall convene current and former Encore Fellows to discuss the
Encore Fellows' experiences related to service under this
subsection and discuss strategies for increasing leadership and
careers in public service in the nonprofit sector or
government.''.
(d) National Service Educational Awards.--
(1) Trust.--Section 145(d)(4) of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601(d)(4)), as amended by
section 131(d)(1)(B), is further amended by inserting ``or
section 198E(a)'' after ``subtitle C or G''.
(2) Reduced part-time service.--Section 147 of the National
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12603) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Reduced Part-Time Service for ServeAmerica Fellows.--A
participant (eligible by meeting the requirements described in section
146(a)), who performs service as a ServeAmerica Fellow under section
198E(a) and who successfully completes a required term of reduced part-
time national service in an approved national service position shall be
eligible to receive a national service educational award having a
value, for each of not more than 2 of such terms of service, equal to
the amount described in subsection (b), prorated based on the number of
hours served by the ServeAmerica Fellow.''.
(3) Transfer of educational awards.--Section 148(f)(2)(A)
of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (20 U.S.C.
12604(f)(2)(A)), as added by section 131(d)(3)(C), is further
amended by inserting ``or section 198E(a)'' after ``subtitle
G''.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 501(a)(2) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(2)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by inserting ``(other
than section 198E)'' after ``H of title I''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Serveamerica fellowships.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to
provide financial assistance under section 198E(a) and
to provide national service educational awards under
subtitle D of title I (including providing financial
assistance and national service educational awards to
participants in national service positions, established
or increased as provided in section 198E(a)(3)(C)).
``(D) Encore fellowships.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to carry out section 198E(b),
$7,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through
2013.''.
Subtitle F--Volunteer Generation Fund; National Service Reserve Corps;
Call To Service Campaign
SEC. 161. STATEMENT OF PURPOSES.
The purposes of this subtitle are to--
(1) assist nonprofit, faith-based, and other civic
organizations in the United States and State Commissions in
expanding the supply of volunteers and improving the capacity
of such organizations and State Commissions to utilize new
volunteers;
(2) spur innovation in volunteer recruitment and management
practices, with a goal of increasing the number of volunteers
in the United States each year;
(3) enable the people of the United States to effect change
throughout the United States by participating in active
volunteer and citizen service; and
(4) draw on the experience, skills, and training of
national service alumni to assist local communities that are
affected by disasters.
SEC. 162. ESTABLISHMENT OF VOLUNTEER GENERATION FUND.
(a) In General.--Subtitle J of title I of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.), as amended by
section 151, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 198F. VOLUNTEER GENERATION FUND.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Areas of national need.--The term `areas of national
need' has the meaning given the term in section 198E(a)(1).
``(2) Civic entity.--The term `civic entity' means a local
or national nonprofit organization, including a faith-based
organization, that uses volunteers to carry out activities in
areas of national need.
``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a State Commission; or
``(B) a nonprofit entity that provides technical
assistance and support to civic entities in recruiting,
managing, and supporting volunteers, such as a
volunteer coordinating agency, a nonprofit resource
center, a volunteer training clearinghouse, or an
institution of higher education.
``(b) Fund.--
``(1) Grants authorized.--The Corporation shall award
grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to enable--
``(A) eligible entities to increase the number of
volunteers available to carry out activities that
address areas of national need through civic entities
supported by the eligible entity; or
``(B) eligible entities described in subsection
(a)(3)(A) to increase the number of volunteers
available to carry out statewide volunteer initiatives
that address State priorities with regard to areas of
national need.
``(2) Period of grant.--The Corporation shall award the
grants for periods of not less than 3 years and not more than 5
years.
``(3) Application.--
``(A) In general.--Each eligible entity desiring a
grant under this subsection shall submit an application
to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Corporation may
reasonably require.
