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[Senate Report 112-120]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                       Calendar No. 282
112th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     112-120

======================================================================

 
                     PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT

                                _______
                                

                January 13, 2012.--Ordered to be printed

 Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of December 17, 2011

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Bingaman, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 896]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 896) to amend the Public Lands Corps Act 
of 1993 to expand the authorization of the Secretaries of 
Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide service 
opportunities for young Americans; help restore the nation's 
natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and 
scenic resources; train a new generation of public land 
managers and enthusiasts; and promote the value of public 
service, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
with amendments and recommends that the bill, as amended, do 
pass.
    The amendments are as follows:

    1. On page 29, strike lines 9 through 15 and insert the 
following:

          ``(2) Travel costs.--The Secretary may reimburse 
        Corps

    2. On page 33, strike lines 19 through 23 and insert the 
following:

          (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``year,'' and all 
        that follows through the period and inserting 
        ``year.'';

                                Purpose

    The purpose of S. 896 is to improve and expand the 
activities carried out under the Public Lands Corps Act of 
1993.

                          Background and Need

    The Public Lands Corps was established by the Public Lands 
Corps Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-82; hereinafter ``the 1993 
Act'') to encourage young adults to carry out a wide range of 
service projects on public lands. The National Park Service has 
supported a wide range of Public Lands Corps projects since 
1997, but the authority was not used by other agencies. In 
2005, the 1993 Act was amended to expand the use of the Corps 
and the opportunities it promised for young people around the 
country. While youth conservation corps have a strong record of 
restoring, maintaining, and improving public lands in a cost-
effective and efficient manner working in partnership with 
Federal land management agencies, the 2005 amendments 
nevertheless had a limited effect on expanding the use of the 
program. However, interest in the program has continued to 
grow.
    Corps programs benefit young men and women by providing 
them with public service, service-learning, job training, and 
work opportunities. It also introduces a diversity of young 
people to careers in natural and cultural resource stewardship 
and public service by working directly with conservation 
professionals in land management agencies. This work also 
promotes the understanding of and appreciation for the 
agencies' missions, and provides potential pathways to Federal 
careers in the public land management agencies, which are in 
need of a new generation of employees.
    S. 896 would expand and strengthen the 1993 Act by creating 
a ``consulting intern'' program for graduate students who help 
agencies carry out management analysis activities, facilitating 
career placement for corps participants, emphasizing 
partnerships and learning opportunities, authorizing additional 
financial and administrative support for corps participants, 
and establishing an Indian Youth Service Corps to be managed by 
tribally authorized organizations. S. 896 also diversifies the 
types of projects and activities that may be carried out by the 
corps, including such activities as historical and cultural 
research, museum curatorial work, oral history projects, 
documentary photography, public and web information and 
services, and visitor safety projects.

                          Legislative History

    S. 896 was introduced by Senator Bingaman on May 5, 2011, 
and is cosponsored by Senators Begich, Boxer, Coons, Snowe, and 
Tom Udall. The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a 
hearing on the bill on May 18, 2011 (S. Hrg. 112-39). At its 
business meeting on November 10, 2011, the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources ordered S. 766 favorably reported with 
amendments. The Committee reported a similar bill (H.R. 1612, 
as amended) by voice vote in the 111th Congress.

                        Committee Recommendation

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open 
business session on November 10, 2011, by a voice vote of a 
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 896, if 
amended as described herein. Senators Barrasso, Risch, Lee, 
Paul and Portman asked to be recorded as opposing the measure.

                          Committee Amendments

    During its consideration of S. 766, the Committee adopted 
two amendments. The first amendment struck an unnecessary 
provision relating to cost-of-living differentials, the 
authority for which already was adequately provided for in the 
bill's provision of authority for the Secretary to establish 
living allowances. The second amendment struck the bill's 
authorization to appropriate such sums as may have been 
necessary to carry it out. As a result, the bill would maintain 
the overall $12 million authorization for appropriations in 
existing law.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

    Section 1 provides the short title for the Act.
    Section 2 amends the short title of the 1993 Act and 
provides for references to the original short title to be 
considered references to the amended short title.
    Section 3 provides that ``the Act'' in the Public Lands 
Service Corps Act of 2011 refers to the Public Lands Service 
Corps Act of 1993.
    Section 4(a) of the Act makes several conforming amendments 
to the 1993 Act.
    Subsections (b), (c), and (d) amend the findings, purposes, 
and definitions, respectively, in the 1993 Act.
    Subsection (e) amends section 204 of the 1993 Act to add a 
Public Lands Service Corps program in the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration in the Department of Commerce to 
create Federal offices and coordinators for Corps activities, 
to establish an Indian Youth Service Corps liaison in the 
Department of the Interior, and to provide that individuals may 
enroll in the Corps for no more than a total of 2 years. It 
also eliminates explicit contracting authority for the Corps, 
emphasizing the use of cooperative agreements with qualified 
youth or conservation corps as the primary mechanism for 
carrying out the program; adds provisions for recruitment and 
training programs for Corps members; describes and expands the 
types of projects that may be carried out through the Corps; 
and clarifies that volunteers from other programs, such as the 
Retired Senior Volunteer Program, may participate in Corps 
projects. Finally, it adds a requirement for certain Corps 
participants, recipients of Corps program funding, and 
supervisors to submit to a criminal history check in accordance 
with section 189D(b) of the National and Community Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 12645g(b)), and precludes any individual under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary or that is formally connected to 
the Corps from enrolling, receiving funds, or having regular 
contact with Corps participants during their program activities 
if that individual refuses to submit to--or makes a false 
statement in connection with--a criminal history check, is 
registered--or is required to be registered--on a State sex 
offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry, or has 
been convicted of murder (as described in 18 U.S.C. 1111).
    Subsection (f) amends section 205 of the 1993 Act to 
clarify that the Secretaries may provide temporary housing and 
transportation for Corps participants, and may recruit mentors, 
supervisors, and others to help train and lead the Corps.
    Subsection (g) amends section 206 of the 1993 Act to add a 
``consulting intern'' program to the Corps to carry out 
management analysis for agencies in the three participating 
Departments. This provision builds on the National Park 
Service's successful use of consulting interns from business 
and public management graduate schools to help develop business 
plans for units of the National Park System.
    Subsection (h) renumbers sections of the 1993 Act.
    Subsections (i) adds a new section 207 to the 1993 Act to 
authorize the Secretaries to enter into cooperative agreements 
and make competitive grants to Indian tribes to establish an 
Indian Youth Service Corps to focus on carrying out appropriate 
natural and cultural resources conservation projects on Indian 
lands.
    Subsection (j) adds a new section 208 to the 1993 Act to 
require the Secretaries to issue guidelines for the management 
of the Corps programs under their jurisdiction.
    Subsection (k) clarifies that the Secretaries may reimburse 
Corps participants for the cost of travel to and from the Corps 
program and modifies the Federal hiring provisions of the 1993 
Act.
    Subsections (l) and (m) make conforming changes to the 
National Service Educational Awards and non-displacement 
provisions of the 1993 Act, respectively.
    Subsection (n) amends the funding provisions of the 1993 
Act to permit qualified youth and conservation corps to use 
other Federal funds, such as those from the Corporation for 
National and Community Service, to meet their cost-sharing 
requirements, and to permit the Secretaries to reduce the cost-
sharing requirements from 25% to not less than 10% under 
certain circumstances.
    Subsection (o) simplifies the existing authorization for 
appropriations for the Corps.

                   Cost and Budgetary Considerations

    The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the costs of 
this measure has been requested but was not received at the 
time the report was filed. When the Congressional Budget Office 
completes its cost estimate, it will be posted on the Internet 
at www.cbo.gov.

                      Regulatory Impact Evaluation

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out S. 896.
    The Act is not a regulatory measure in the sense of 
imposing Government-established standards or significant 
economic responsibilities on private individuals and 
businesses.
    No personal information would be collected in administering 
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal 
privacy.
    Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the 
enactment of S. 896, as ordered reported.

                   Congressionally Directed Spending

    S. 896, as ordered reported, does not contain any 
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, 
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate.

                        Executive Communications

    The views of the Department of Agriculture and the 
Department of the Interior were included in testimony received 
by the Committee at the May 18, 2011, hearing (S. Hrg. 112-39), 
which is provided below.