``(B) Contents.--Each application submitted
pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall contain--
``(i)(I) in the case of an eligible entity
that proposes to use grant funds to carry out
an activity described in paragraph (1)(A), a
description of the technical assistance and
support the entity provides to civic entities
in recruiting, managing, and supporting
additional volunteers; or
``(II) in the case of an eligible entity
that proposes to use grant funds to carry out a
statewide initiative described in paragraph
(1)(B), a description of the State priorities
with regard to areas of national need and the
proposed initiative to address such priorities;
``(ii) an assurance that the eligible
entity will annually collect information on--
``(I) the number of volunteers
recruited for civic entities or to
carry out statewide initiatives
described in paragraph (1)(B), using
funds received under this subsection,
and the type and amount of activities
carried out by such volunteers; and
``(II) the number of volunteers
supported using funds received under
this subsection, and the type and
amount of activities carried out by
such volunteers;
``(iii) a description of any outcomes the
eligible entity will use to annually measure
and track performance with regard to--
``(I) activities carried out by
volunteers; and
``(II) volunteers recruited,
managed, and supported;
``(iv) information describing how the
eligible entity will annually evaluate the
effectiveness of the entity's activities under
this subsection; and
``(v) such additional assurances as the
Corporation determines to be essential to
ensure compliance with the requirements of this
subsection.
``(4) Use of funds.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this subsection shall use amounts provided through
the grant to--
``(A) in the case of an eligible entity using grant
funds to carry out an activity described in paragraph
(1)(A)--
``(i) increase recruitment and training of
volunteers for a civic entity, relying on best
practices in volunteer recruitment and
management; or
``(ii) strengthen the capacity of a civic
entity to use volunteers; or
``(B) in the case of an eligible entity using grant
funds to carry out a statewide initiative described in
paragraph (1)(B), recruit, train, and utilize
volunteers to carry out statewide volunteer
initiatives.
``(5) Reporting requirement.--Each eligible entity
receiving a grant under this subsection shall annually submit a
report to the Corporation that includes the information
described in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), information on how the
eligible entity performed with regard to the outcomes described
in paragraph (3)(B)(iii), and the results of the evaluation
described in paragraph (3)(B)(iv).
``(6) Matching requirement.--Each eligible entity receiving
a grant under this subsection shall provide, from non-Federal
sources, an amount equal to the grant amount to carry out the
activities supported by the grant.''.
(b) Appropriations.--Section 501(a)(2) of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(2)), as amended by
section 151, is further amended--
(1) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by striking ``section
198E'' each place it appears and inserting ``sections 198E and
198F''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) Volunteer generation fund.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out section
198F--
``(i) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(ii) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(iii) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
``(iv) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
and
``(v) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.
SEC. 163. NATIONAL SERVICE RESERVE CORPS.
(a) In General.--Subtitle J of title I of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.), as amended by
section 162, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 198G. NATIONAL SERVICE RESERVE CORPS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Term of national service.--The term `term of national
service' means a term or period of service under subtitle C, E,
or G or section 198E of this Act, or under part A of title I of
the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 et
seq.).
``(2) National service reserve corps member.--The term
`National Service Reserve Corps member' means an individual
who--
``(A) has completed a term of national service;
``(B) has successfully completed training described
in subsection (c) within the previous 2 years; and
``(C) is interested in responding to national
disasters and other emergencies through the National
Service Reserve Corps.
``(b) Establishment of National Service Reserve Corps.--The
Corporation shall establish a National Service Reserve Corps to prepare
and deploy individuals who have completed a term of national service to
respond to natural disasters and other emergencies in a timely manner.
``(c) Annual Training.--The Corporation shall, in consultation with
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, conduct
or coordinate annual training sessions for individuals who have
completed a term of national service, and who wish to join the National
Service Reserve Corps.
``(d) Certification of Organizations.--On a biannual basis, the
Corporation shall certify organizations with demonstrated experience in
responding to disasters, including through using volunteers, for
participation in the program under this section.
``(e) Databases.--The Corporation shall develop or contract with an
outside organization to develop--
``(1) a database of all National Service Reserve Corps
members; and
``(2) a database of all nonprofit organizations that--
``(A) have been certified by the Corporation under
subsection (d); and
``(B) are prepared to respond to major disasters or
emergencies with members of the National Service
Reserve Corps.