       Statement for the Record of the Department of the Interior

    Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the 
views of the Department of the Interior on S. 896, a bill to 
amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the 
authorization of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce and 
the Interior to provide service opportunities for young 
Americans; help restore the nation's natural, cultural, 
historic, archaeological, recreational and scenic resources; 
train a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts; 
and promote the value of public service.
    The Department strongly supports S. 896. This bill would 
strengthen and facilitate the use of the Public Land Corps 
(PLC) program, helping to fulfill Secretary Salazar's vision 
for promoting ways to engage young people across America to 
serve their community and their country. During the last 
Congress, the Department testified in support of similar bills 
in both the House and the Senate. While we appreciate the 
revisions to last Congress's versions of the legislation that 
are reflected in S. 896, we would like to have the opportunity 
to work with the committee on the amendments described in this 
statement and any additional issues that we identify as we 
continue our review of the bill.

                engaging america's youth through service

    While there are other Federal programs that promote 
service, expanding the use of the Public Land Corps is 
particularly important because it also serves other high-
priority goals. The Corps reconnects young people with their 
natural environment and cultural heritage; conserves energy and 
increases out use of alternative sources of energy; and 
provides education, training, and career-building experiences 
which may support a pathway to careers in Federal land 
management agencies, which need new, younger and more diverse 
employees.
    Secretary Salazar created the Youth in Natural Resources 
program during his tenure at the Colorado Department of Natural 
Resources as a way to educate thousands of young people about 
Colorado's natural resources, and he saw firsthand what a 
difference it made in their lives. From the day he was 
nominated as Secretary of the Interior, he has emphasized that 
one of his top priorities would be to find more ways to 
introduce young Americans from all backgrounds to the beauty of 
our national parks, refuges, and public lands and to promote an 
ethic of volunteerism and conservation in this Country's 
youngest generation. Enactment of this legislation helps pave 
the way to meeting one of the Secretary's top priority goals--
to develop a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. Engaging 
youth in the great outdoors through educational and employment 
opportunities is one of the primary focuses of the 
Administration's America's Great Outdoors initiative, and is a 
great example of multiple federal agencies coming together for 
a common goal. S. 896 would help both the Department and our 
sister agencies, USDA and the Department of Commerce, offer 
expanded opportunities for our youth to engage in the care of 
America's Great Outdoors.

                background on public land corps program

    The Department regards the Public Land Corps program as an 
important and successful example of civic engagement and 
conservation. Authorized by the National and Community Service 
Trust Act in 1993, the program uses non-profit organizations 
such as the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and other 
service and conservation corps organizations affiliated with 
the Corps Network as the primary partners in administering the 
Public Land Corps program. These public/private partnership 
efforts help to leverage Federal dollars in some cases 3 to 1 
and have assisted the Department in increasing youth employment 
opportunities by 45% from FY 2009 to FY 2010. In addition, 
other non-profit youth organizations such as the YMCA also 
participate, as do local high schools and job-training youth 
organizations. The youth organizations assist the National Park 
Service (NPS) in its efforts to attract diverse participants to 
the parks by recruiting youth 16-25 years of age from all 
socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
    The National Park Service makes extensive use of the Public 
Land Corps Act. This authority is used for the majority of all 
NPS youth work projects that utilize a non-profit youth-serving 
organization as a partner. In FY 2010, 3,006 employment 
opportunities\1\ were created through the projects undertaken 
by these partner organizations. Many of these projects were for 
maintenance and ecological restoration purposes. The NPS 
receives a 25 percent cost match from the participating partner 
organizations. During FY 2010, the NPS spent $4.4 million in 
Service-wide fee revenue and approximately $2 million in park-
specific fee revenue, as well as approximately $2.5 million in 
appropriations for the Youth Intern Program, on PLC projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Not less than 80 hours of pay compensation which can be in the 
form of a stipend or hourly wage, which must be through a cooperative 
agreement. Includes both projects involving work crews and individual 
internships.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    An example of what this program has accomplished is 
exemplified by the work of one PLC partner organization, the 
Greening Youth Foundation, which recruited and trained 16 at-
risk young adults from Denver. From April, 2010, through 
February, 2011, these 18- to 24-year olds earned green 
certifications that enabled them to conduct energy audits and 
energy retrofits at all the national park sites in Colorado and 
Arizona. The work provided marketable skills to its young 
participants and energy savings to the parks.
    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS) also have a long history of employing 
young people through the Youth Conservation Corps and through 
the SCA and other youth service and conservation organizations 
for a wide array of projects related to public lands resource 
enhancement and facility maintenance under the Public Lands 
Corps Act. Though most Corps are affiliated with the nationwide 
Corps Network, they are often administered at the State, rather 
than national level. The FWS and SCA have partnered for over 20 
years to offer work and learning opportunities to students. In 
FY 2010, 218 Conservation interns served at 90FWS sites, 
contributing more than 157,040 hours of work.
    The BLM has engaged the services of non-profit youth 
service corps for many years under financial assistance 
agreements at the state and local level. In 2010, the BLM 
supported 1,689 youth employees through non-profit youth 
service corps organizations. They participated in a variety of 
conservation service activities such as recreation and river 
management, historic building restoration and maintenance, seed 
collection, and invasive species control. BLM's Salem Oregon 
District, for example, hires a mixture of Northwest Youth 
Corps, Clackamas County, and Columbia River Youth Corps members 
each year to perform a variety of activities such as trail 
maintenance and construction.
    The FWS manages 553 units of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System that cover over 150 million acres of land and waters, as 
well as 70 National Fish Hatcheries, which would directly 
benefit from programs authorized under S. 896. National 
Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries enjoy strong 
relationships with the local communities, and are involved in 
many community-based projects that help maintain sustainable 
landscapes. The FWS's work is also supported by over 200 non-
profit Friends organizations that assist in offering quality 
education programs, mentoring, and work experience for youth.
    In 2010, the FWS employed 858 youth employees through 
local, State, and non-profit youth service corps. The FWS has 
provided funding for a YCC program involving the Mescalero 
Apache youth at the Mescalero Tribal Hatchery in New Mexico. 
The FWS has working relationships with numerous colleges and 
universities for students interested in pursuing careers in 
fish and wildlife management.

               the public lands service corps act of 2011

    S. 896 would make several administrative and programmatic 
changes to the Public Land Corps Act. These changes would 
encourage broader agency use of the program, make more varied 
opportunities available for young men and women, and provide 
more support for participants during and after their service. 
Appropriately, S. 896 would change the program's name to Public 
Lands Service Corps, reflecting the emphasis on ``service'' 
that is the hallmark of the program. President Obama is 
committed to providing young people with greater opportunities 
and incentives to serve their community and country. Through an 
enhanced Public Lands Service Corps, we would be taking a 
critical first step that direction.
    Key changes that the legislation would make to existing law 
include:
           Adding the Department of Commerce's National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which 
        administers national marine sanctuaries and 
        conservation programs geared toward engaging youth in 
        science, service and stewardship, as an agency 
        authorized to use the program;
           Establishing an Indian Youth Corps so Indian 
        Youth can benefit from Corps programs based on Indian 
        lands, carrying out projects that their Tribes and 
        communities determine to be priorities;
           Authorizing a departmental-level office at 
        the Department of the Interior to coordinate Corps 
        activities within the three land management bureaus;
           Requiring each of the three relevant 
        departments to undertake or contract for a recruiting 
        program for the Corps;
           Requiring a training program for Corps 
        members, and identifying specific components the 
        training must include;
           Identifying more specific types of projects 
        that could be conducted under this authority;
           Allowing participants in other volunteer 
        programs to participate in PLC projects;
           Allowing agencies to make arrangements with 
        other Federal, State, or local agencies, or private 
        organizations, to provide temporary housing for Corps 
        members;
           Providing explicit authority for the 
        establishment of residential conservation centers;
           Authorizing agencies to recruit experienced 
        volunteers from other programs to serve as mentors to 
        Corps members;
           Adding ``consulting intern'' as a new 
        category of service employment under the PLC program;
           Allowing agencies to apply a cost-of-living 
        differential in the provision of living allowances and 
        to reimburse travel expenses;
           Allowing agencies to provide non-competitive 
        hiring status for Corps members for two years after 
        completing service, rather than only 120 days, if 
        certain terms are met;
           Allowing agencies to provide job and 
        education counseling, referrals, and other appropriate 
        services to Corps members who have completed their 
        service; and
           Eliminating the $12 million authorization 
        ceiling for the program.
    We believe that the Department's program would benefit from 
enactment of this legislation. As noted above, most PLC 
projects are designed to address maintenance and ecological 
restoration needs, and those types of projects would continue 
to be done under S. 896. However, this legislation specifies a 
broader range of potential projects, making it likely that 
Corps members could become involved in such varied activities 
as historical and cultural research, museum curatorial work, 
oral history projects and programs, documentary photography, 
public information and orientation services that promote 
visitor safety, and activities that support the creation of 
public works of art. Participants might assist employees in the 
delivery of interpretive or educational programs and create 
interpretive products such as website content, Junior Ranger 
program books, printed handouts, and audiovisual programs.
    PLC participants would also be able to work for a partner 
organization where the work might involve sales, office work, 
accounting, and management, so long as the work experience is 
directly related to the protection and management of public 
lands. The NPS and the FWS have a large number of partner 
organizations that would be potential sponsors of young people 
interested in the type of work they might offer.
    An important change for the Department is the addition of 
specific authority for agencies to pay transportation expenses 
for non-residential Corps members. Transportation costs may be 
a limiting factor in program participation of economically 
disadvantaged young people.
    Another important change is the addition of ``consulting 
intern'' as a new category of service employment under the PLC 
program, expanding on the use of mostly college-student 
``resource assistants,'' provided for under existing law. The 
consulting interns would be graduate students who would help 
agencies carry out management analysis activities. NPS has 
successfully used business and public management graduate 
student interns to write business plans for parks for several 
years, and this addition would bring these interns under the 
PLC umbrella.
    The Public Lands Service Corps would also offer agencies 
the ability to hire successful corps members non-competitively 
at the end of their appointment, which would provide the agency 
with an influx of knowledgeable and diverse employees as well 
as career opportunities for those interested in the agencies' 
mission. Refuges and hatcheries, for example, are uniquely 
qualified to connect with local communities since the Service 
has so many refuges across the country that are located near 
smaller communities and can directly engage urban, inner city, 
and rural youth. For example, partnering academic institutions 
are beginning to offer academic certificate programs to enhance 
the students' work experience and marketability for securing 
fall-time employment in both the Federal and non-profit 
sectors, thereby providing orientation and exposure to a broad 
range of career options.
    The legislation would also give the Department's other 
bureaus that would utilize this program the authority to expand 
the scope of existing corps programs to reflect modern day 
challenges, such as climate change and add incentives to 
attract new participants, especially from underrepresented and 
diverse populations.
    An expanded Public Lands Service Corps program would 
provide more opportunities for thousands of young Americans to 
participate in public service while assisting the Department to 
address the critical maintenance, restoration, repair and 
rehabilitation needs on our public lands and gain a better 
understanding of the impacts of climate change on these 
treasured landscapes.

                     recommended changes to s. 896

    As noted at the start of this statement, we appreciate the 
changes to last Congress's version of the legislation that are 
reflected in S. 896. However, the Administration recommends the 
following amendments to this bill:
(1) Hiring preference
    The Administration recommends changing eligibility for 
former PLSC participants for noncompetitive hiring status from 
two years to one year. This change would make eligibility 
status consistent with other Government-wide, non-competitive 
appointment authorities based on service outside of the Federal 
government.
(2) Cost sharing for nonprofit organizations contributing to expenses 
        of resource assistants and consulting interns
    Under current law in the case of resource assistants, and 
under S. 896 in the case of consulting interns, sponsoring 
organizations are required to cost-share 25 percent of the 
expenses of providing and supporting these individuals from 
``private sources of funding.'' The Administration recommends 
giving agencies the ability to reduce the non-Federal 
contribution to no less than 10 percent, only if the Secretary 
determines it is necessary to enable a greater range of 
organizations, such as smaller, community-based organizations 
that draw from low-income and rural populations, to participate 
in the PLSC program. This would make the cost-share provisions 
for resource assistants and consulting interns parallel to the 
provisions under the bill for other PLSC participants.
(3) Definition of Eligible Public Lands
    The Administration recommends technical amendments to 
clarify that PLSC activities will be carried out on public 
lands as enumerated in the law. ``Eligible service lands'' may 
be interpreted to include non-Federal lands.
(4) Agreements with Partners on Training and Employing Corps Members
    The Administration recommends striking the provision in S. 
896 that would allow PLSC members to receive federally funded 
stipends and other PLSC benefits while working directly for 
non-Federal third parties. The need for this language is 
unclear, since agencies already have flexibility in how they 
coordinate work with cooperating associations, educational 
institutes, friends groups, or similar nonprofit partnership 
organizations. Yet, the language could raise unanticipated 
concerns over accountability, liability, and conflicts of 
interest. For example, this language could allow an individual 
to receive a federally funded stipend under a PLSC agreement, 
and then perform work for a different non-federal group (such 
as a cooperating association) that is subject to agency 
oversight under different agreements. This language could blur 
the lines of responsibility that have been established in 
response to IG concerns over the management of cooperating 
associations and friends groups.
(5) Living Allowance Differentials
    The Administration recommends striking the provision in S. 
896 that would allow for the Secretary to provide living 
allowance differentials to employees. Current law provides the 
Secretary with broad authority to set ``living allowances'' at 
an appropriate rate. Adding ``cost-of-living'' language to a 
law that would modify compensation for Federal employees may 
unnecessarily introduce confusion.
    The Department is happy to answer any questions you or the 
other members of the subcommittee have.

 Statement of Mary Wagner, Associate Chief, Forest Service, Department 
                             of Agriculture

    Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, thank you for 
the opportunity to testify before you today on S. 896, the 
Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2011. I am Mary Wagner, 
Associate Chief of the Forest Service.
    S. 896 is a welcome amendment to the Public Lands Corps Act 
of 1993. The Nation's forests and grasslands are unique and 
special ecosystems that the Forest Service manages to meet the 
needs of present and future generations. These lands yield 
abundant sustainable goods and ecosystem services for the 
American people. The National Forest System lands, managed 
under a multiple-use, sustained-yield mission are perfect 
places for the Public Lands Service Corps participants to learn 
and practice an array of conservation, preservation, 
interpretation and cultural resource activities, and take 
advantage of outstanding and unique educational opportunities. 
In states in every region, the Forest Service has benefited 
greatly from the services of Conservation Corps on National 
Forest System lands.
    The Department strongly supports S. 896. This bill would 
strengthen and facilitate the use of the Public Land Corps 
(PLC) program, helping to fulfill the vision that Secretary 
Vilsack has for engaging young people across America to serve 
their community and their country. It is also consistent with 
the goals of the President's America's Great Outdoors 
Initiative which includes catalyzing the establishment of a 
21st century Conservation Service Corps to engage young people 
in public lands service work. S. 896 will help USDA and our 
sister agencies, DOI, NOAA, expand opportunities for our youth 
to engage in the care of America's Great Outdoors, and is a 
great example of multiple agencies coming together to implement 
a shared goal.
    In recent years, the Forest Service has greatly expanded 
partnerships with local, state, and urban based conservation 
Corps programs and our Job Corps Center portfolio.
    Under S. 896, we will be able to increase partnerships with 
Corps programs and expand opportunities for Job Corps graduates 
in the Green Careers program. In 2010, our partnerships with 
the Students Conservation Association, The Corps Network, and 
multiple youth, conservation and veterans Corps in every region 
resulted in nearly 5,500 youth and young adults serving on 
public lands. The expanded authority provided by S. 896 will 
improve the Act by providing increased flexibility to use 
interns and Conservation Corps teams. It will also help ensure 
that underserved populations are able to participate by 
defining minimum match requirements while also providing 
flexibility with the match requirement.
    The emphasis on experiential training and education will 
help promote the value of public service in addition to 
contributing to the accomplishment of much needed work. S. 896 
will expand our usage of the PLSC in a variety of program areas 
by providing additional resources and mechanisms to engage 
young people in a range of developmental opportunities. This 
authority will further assist in providing even more outdoor 
opportunities that will nurture the next generation of public 
land stewards.
    The broader definition of natural, cultural and historic 
resource work under the amendment benefits the Nation's forests 
and grasslands by authorizing a wider variety of different 
types of youth engagement. The expanded authority to engage 
Native Americans through the Indian Youth Service Corps and 
resources assistants and consulting interns will contribute to 
our goals of creating a more diverse workforce as we seek to 
fill positions in an aging workforce. These new and expanded 
authorities will ultimately promote public understanding and 
appreciation of the mission and work of the federal land, 
coastal and ocean management agencies.
    We appreciate the flexibility of the expanded authority in 
section 205, which would authorize the use of residential 
facilities. Our history of program delivery through Forest 
Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers has allowed us 
to reach more than six million youth since the program was 
established in 1964. The U.S. Forest Service operates 
residential Civilian Conservation Centers through an 
interagency agreement with the Department of Labor Job Corps 
program. The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act authorized the 
Forest Service to operate six additional Job Corps Centers 
formerly run by the Bureau of Reclamation. The now 28 Job Corps 
Civilian Conservation Centers have the capacity to house, 
educate and train over 6,200 enrollees between the ages of 16 
and 24. Our extensive experience operating residential 
facilities successfully has resulted in the establishment of 
many best practices and in-depth operational knowledge about 
residential conservation centers.
    The Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers not only help 
cultivate and develop emerging leaders within the Forest 
Service, but also provide a pipeline of entry-level workers. 
Each year the Forest Service hires dozens of Job Corps 
graduates that have participated in forestry and conservation 
programs. Through Job Corps, the Forest Service is building a 
skilled and diverse workforce capable of advancing the agency's 
mission.
    With our partners, we can confidently leverage resources 
and expand our ability to develop a well-trained and 
responsible workforce in natural and cultural resources. Youth 
will participate in community service, restoration and 
stewardship projects; leadership and civic engagement programs; 
recreation; and team building and independent living skills 
training.
    The Forest Service is uniquely positioned to manage 
residential conservation centers on the National Forests and 
Grasslands. This initiative could become an important component 
of the emerging youth outdoors initiative. It will also provide 
us with a unique opportunity to develop and implement 
innovative programming that will engage more urban youth and 
people that have been previously underserved.
    There are a number of implementation issues that should be 
considered in establishing new residential conservation 
centers. These include the costs of operating and maintaining 
the facilities, potential liability issues, and questions about 
the impact on contract and labor laws. We would like to work 
with the Committee on addressing these types of issues.
    S. 896 would increase the opportunity for Public Lands 
Service Corps members to leverage their education and work 
experience in obtaining permanent full-time employment with 
Federal agencies, but we offer a few amendments to the bill 
that are outlined below:
(1) Hiring preference
    The Administration recommends changing eligibility for 
former PLSC for noncompetitive hiring status from two years to 
one year. This change would make eligibility status consistent 
with other Government-wide, non-competitive appointment 
authorities based on service outside of the Federal government.
(2) Cost sharing for nonprofit organizations contributing to expenses 
        of resource assistants and consulting interns
    Under current law in the case of resource assistants, and 
under S. 896 in the case of consulting interns, sponsoring 
organizations are required to cost-share 25 percent of the 
expenses of providing and supporting these individuals from 
``private sources of funding.'' The Administration recommends 
giving agencies the ability to reduce the non-Federal 
contribution to no less than 10 percent, if the Secretary 
determines it is necessary to enable a greater range of 
organizations, such as smaller, community-based organizations 
that draw from low-income and rural populations, to participate 
in the PLSC program. This would make the cost-share provisions 
for resource assistants and consulting interns parallel to the 
provisions under the bill for other PLSC participants.
(3) Department-wide authorities
    The Administration recommends technical amendments to 
clarify that PLSC activities will be carried out on public 
lands as enumerated in the law. ``Eligible service lands'' may 
be interpreted to include non-Federal lands.
(4) Agreements with partners on training and employing corps members
    The Administration recommends striking the provision in S. 
896 that would allow PLSC members to receive federally funded 
stipends and other PLSC benefits while working directly for 
non-Federal third parties. The need for this language is 
unclear, since agencies already have flexibility in how they 
coordinate work with cooperating associations, educational 
institutes, friends groups, or similar nonprofit partnership 
organizations. Yet, the language could raise unanticipated 
concerns over accountability, liability, and conflicts of 
interest. For example, this language could allow an individual 
to receive a federally funded stipend under a PLSC agreement, 
and then perform work for a different non-federal group (such 
as a cooperating association) that is subject to agency 
oversight under different agreements. This language could blur 
the lines of responsibility that have been established in 
response to IG concerns over the management of cooperating 
associations and friends groups.
(5) Living allowance differentials
    The Administration recommends striking the provision in S. 
896 that would allow for the Secretary to provide living 
allowance differentials to employees. Current law provides the 
Secretary with broad authority to set ``living allowances'' at 
an appropriate rate. Adding ``cost-of-living'' language to a 
law that would modify compensation for Federal employees may 
unnecessarily introduce confusion.
    The Forest Service has offices already in place to help 
coordinate the Public Lands Service Corps through its National 
Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers program and the Office 
of Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources Volunteers 
(RHVR) and Service program. The Forest Service RHVR Volunteers 
and Service program could likely be the coordinating office for 
Public Lands Service Corps in the Forest Service.
    The Forest Service is fully committed to the advancement of 
young people through a variety of conservation projects, 
training, and service learning and conservation education. 
Along with the Bureau of Land Management, we can provide 
participants with an understanding of the agency's history and 
training on multiple-use and sustained-yield management of 
natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and 
scenic resources. Our mission, ``To sustain the health, 
diversity and productivity of the Nation's forests and 
grasslands to meet the needs of present and future 
generations,'' can only be achieved by educating future 
generations and training the future public and private land 
managers. In turn, they will promote the value of public 
service and continue the conservation legacy of natural 
resource management for the United States.
    The America's Great Outdoors initiative has generated a 
national dialogue on how to reconnect Americans with the 
outdoors. The AGO report released February 2011 includes a 
major emphasis on youth and career pathways. The very first 
goal in the report is ``develop quality conservation jobs and 
service opportunities that protect and restore America's 
natural and cultural resources.''
    USDA Forest Service staff are a part of an interagency 
workgroup that is presently working to (1) catalyze the 
establishment of a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps that 
will engage young Americans in public lands and water 
restoration; (2) work with OPM to improve career pathways and 
to review barriers to jobs in natural resource conservation and 
historic and cultural preservation; and (3) improve federal 
capacity for recruiting, training and managing volunteers and 
volunteer programs to create a new generation of citizen 
stewards. The proposed amendments to the Public Lands Corps Act 
align well with these objectives and will undergird our efforts 
to fully implement the President's America's Great Outdoors 
priorities.
    Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, this concludes 
my prepared statement. I am happy to answer any questions that 
you or Members of the Committee may have.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
the bill S. 896 as ordered reported, are shown as follows 
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black 
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in 
which no change is proposed is shown in roman):

                     PUBLIC LANDS CORPS ACT OF 1993

         (Title II of the Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970)

          (Public Law 91-378, as amended by Public Law 103-82)

                         (16 U.S.C. 1721-1729)

TITLE II--[PUBLIC LANDS CORPS] PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS

[SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    [This title may be cited as the ``Public Lands Corps Act of 
1993''.]

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCE.

    (a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Public 
Lands Service Corps Act of 1993''.
    (b) References.--Any reference contained in any law, 
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United 
States to the ``Public Lands Corps Act of 1993'' shall be 
considered to be a reference to the ``Public Lands Service 
Corps Act of 1993''.

SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
          (1) Conserving or developing natural and cultural 
        resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally 
        important lands and waters through the use of the 
        Nation's young men and women in a [Public Lands Corps 
        can benefit] conservation corps can benefit those men 
        and women by providing them with education and work 
        opportunities, furthering their understanding and 
        appreciation of [the natural and cultural] natural and 
        cultural resources, and providing a means to pay for 
        higher education or to repay indebtedness they have 
        incurred to obtain higher education while at the same 
        time benefiting the Nation's economy and its 
        environment.
          (2) Participants in conservation corps receive 
        meaningful education and training, and their experience 
        with conservation corps provides preparation for 
        careers in public service.
          (3) Young men and women who participate in the 
        rehabilitation and restoration of the natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic treasures of the United States will gain an 
        increased appreciation and understanding of the public 
        lands and heritage of the United States, and of the 
        value of public service, and are likely to become life-
        long advocates for those values.
          [(2)] (4) Many facilities and natural, cultural, 
        historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic 
        resources located on eligible service lands are in 
        disrepair or degraded and in need of labor intensive 
        rehabilitation, restoration, and enhancement work which 
        cannot be carried out by Federal agencies at existing 
        personnel levels.
          [(3)] (5) Youth conservation corps have established a 
        good record of restoring and maintaining these kinds of 
        facilities and resources in a cost effective and 
        efficient manner, especially when they have worked in 
        partnership arrangements with government land 
        management agencies.
          (6) The work of conservation corps can benefit 
        communities adjacent to public lands and facilities 
        through renewed civic engagement and participation by 
        corps participants and those they serve, improved 
        student achievement, and restoration and rehabilitation 
        of public assets.
    [(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title to--
          [(1) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate 
        conservation projects on eligible service lands where 
        such projects will not be performed by existing 
        employees;
          [(2) assist governments and Indian tribes in 
        performing research and public education tasks 
        associated with natural and cultural resources on 
        eligible service lands;
          [(3) expose young men and women to public service 
        while furthering their understanding and appreciation 
        of the Nation's natural and cultural resources;
          [(4) expand educational opportunities by rewarding 
        individuals who participate in national service with an 
        increased ability to pursue higher education or job 
        training; and
          [(5) stimulate interest among the Nation's young men 
        and women in conservation careers by exposing them to 
        conservation professionals in land managing agencies.]
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
          (1) to introduce young men and women to public 
        service while furthering their understanding and 
        appreciation of the natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of 
        the United States;
          (2) to facilitate training and recruitment 
        opportunities in which service is credited as 
        qualifying experience for careers in the management of 
        such resources;
          (3) to instill in a new generation of young men and 
        women from across the United States, including young 
        men and women from diverse backgrounds, the desire to 
        seek careers in resource stewardship and public service 
        by allowing them to work directly with professionals in 
        agencies responsible for the management of the natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic resources of the United States;
          (4) to perform, in a cost-effective manner, 
        appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
        projects where such projects are not being performed by 
        existing employees;
          (5) to assist State and local governments and Indian 
        tribes in performing research and public education 
        tasks associated with the conservation of natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic resources;
          (6) to expand educational opportunities on public 
        lands and by rewarding individuals who participate in 
        conservation corps with an increased ability to pursue 
        higher education and job training;
          (7) to promote public understanding and appreciation 
        of the missions and the natural and cultural resources 
        conservation work of the participating Federal agencies 
        through training opportunities, community service and 
        outreach, and other appropriate means; and
          (8) to create a grant program for Indian tribes to 
        establish the Indian Youth Service Corps so that Indian 
        youth can benefit from carrying out projects on Indian 
        lands that the Indian tribes and communities determine 
        to be priorities.

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this title:
          [(1) Appropriate conservation project.--The term 
        ``appropriate conservation project'' means any project 
        for the conservation, restoration, construction or 
        rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, or scenic resources.
          [(2) Corps and public lands corps.--The terms 
        ``Corps'' and ``Public Lands Corps'' mean the Public 
        Lands Corps established under section 204.]
          (1) Appropriate natural and cultural resources 
        conservation project.--The term ``appropriate natural 
        and cultural resources conservation project'' means any 
        project for the conservation, restoration, 
        construction, or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, 
        historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic 
        resources.
          (2) Consulting intern.--The term ``consulting 
        intern'' means a consulting intern selected under 
        section 206(a)(2).
          (3) Corps and public lands service corps.--The terms 
        ``Corps'' and ``Public Lands Service Corps'' mean the 
        Public Lands Service Corps established under section 
        204(a).
          (4) Corps participant.--The term ``corps 
        participant'' means an individual enrolled--
                  (A) in the Corps or the Indian Youth Service 
                Corps; or
                  (B) as a resource assistant or consulting 
                intern.
          [(3)] (5) Eligible service lands.--The term 
        ``eligible service lands'' means public lands, Indian 
        lands, and Hawaiian home lands.
          [(4)] (6) Hawaiian home lands.--The term ``Hawaiian 
        home lands'' means all lands given the status of 
        Hawaiian home lands under section 204 of the Hawaiian 
        Homes Commission Act, 1920 (42 Stat. 110), or under the 
        corresponding provision of the Constitution of the 
        State of Hawaii adopted under section 4 of the Act 
        entitled ``An Act to provide for the admission of the 
        State of Hawaii into the Union'', approved March 18, 
        1959 (Public Law 86-3; 73 Stat. 5).
          [(5)] (7) Indian.--The term ``Indian'' means a person 
        who--
                  (A) is a member of an Indian tribe; or
                  (B) is a ``Native'', as defined in section 
                3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
                (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)).
          [(6)] (8) Indian lands.--The term ``Indian lands'' 
        means--
                  (A) any Indian reservation;
                  (B) any public domain Indian allotments;
                  (C) any former Indian reservation in the 
                State of Oklahoma;
                  (D) any land held by incorporated Native 
                groups, regional corporations, and village 
                corporations under the Alaska Native Claims 
                Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
                  (E) any land held by dependent Indian 
                communities within the borders of the United 
                States whether within the original or 
                subsequently acquired territory thereof, and 
                whether within or without the limits of a 
                State.
          [(7)] (9) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' 
        means an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized 
        group or community, including any Native village, 
        Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation, as 
        defined in subsection (c), (g), or (j), respectively, 
        of section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
        (43 U.S.C. 1602 (c), (g), or (j)), that is recognized 
        as eligible for the special programs and services 
        provided by the United States under Federal law to 
        Indians because of their status as Indians.
          (10) Indian youth service corps.--The term ``Indian 
        Youth Service Corps'' means a qualified youth or 
        conservation corps established under section 207 that--
                  (A) enrolls individuals between the ages of 
                15 and 25, inclusive, a majority of whom are 
                Indians; and
                  (B) is established pursuant to a tribal 
                resolution that describes the agreement between 
                the Indian tribe and the qualified youth or 
                conservation corps to operate an Indian Youth 
                Service Corps program for the benefit of the 
                members of the Indian tribe.
          [(8)] (11) Priority project.--The term ``priority 
        project'' means an [appropriate conservation project] 
        appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
        project conducted on eligible service lands to further 
        1 or more of the purposes of the Healthy Forests 
        Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), as 
        follows:
                  (A) To reduce wildfire risk to a community, 
                municipal water supply, or other at-risk 
                Federal land.
                  (B) To protect a watershed or address a 
                threat to forest and rangeland health, 
                including catastrophic wildfire.
                  (C) To address the impact of insect or 
                disease infestations or other damaging agents 
                on forest and rangeland health.
                  (D) To protect, restore, or enhance forest 
                ecosystem components to--
                          (i) promote the recovery of 
                        threatened or endangered species;
                          (ii) improve biological diversity; or
                          (iii) enhance productivity and carbon 
                        sequestration.
          [(9) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' means 
        any lands or waters (or interest therein) owned or 
        administered by the United States, except that such 
        term does not include any Indian lands.]
          (12) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' means 
        any land or water (or interest therein) owned or 
        administered by the United States, including those 
        areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and 
        their connecting waters, and submerged lands over which 
        the United States exercises jurisdiction, except that 
        such term does not include Indian lands.
          [(10)] (13) Qualified youth or conservation corps.--
        The term ``qualified youth or conservation corps'' 
        means any program established by a State or local 
        government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, 
        or by a nonprofit organization that--
                  (A) is capable of offering meaningful, [full-
                time,] productive work for individuals between 
                the ages of [16] 15 and 25, inclusive, in a 
                natural or cultural resource setting on 
                eligible service lands;
                  (B) gives participants a mix of work 
                experience, basic and life skills, education, 
                training, and support services; [and]
                  (C) provides participants with the 
                opportunity to develop citizenship values and 
                skills through service to their community and 
                the United States[.]; and
                  (D) makes available for audit for each fiscal 
                year for which the qualified youth or 
                conservation corps receives Federal funds under 
                this Act, all information pertaining to the 
                expenditure of the funds, any matching funds, 
                and participant demographics.
          (14) Residential conservation centers.--The term 
        ``residential conservation centers'' means the 
        facilities authorized under section 205.
          [(11)] (15) Resource assistant.--The term ``resource 
        assistant'' means a resource assistant selected under 
        section [206] 206(a)(1). 
          [(12)] (16) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' 
        means--
                  (A) with respect to National Forest System 
                land, the Secretary of Agriculture; [and]
                  (B) with respect to Indian lands, Hawaiian 
                home lands, or land administered by the 
                Department of the Interior, the Secretary of 
                the Interior[.]; and
                  (C) with respect to the National Marine 
                Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other 
                coastal, estuarine, and marine habitats, and 
                other lands and facilities administered by the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration, the Secretary of Commerce.
          [(13)] (17) State.--The term ``State'' means any 
        State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 
        the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin 
        Islands of the United States, American Samoa, and the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

SEC. 204. [PUBLIC LANDS CORPS] PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM.