``(f) Deployment of National Service Reserve Corps.--
``(1) In general.--If a major disaster or emergency
designated by the President under the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et
seq.) occurs that the Corporation, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
determines is an incident for which National Service Reserve
Corps members are prepared to assist, the Corporation shall--
``(A) deploy interested National Service Reserve
Corps members on 30-day assignments to assist with
local needs related to preparing or recovering from the
incident in the affected area, through organizations
certified under subsection (d);
``(B) make travel arrangements for the deployed
National Service Reserve Corps members to the site of
the incident; and
``(C) provide funds to those organizations that are
responding to the incident with deployed National
Service Reserve Corps members, to enable the
organizations to coordinate and provide housing, living
stipends, and insurance for those deployed members.
``(2) Stipend fund.--Any amounts that are appropriated
under section 501(a)(2)(F) to carry out paragraph (1) for a
fiscal year shall be kept in a separate fund. Any amounts in
such fund that are not used during a fiscal year shall remain
available for the next fiscal year for the purpose of carrying
out such paragraph.
``(g) Information.--The Corporation, the State Commissions, and
entities receiving financial assistance for programs under subtitle C,
E, or G or section 198E of this Act, or under part A of title I of the
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.), shall
inform participants of those programs of the National Service Reserve
Corps upon the participants' completion of their term of national
service.
``(h) Coordination.--In deploying National Service Reserve Corps
members under subsection (f), the Corporation may consult and, as
appropriate, partner with Citizen Corps programs in the affected
area.''.
(b) Appropriations.--Section 501(a)(2) of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(2)), as amended by
section 162, is further amended--
(1) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by striking ``and 198F''
each place it appears and inserting
``, 198F, and 198G''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) National service reserve corps.--There is
authorized to be appropriated--
``(i) $6,500,000 in year 2009, of which--
``(I) not more than $1,500,000
shall be used to carry out section 198G
(other than section 198G(f)(1)); and
``(II) the amount remaining after
the application of subclause (I) shall
be used to carry out section
198G(f)(1); and
``(ii) for each succeeding fiscal year--
``(I) $1,000,000 to carry out
section 198G (other than section
198G(f)(1)); and
``(II) such sums as are necessary
to carry out section 198G(f)(1) so that
the amount available for such fiscal
year to carry out such section,
including any amounts remaining in the
fund described in section 198G(f)(2),
is equal to $4,000,000.''.
SEC. 164. CALL TO SERVICE CAMPAIGN.
Subtitle J of title I of the National and Community Service Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.), as amended by section 163, is further
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 198H. CALL TO SERVICE CAMPAIGN.
``Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Serve
America Act, the Corporation shall conduct a nationwide `Call To
Service' campaign, to encourage all people of the United States,
regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status, to
engage in full- or part-time national service, long- or short-term
public service, or volunteering. In conducting the campaign, the
Corporation may collaborate with State Commissions, Governors,
nonprofit and faith-based organizations, businesses, institutions of
higher education, elementary schools, and secondary schools.''.
Subtitle G--Conforming Amendments
SEC. 171. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Section 101 of the National and Community Service Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (17)(A)(i), by striking ``subtitle
C'' and inserting ``subtitles C and G''; and
(B) in paragraph (19)--
(i) by striking ``119(b)(1), or 122(a), or
in'' and inserting ``or 119(b)(1), subpart B of
part I, or part III, of subtitle B of title I,
or section 122(a), in'';
(ii) by inserting ``or in part II or III of
subtitle F, or in subtitle G, of title I,''
after ``152(b),''; and
(iii) by striking ``or 198D'' and inserting
``198D, 198E, 198F, or 198G''.
(2) Section 117E of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12546) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking
``116(a)(1)'' and inserting ``114C(a)(1)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking
``116(a)(2)'' and inserting ``114C(a)(2)''; and
(B) by striking ``116(b)'' and inserting
``114C(b)''.
(3) Section 118(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12551(a)) is
amended by striking ``subtitle H'' and inserting ``subtitle
J''.