    [(a) Establishment of Public Lands Corps.--There is hereby 
established in the Department of the Interior and the 
Department of Agriculture a Public Lands Corps.]
    (a) Establishment of Public Lands Service Corps.--There is 
established in the Department of the Interior, the Department 
of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a Public Lands 
Service Corps.
    (b) Establishment of Corps Office; Coordinators; Liaison.--
          (1) Establishment of offices.--
                  (A) Department of the interior.--The 
                Secretary of the Interior shall establish a 
                department-level office to coordinate the Corps 
                activities within the Department of the 
                Interior.
                  (B) Department of agriculture.--The Secretary 
                of Agriculture shall establish within the 
                Forest Service an office to coordinate the 
                Corps activities within that agency.
                  (C) Department of commerce.--The Secretary of 
                Commerce shall establish within the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an 
                office to coordinate the Corps activities 
                within that agency.
          (2) Establishment of coordinators.--The Secretary 
        shall designate a Public Lands Service Corps 
        coordinator for each agency under the jurisdiction of 
        the Secretary that administers Corps activities.
          (3) Establishment of liaison.--The Secretary of the 
        Interior shall establish an Indian Youth Service Corps 
        liaison that will--
                  (A) provide outreach to Indian tribes about 
                opportunities for establishing Corps and Indian 
                Youth Service Corps programs; and
                  (B) coordinate with the Tribal Liaison of the 
                Corporation for National Service to identify 
                and establish Corps and Indian Youth Service 
                Corps opportunities for Indian youth.
    [(b) Participants.--The Corps shall consist of individuals 
between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who are enrolled as 
participants in the Corps by the Secretary of the Interior or 
the Secretary of Agriculture. To be eligible for enrollment in 
the Corps, an individual shall satisfy the criteria specified 
in section 137(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 
1990. The Secretaries may enroll such individuals in the Corps 
without regard to the civil service and classification laws, 
rules, or regulations of the United States. The Secretaries may 
establish a preference for the enrollment in the Corps of 
individuals who are economically, physically, or educationally 
disadvantaged.]
    (c) Participants.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may enroll in the 
        Corps individuals who are--
                  (A) hired by an agency under the jurisdiction 
                of the Secretary to perform work authorized 
                under this Act; or
                  (B) members of a qualified youth or 
                conservation corps with which the Secretary has 
                entered into a cooperative agreement to perform 
                work authorized under this Act.
          (2) Resource assistants and consulting interns.--The 
        Secretary may also enroll in the Corps resource 
        assistants and consulting interns in accordance with 
        section 206(a).
          (3) Eligibility requirements.--To be eligible for 
        enrollment as a Corps participant, an individual 
        shall--
                  (A) be between the ages of 15 and 25, 
                inclusive; and
                  (B) satisfy the requirements of section 
                137(a)(5) of the National and Community Service 
                Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12591(a)(5)).
          (4) Terms.--Each Corps participant may be enrolled in 
        the Corps for a term of up to 2 years of service, which 
        may be served over a period that exceeds 2 calendar 
        years.
          (5) Civil service.--An individual may be enrolled as 
        a Corps participant without regard to the civil service 
        and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the 
        United States.
          (6) Preference.--The Secretary may establish a 
        preference for the enrollment as Corps participants 
        individuals who are economically, physically, or 
        educationally disadvantaged.
    [(c)] (d) Qualified Youth or Conservation Corps.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to enter 
        into [contracts and] cooperative agreements with any 
        qualified youth or conservation corps to perform 
        [appropriate conservation projects] appropriate natural 
        and cultural resources conservation projects referred 
        to in [subsection (d)] subsection (f) of this section.
          [(2) Preference.--
                  [(A) In general.--For purposes of entering 
                into contracts and cooperative agreements under 
                paragraph (1), the Secretary may give 
                preference to qualified youth or conservation 
                corps located in a specific area that have a 
                substantial portion of members who are 
                economically, physically, or educationally 
                disadvantaged to carry out projects within the 
                area.
                  [(B) Priority projects.--In carrying out 
                priority projects in a specific area, the 
                Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, give preference to qualified youth 
                or conservation corps located in that specific 
                area that have a substantial portion of members 
                who are economically, physically, or 
                educationally disadvantaged.]
          (2) Recruitment.--The Secretary shall carry out, or 
        enter into cooperative agreements to provide, a program 
        to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing 
        Corps opportunities through high schools, colleges, 
        employment centers, electronic media, and other 
        appropriate institutions and means.
          (3) Preference.--In entering into cooperative 
        agreements under paragraph (1) or awarding competitive 
        grants to Indian tribes or tribally authorized 
        organizations under section 207, the Secretary may give 
        preference to qualified youth or conservation corps 
        that are located in specific areas where a substantial 
        portion of members are economically, physically, or 
        educationally disadvantaged.
    (e) Training.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        training program based at appropriate residential 
        conservation centers or at other suitable regional 
        Federal or other appropriate facilities or sites to 
        provide training for Corps participants.
          (2) Requirements.--In establishing a training program 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                  (A) ensure that the duration and 
                comprehensiveness of the training program shall 
                be commensurate with the projects Corps 
                participants are expected to undertake;
                  (B) develop department-wide standards for the 
                program that include training in--
                          (i) resource stewardship;
                          (ii) health and safety;
                          (iii) ethics for individuals in 
                        public service;
                          (iv) teamwork and leadership; and
                          (v) interpersonal communications;
                  (C) direct the participating agencies within 
                the Department of the Interior, the Forest 
                Service in the case of the Department of 
                Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration in the case of the 
                Department of Commerce, to develop agency-
                specific training guidelines to ensure that 
                Corps participants are appropriately informed 
                about matters specific to that agency, 
                including--
                          (i) the history and organization of 
                        the agency;
                          (ii) the mission of the agency; and
                          (iii) any agency-specific standards 
                        for the management of natural, 
                        cultural, historic, archaeological, 
                        recreational, and scenic resources; and
                  (D) take into account training already 
                received by Corps participants enrolled from 
                qualified youth or conservation corps.
    [(d)] (f) Projects To Be Carried Out.--
          (1) [In general.--]Use of corps; projects.--[The 
        Secretary may utilize the Corps or any qualified youth 
        or conservation corps to carry out]
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary may use the 
                Corps to carry out, with appropriate 
                supervision and training, [appropriate 
                conservation projects] appropriate natural and 
                cultural resources conservation projects which 
                the Secretary is authorized to carry out under 
                other authority of law [on public lands] on 
                eligible service lands.
                  (B) Projects.--Appropriate natural and 
                cultural resources conservation projects 
                carried out under this section may include--
                          (i) protecting, restoring, or 
                        enhancing ecosystem components to 
                        promote species recovery, improve 
                        biological diversity, enhance 
                        productivity and carbon sequestration, 
                        and enhance adaptability and resilience 
                        of eligible service lands and resources 
                        to climate change and other natural and 
                        human disturbances;
                          (ii) promoting the health of eligible 
                        service lands, including--
                                  (I) protecting and restoring 
                                watersheds and forest, 
                                grassland, riparian, estuarine, 
                                marine, or other habitat;
                                  (II) reducing the risk of 
                                uncharacteristically severe 
                                wildfire and mitigating damage 
                                from insects, disease, and 
                                disasters;
                                  (III) controlling erosion;
                                  (IV) controlling and removing 
                                invasive, noxious, or nonnative 
                                species; and
                                  (V) restoring native species;
                          (iii) collecting biological, 
                        archaeological, and other scientific 
                        data, including climatological 
                        information, species populations and 
                        movement, habitat status, and other 
                        information;
                          (iv) assisting in historical and 
                        cultural research, museum curatorial 
                        work, oral history projects, 
                        documentary photography, and activities 
                        that support the creation of public 
                        works of art related to eligible 
                        service lands; and (v) constructing, 
                        repairing, rehabilitating, and 
                        maintaining roads, trails, campgrounds 
                        and other visitor facilities, employee 
                        housing, cultural and historic sites 
                        and structures, and other facilities 
                        that further the purposes of this Act.
          (2) Visitor services.--The Secretary may--
                  (A) enter into or amend an existing 
                cooperative agreement with a cooperating 
                association, educational institution, friends 
                group, or similar nonprofit partner 
                organization for the purpose of providing 
                training and work experience to Corps 
                participants in areas such as sales, office 
                work, accounting, and management, provided that 
                the work experience directly relates to the 
                conservation and management of eligible service 
                lands; and
                  (B) allow Corps participants to help promote 
                visitor safety and enjoyment of eligible 
                service lands, and assist in the gathering of 
                visitor use data.
          (3) Interpretation.--The Secretary may permit Corps 
        participants to provide interpretation or education 
        services for the public under the direct and immediate 
        supervision of an agency employee--
                  (A) to provide orientation and information 
                services to visitors;
                  (B) to assist agency employees in the 
                delivery of interpretive or educational 
                programs where audience size, environmental 
                conditions, safety, or other factors make such 
                assistance desirable;
                  (C) to present programs that relate the 
                personal experience of the Corps participants 
                for the purpose of promoting public awareness 
                of the Corps, the role of the Corps in public 
                land management agencies, and the availability 
                of the Corps to potential participants; and
                  (D) to create nonpersonal interpretive 
                products, such as website content, Junior 
                Ranger program books, printed handouts, and 
                audiovisual programs.
          [(2)] (4) Projects on indian lands.--[Appropriate 
        conservation projects] Appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation projects may also be carried out 
        under this title on Indian lands with the approval of 
        the Indian tribe involved and on Hawaiian home lands 
        with the approval of the Department of Hawaiian Home 
        Lands of the State of Hawaii.
          [(3)] (5) Disaster prevention or relief project.--The 
        Secretary may authorize [appropriate conservation 
        projects] appropriate natural and cultural resources 
        conservation projects and other appropriate projects to 
        be carried out on Federal, State, local, or private 
        land as part of a Federal disaster prevention or relief 
        effort.
      [(e)] (g) Preference for certain projects.--In selecting 
[appropriate conservation projects] appropriate natural and 
cultural resources conservation projects to be carried out 
under this title, the Secretary shall give preference to [those 
projects which] priority projects and other projects that----
          (1) will provide long-term benefits to the public;
          [(2) will instill in the enrollee involved a work 
        ethic and a sense of public service;]
          (2) will instill in Corps participants a work ethic 
        and a sense of public service;
          (3) will be labor intensive;
          (4) can be planned and initiated promptly; and
          (5) will provide academic, experiential, or 
        environmental education opportunities.
    [(f)] (h) Consistency.--Each [appropriate conservation 
project] appropriate natural and cultural resources 
conservation project carried out under this title on eligible 
service lands shall be consistent with the provisions of law 
and policies relating to the management and administration of 
such lands, with all other applicable provisions of law, and 
with all management, operational, and other plans and documents 
which govern the administration of the area.
    (i) Other Participants.--The Secretary may allow volunteers 
from other programs administered or designated by the Secretary 
to participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this 
section.
    (j) Criminal History Checks.--
          (1) In general.--The requirements of section 189D(b) 
        of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
        U.S.C. 12645g(b)) shall apply to each individual age 18 
        or older seeking--
                  (A) to become a Corps participant;
                  (B) to receive funds authorized under this 
                Act; or
                  (C) to supervise or otherwise have regular 
                contact with Corps participants in activities 
                authorized under this Act.
          (2) Eligibility prohibition.--If any of paragraphs 
        (1) through (4) of section 189D(c) of the National and 
        Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645g(c)(1)-
        (4)) apply to an individual described in paragraph (1), 
        that individual shall not be eligible for the position 
        or activity described in paragraph (1), unless the 
        Secretary provides an exemption for good cause.