(4) Section 119(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12561(c)) is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``116(a)(2)''
and inserting ``114C(a)(2)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``116(b)'' and
inserting ``114C(b)''.
(5) Section 122(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12572(a)(2))
is amended by striking ``subtitle I'' and inserting ``subtitle
K''.
(6) Section 193A(f)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12651d(f)(1))
is amended by striking ``subtitles C and I'' and inserting
``subtitles C and K''.
(7) Section 501(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(2))
is amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``c, d,
and h'' and inserting ``c, d, and j'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subtitles C
and H'' and inserting ``subtitles C and J''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``subtitle H''
and inserting ``subtitle J''.
(b) Table of Contents.--
(1) The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is
amended--
(A) by striking the items relating to sections 115,
115A, 116, 116A, and 116B and inserting the following:
``Sec. 114A. Consideration of applications.
``Sec. 114B. Participation of students and teachers from private
schools.
``Sec. 114C. Federal, State, and local contributions.
``Sec. 114D. Limitations on uses of funds.
``Sec. 114E. Definitions.'';
(B) by striking the item relating to the subpart
heading of subpart C of part I of subtitle B of title I
and inserting the following:
``subpart d--clearinghouse'';
(C) by striking the item relating to the subpart
heading of subpart B of part I of subtitle B of title I
and inserting the following:
``subpart c--community-based service programs for school-age youth'';
(D) by inserting after the items relating to
subpart A of part I of subtitle B of title I the
following:
``subpart b--youth engagement and service-learning to strengthen local
communities
``Sec. 115. Grant program.'';
(E) by inserting after the items relating to part
II of subtitle B of title I the following:
``Part III--Campus of Service Program
``Sec. 119E. Campuses of Service.'';
(F) by inserting after the items relating to part
III of subtitle B of title I (as added by subparagraph
(E)) the following:
``Part IV--Service-Learning Impact Study
``Sec. 119F. Study and report.'';
(G) by striking the item relating to the subtitle
heading for subtitle I of title I and inserting the
following:
``Subtitle K--American Conservation and Youth Corps'';
(H) by striking the item relating to the subtitle
heading for subtitle H of title I and inserting the
following:
``Subtitle J--Investment for Quality and Innovation'';
(I) by striking the item relating to the subtitle
heading for subtitle G of title I and inserting the
following:
``Subtitle I--Corporation for National and Community Service'';
(J) by striking the item relating to the subtitle
heading for subtitle F of title I and inserting the
following:
``Subtitle H--Administrative Provisions'';
(K) by inserting after the items relating to
subtitle E of title I the following:
``Subtitle F--Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
``Part I--Commission on Cross Sector Solutions
``Sec. 167. Commission.
``Part II--Community Solutions Funds
``Sec. 167A. Funds.
``Part III--Innovation Fellowships Pilot Program
``Sec. 167B. Program.
``Subtitle G--ServeAmerica Corps
``Sec. 168. Corps.'';
(L) by adding at the end of the items relating to
subtitle J (as so redesignated) of title I the
following:
``Sec. 198E. ServeAmerica and Encore Fellowships.'';
and
(M) by adding at the end of the items relating to
subtitle J (as so amended and redesignated) of title I
the following:
``Sec. 198F. Volunteer Generation Fund.
``Sec. 198G. ServeAmerica Emergency Response Reserve Corps.
``Sec. 198H. Call To Service campaign.''.
TITLE II--VOLUNTEERS FOR PROSPERITY PROGRAM
SEC. 201. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Americans engaged in international volunteer service,
and the organizations deploying them--
(A) play critical roles in responding to the needs
of people living throughout the developing world; and
(B) advance the international public diplomacy of
the United States.
(2) The Volunteers for Prosperity Program has successfully
promoted international volunteer service by skilled American
professionals.
(3) In its first 4 years, the VfP Program helped to
mobilize 74,000 skilled Americans, including doctors, nurses,
engineers, businesspeople, and teachers, through a network of
250 nonprofit organizations and companies in the United States,
to carry out development and humanitarian efforts for those
affected by great global challenges in health, the environment,
poverty, illiteracy, financial literacy, disaster relief, and
other challenges.
(4) The VfP Program has undertaken activities, including--
(A) direct outreach to leading nonprofit
organizations and companies in the United States;
(B) promotion of the work of skilled Americans and
nonprofit organizations and companies in the United
States as it relates to international volunteer
service;
(C) public recognition of skilled American
volunteers;
(D) support for organizations that utilize skilled
Americans as volunteers;
(E) participation in the development of special
initiatives to further opportunities for skilled
Americans; and
(F) leadership of an innovative public-private
partnership to provide eligible skilled with financial
assistance for volunteer assignments.
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) VfP office.--The term ``VfP Office'' means the Office
of Volunteers for Prosperity of the United States Agency for
International Development.
(2) VfP program.--The term ``VfP Program'' means the
Volunteers for Prosperity Program established through Executive
Order 13317.
(3) Vfpserve.--The term ``VfPServe'' means a program
established by the VfP Office, in cooperation with the USA
Freedom Corps and the Global Giving Foundation, to provide
eligible skilled professionals with fixed amount stipends to
offset the travel and living costs of volunteering abroad.
SEC. 203. OFFICE OF VOLUNTEERS FOR PROSPERITY.
(a) Functions.--The VfP Office shall pursue the objectives of the
VfP Program described in subsection (b) by--
(1) implementing the VfPServe Program to provide eligible
skilled professionals with fixed amount stipends to offset the
travel and living expenses of volunteering abroad with
nonprofit organizations;
(2) otherwise promoting short- and long-term international
volunteer service by skilled American professionals, including
connecting such professionals with nonprofit organizations, to
achieve such objectives;
(3) helping nonprofit organizations in the United States
recruit and effectively manage additional skilled American
professionals for volunteer assignments throughout the
developing world;
(4) providing recognition for skilled American volunteers
and the organizations deploying them;
(5) helping nonprofit organizations and corporations in the
United States to identify resources and opportunities in
international volunteer service utilizing skilled Americans;
(6) encouraging the establishment of international
volunteer programs for employees of United States corporations;
and
(7) encouraging international voluntary service by highly
skilled Americans to promote health and prosperity throughout
the world.
(b) VfP Program Objectives.--The objectives of the VfP Program
shall be to--
(1) eliminate extreme poverty;
(2) reduce world hunger and malnutrition;
(3) increase access to safe potable water;
(4) enact universal education;
(5) reduce child mortality and childhood diseases;
(6) combat the spread of preventable diseases, including
HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis;
(7) provide educational and work skill support for girls
and empowering women to achieve independence;
(8) create sustainable business and entrepreneurial
opportunities; and
(9) increase access to information technology.
(c) Volunteers for Prosperity Service Incentive Program.--The VfP
Office may provide fixed amount stipends to offset the travel and
living costs of volunteering abroad to any individual who--
(1) has skills relevant to addressing any objective
described in subsection (b); and
(2) provides a dollar-for-dollar match for such stipend--
(A) through the organization with which the
individual is serving; or
(B) by raising private funds.
(d) Funding.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, shall make available the amounts
appropriated pursuant to section 204 to the VfP Office to
pursue the objectives described in subsection (b) by carrying
out the functions described in subsection (a).
(2) Use of funds.--Amounts made available under paragraph
(1) may be used by the VfP Office to provide personnel and
other resources to develop, manage, and expand the VfP Program,
under the supervision of the United States Agency for
International Development.
(e) Coordination.--The VfP Office shall coordinate its efforts with
other public and private efforts that aim to send skilled professionals
to serve in developing nations.
(f) Report.--The VfP Office shall submit an annual report to
Congress on the activities of the VfP Office.
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this title $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through
2013.
(b) Allocation of Funds.--Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to
subsection (a)--
(1) 90 percent shall be expended to expand VfPServe; and
(2) 10 percent shall be expended to manage the VfP Program.
<all>