SEC. 205. [CONSERVATION] RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS AND PROGRAM 
                    SUPPORT.

    (a) Establishment and Use.--
          [(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish and use 
        conservation centers owned and operated by the 
        Secretary for--
                  (A) use by the Public Lands Corps; and
                  (B) the conduct of appropriate conservation 
                projects under this title.]
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may establish 
        residential conservation centers for--
                  (A) such housing, food service, medical care, 
                transportation, and other services as the 
                Secretary deems necessary for Corps 
                participants; and
                  (B) the conduct of appropriate natural and 
                cultural resources conservation projects under 
                this Act.
          [(2) Assistance for conservation centers.--The 
        Secretary may provide to a conservation center 
        established under paragraph (1) any services, 
        facilities, equipment, and supplies that the Secretary 
        determines to be necessary for the conservation 
        center.]
          [(3)] (2) Standards[ for conservation centers].--The 
        Secretary shall--
                  (A) establish basic standards of health, 
                nutrition, sanitation, and safety for all 
                [conservation centers] residential conservation 
                centers established under paragraph (1); and
                  (B) ensure that the standards established 
                under subparagraph (A) are enforced.
          [(4)] (3) Management.--As the Secretary determines to 
        be appropriate, the Secretary may enter into a contract 
        or other appropriate arrangement with [a State or local 
        government agency] another Federal agency, State, local 
        government, or private organization to provide for the 
        management of a [conservation center] residential 
        conservation center. 
    (b) Logistical Support.--[The Secretary]
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may make arrangements 
        with the Secretary of Defense to have logistical 
        support provided by the Armed Forces to the Corps and 
        any [conservation center] residential conservation 
        center established under this section, where feasible. 
        Logistical support may include the provision of 
        temporary tent shelters where needed, transportation, 
        and residential supervision.
          (2) Temporary housing.--The Secretary may make 
        arrangements with another Federal agency, State, local 
        government, or private organization to provide 
        temporary housing for Corps participants as needed and 
        available.
          (3) Transportation.--In project areas where Corps 
        participants can reasonably be expected to reside at 
        their own homes, the Secretary may fund or provide 
        transportation to and from project sites.
    (c) Use of Military Installations.--The Secretary may make 
arrangements with the Secretary of Defense to identify military 
installations and other facilities of the Department of Defense 
and, in consultation with the adjutant generals of the State 
National Guards, National Guard facilities that may be used, in 
whole or in part, by the Corps for training or housing Corps 
participants.
    (d) Facilities.--The Secretary may, as an appropriate 
natural and cultural resources conservation project, direct 
Corps participants to aid in the construction or rehabilitation 
of residential conservation center facilities, including 
housing.
    (e) Mentors.--The Secretary may recruit from programs, such 
as Federal volunteer and encore service programs, and from 
veterans groups, military retirees, and active duty personnel, 
such adults as may be suitable and qualified to provide 
training, mentoring, and crew-leading services to Corps 
participants.
    [(d)] (f) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide any 
services, facilities, equipment, supplies, technical 
assistance, oversight, monitoring, or evaluations [that are 
appropriate to carry out this title.] that the Secretary 
determines to be necessary for a residential conservation 
center.

SEC. 206. RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS.

    [(a) Authorization.--The Secretary is authorized to 
provide, individual placements of resource assistants with any 
Federal land managing agency under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary resource assistants to carry out research or resource 
protection activities on behalf of the agency. To be eligible 
for selection as a resource assistant, an individual must be at 
least 17 years of age. The Secretary may select resource 
assistants without regard to the civil service and 
classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 
States. The Secretary shall give a preference to the selection 
of individuals who are enrolled in an institution of higher 
education or are recent graduates from an institution of higher 
education, with particular attention given to ensure full 
representation of women and participants from historically 
black, Hispanic, and Native American schools.
    [(b) Use of Existing Nonprofit Organizations.--Whenever one 
or more existing nonprofit organizations can provide, in the 
judgment of the Secretary, appropriate recruitment and 
placement services to fulfill the requirements of this section, 
the Secretary may implement this section through such existing 
organizations. Participating nonprofit organizations shall 
contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting the 
resource assistants, through private sources of funding, at a 
level equal to 25 percent of the total costs of each 
participant in the Resource Assistant program who has been 
recruited and placed through that organization. Any such 
participating nonprofit conservation service organization shall 
be required, by the respective land managing agency, to submit 
an annual report evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the 
program, including the value of work contributed by the 
Resource Assistants, to the mission of the agency.]
    (a) Authorization.--
          (1) Resource assistants.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary may provide 
                individual placements of resource assistants 
                with any agency under the jurisdiction of the 
                Secretary that carries out appropriate natural 
                and cultural resources conservation projects to 
                carry out research or resource protection 
                activities on behalf of the agency.
                  (B) Eligibility.--To be eligible for 
                selection as a resource assistant, an 
                individual shall be at least 17 years of age.
                  (C) Preference.--In selecting resource 
                assistants for placement under this paragraph, 
                the Secretary shall give a preference to 
                individuals who are enrolled in an institution 
                of higher education or are recent graduates 
                from an institution of higher education, with 
                particular attention given to ensuring full 
                representation of women and participants from 
                Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
                Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribal 
                Colleges and Universities.
          (2) Consulting interns.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary may provide 
                individual placements of consulting interns 
                with any agency under the jurisdiction of the 
                Secretary that carries out appropriate natural 
                and cultural resources conservation projects to 
                carry out management analysis activities on 
                behalf of the agency.
                  (B) Eligibility.--To be eligible for 
                selection as a consulting intern, an individual 
                shall be enrolled in, and have completed at 
                least 1 full year at, a graduate or 
                professional school that has been accredited by 
                an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary 
                of Education.
    (b) Use of Existing Nonprofit Organizations.--
          (1) In general.--Whenever 1 or more nonprofit 
        organizations can provide appropriate recruitment and 
        placement services to fulfill the requirements of this 
        section, the Secretary may implement this section 
        through such organizations.
          (2) Expenses.--Participating organizations shall 
        contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting 
        the resource assistants or consulting interns from 
        sources of funding other than the Secretary, at a level 
        of not less than 25 percent of the total costs (15 
        percent of which may be from in-kind sources) of each 
        participant in the resource assistant or consulting 
        intern program who has been recruited and placed 
        through that organization.
          (3) Reporting.--Each participating organization shall 
        be required to submit an annual report evaluating the 
        scope, size, and quality of the program, including the 
        value of work contributed by the resource assistants 
        and consulting interns, to the mission of the agency.

SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.

    (a) Authorization of Cooperative Agreements and Competitive 
Grants.--The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative 
agreements with, or make competitive grants to, Indian tribes 
and qualified youth or conservation corps for the establishment 
and administration of Indian Youth Service Corps programs to 
carry out appropriate natural and cultural resources 
conservation projects on Indian lands.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive assistance 
under this section, an Indian tribe or a qualified youth or 
conservation corps shall submit to the Secretary an application 
in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require, including--
          (1) a description of the methods by which Indian 
        youth will be recruited for and retained in the Indian 
        Youth Service Corps;
          (2) a description of the projects to be carried out 
        by the Indian Youth Service Corps;
          (3) a description of how the projects were 
        identified; and
          (4) an explanation of the impact of, and the direct 
        community benefits provided by, the proposed projects.

SEC. 208. GUIDANCE.

    Not later than 18 months after funds are made available to 
the Secretary to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
guidelines for the management of programs under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary that are authorized under this 
Act.

SEC. [207] 209. LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERVICE.

    [(a) Living Allowances.--The Secretary shall provide each 
participant in the Public Lands Corps and each resource 
assistant with a living allowance in an amount established by 
the Secretary.
    [(b) Terms of Service.--Each participant in the Corps and 
each resource assistant shall agree to participate in the Corps 
or serve as a resource assistant, as the case may be, for such 
term of service as may be established by the Secretary 
enrolling or selecting the individual.
    [(c) Hiring.--The Secretary may--
          [(1) grant to a member of the Public Lands Corps 
        credit for time served with the Public Lands Corps, 
        which may be used toward future Federal hiring; and
          [(2) provide to a former member of the Public Lands 
        Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not 
        more than 120 days after the date on which the member's 
        service with the Public Lands Corps is complete.]
    (a) Living Allowances.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide each 
        Corps participant with a living allowance in an amount 
        established by the Secretary.
          (2) Travel costs.--The Secretary may reimburse Corps 
        participants for travel costs at the beginning and end 
        of the term of service of the Corps participants.
    (b) Terms of Service.--
          (1) In general.--Each Corps participant shall agree 
        to participate for such term of service as may be 
        established by the Secretary.
          (2) Consultations.--With respect to the Indian Youth 
        Service Corps, the term of service shall be established 
        in consultation with the affected Indian tribe or 
        tribally authorized organization.
    (c) Hiring Preference and Future Employment.--The Secretary 
may--
          (1) grant to a Corps participant credit for time 
        served as a Corps participant, which may be used toward 
        future Federal hiring;
          (2) provide to a former participant of the Corps or 
        the Indian Youth Service Corps noncompetitive hiring 
        status for a period of not more than 2 years after the 
        date on which the service of the candidate in the Corps 
        or the Indian Youth Service Corps was complete, if the 
        candidate--
                  (A) has served a minimum of 960 hours on an 
                appropriate natural or cultural resources 
                conservation project that included at least 120 
                hours through the Corps or the Indian Youth 
                Service Corps; and
                  (B) meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards for the position for 
                which the candidate is applying;
          (3) provide to a former resource assistant or 
        consulting intern noncompetitive hiring status for a 
        period of not more than 2 years after the date on which 
        the individual has completed an undergraduate or 
        graduate degree, respectively, from an accredited 
        institution, if the candidate--
                  (A) successfully fulfilled the resource 
                assistant or consulting intern program 
                requirements; and
                  (B) meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards for the position for 
                which the candidate is applying; and
          (4) provide, or enter into contracts or cooperative 
        agreements with qualified employment agencies to 
        provide, alumni services such as job and education 
        counseling, referrals, verification of service, 
        communications, and other appropriate services to Corps 
        participants who have completed the term of service.

SEC. [208] 210. NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.

    (a) Educational Benefits and Awards.--If a [participant in 
the Public Lands Corps or a resource assistant] Corps 
participant also serves in an approved national service 
position designated under subtitle C of title I of the National 
and Community Service Act of 1990, the [participant or resource 
assistant] Corps participant shall be eligible for a national 
service educational award in the manner prescribed in subtitle 
D of such title upon successfully complying with the 
requirements for the award. The period during which the 
national service educational award may be used, the purposes 
for which the award may be used, and the amount of the award 
shall be determined as provided under such subtitle.
    (b) Forbearance in the Collection of Stafford Loans.--For 
purposes of section 428 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, in 
the case of borrowers who are [either participants in the Corps 
or resource assistants] Corps participants, upon written 
request, a lender shall grant a borrower forbearance on such 
terms as are otherwise consistent with the regulations of the 
Secretary of Education, during periods in which the borrower is 
serving as such a participant[ or a resource assistant].

SEC. [209] 211. NONDISPLACEMENT.

    The nondisplacement requirements of section 177 of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable 
to all [activities carried out by the Public Lands Corps, to 
all activities carried out under this title by a qualified 
youth or conservation corps, and to the selection and service 
of resource assistants.] Corps participants.

SEC. [210] 212. FUNDING.

    (a) Cost Sharing.--
          (1) Projects by qualified youth or conservation 
        corps.--The Secretary is authorized to pay not more 
        than 75 percent of the costs of any [appropriate 
        conservation project] appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation project carried out pursuant to 
        this title on public lands by a qualified youth or 
        conservation corps. The remaining 25 percent of the 
        costs of such a project may be provided from 
        [nonfederal sources] sources other than the Secretary 
        in the form of funds, services, facilities, materials, 
        equipment, or any combination of the foregoing. The 
        Secretary may pay up to 90 percent of the costs of a 
        project if the Secretary determines that the reduction 
        is necessary to enable participation from a greater 
        range of organizations or individuals. No cost sharing 
        shall be required in the case of any [appropriate 
        conservation project] appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation project carried out on Indian 
        lands or Hawaiian home lands under this title.
          (2) [Public lands] Corps projects.--The Secretary is 
        authorized to accept donations of funds, services, 
        facilities, materials, or equipment for the purposes of 
        operating the [Public Lands Corps] Corps or Indian 
        Youth Service Corps and carrying out [appropriate 
        conservation projects] appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation projects by the Corps or Indian 
        Youth Service Corps. However, nothing in this title 
        shall be construed to require any cost sharing for any 
        project carried out directly by the Corps or Indian 
        Youth Service Corps.
    [(b) Funds Available Under National and Community Service 
Act.--In order to carry out the Public Lands Corps or to 
support resource assistants and qualified youth or conservation 
corps under this title, the Secretary shall be eligible to 
apply for and receive assistance under section 121(b) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990.]
    (b) Funds Available Under National and Community Service 
Act.--To carry out this Act, the Secretary shall be eligible to 
apply for and receive assistance under section 121(b) of the 
National and Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).
    (c) Other Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under [section 211] section 213 
are in addition to amounts allocated to the [Public Lands 
Corps] Corps or Indian Youth Service Corps through other 
Federal programs or projects.

SEC. [211] 213. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this title $12,000,000 for each fiscal [year, of 
which $8,000,000 is authorized to carry out priority projects 
and $4,000,000 of which is authorized to carry out other 
appropriate conservation projects.] year.
    [(b) Disaster Relief or Prevention Projects.--
Notwithstanding subsection (a), any amounts made available 
under that subsection shall be available for disaster 
prevention or relief projects.]
    [(c)] (b) Availability of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, amounts appropriated for any fiscal year to 
carry out this title shall remain available for obligation and 
expenditure until the end of the fiscal year following the 
fiscal year for which the amounts are appropriated.

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