1 

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

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1Public Law 111–13 (enacted on April 21, 2009) amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act. 

Section 6101(a) of such Public Law provides as follows: 

(a) IN GENERAL.—This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, take effect on October 1, 

2009. 

The text of the Domesitic Volunteer Service Act (as amended) are shown here. 

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

(Public Law 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973; 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.) 

[As Amended Through P.L. 111–13, Enacted April 21, 2009] 

AN ACT To provide for the operation of programs by the ACTION Agency, to 

establish certain new such programs, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 

United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 1

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this Act is 

as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Volunteerism policy. 

TITLE I—NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS 

PART A—VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA

Sec. 101. Statement of purpose. 

Sec. 102. Authority to operate VISTA program. 

Sec. 103. Selection and assignment of volunteers. 

Sec. 104. Terms and periods of service. 

Sec. 105. Support service. 

Sec. 106. Participation of beneficiaries. 

Sec. 107. Participation of younger and older persons. 

Sec. 108. Limitation. 

Sec. 109. Applications for assistance. 

PART C—SPECIAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

Sec. 121. Statement of purpose. 

Sec. 122. Authority to establish and operate special volunteer and demonstration 

programs. 

Sec. 123. Technical and financial assistance. 

TITLE II—NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS 

Sec. 200. Statement of purpose. 

PART A—RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Sec. 201. Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects. 

PART B—FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

Sec. 211. Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects. 
Sec. 2 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 4 

PART C—SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM

Sec. 213. Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects. 

PART D—GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 221. Promotion of National Senior Service Corps. 

Sec. 222. Payments. 

Sec. 223. Minority population participation. 

Sec. 224. Use of locally generated contributions in National Senior Service Corps. 

Sec. 225. Programs of national significance. 

Sec. 226. Adjustments to Federal financial assistance. 

Sec. 227. Multiyear grants or contracts. 

Sec. 228. Acceptance of donations. 

PART E—DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS

Sec. 231. Authority of Director. 

TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION 

Sec. 403. Political activities. 

Sec. 404. Special limitations. 

Sec. 406. Labor standards. 

Sec. 408. Joint funding. 

Sec. 409. Prohibition of Federal control. 

Sec. 410. Coordination with other programs. 

Sec. 411. Prohibition. 

Sec. 412. Notice and hearing procedures for suspension and termination of financial 

assistance. 

Sec. 414. Distribution of benefits between rural and urban areas. 

Sec. 415. Application of Federal law. 

Sec. 416. Evaluation. 

Sec. 417. Nondiscrimination provisions. 

Sec. 418. Eligibility for other benefits. 

Sec. 419. Legal expenses. 

Sec. 421. Definitions. 

Sec. 422. Audit. 

Sec. 423. Reduction of paperwork. 

Sec. 424. Review of project renewals. 

Sec. 425. Protection against improper use. 

Sec. 426. Provisions under the National and Community Service Act of 1990. 

TITLE V—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 

Sec. 501. National volunteer antipoverty programs. 

Sec. 502. National Senior Service Corps. 

Sec. 504. Administration and coordination. 

Sec. 505. Availability of appropriations. 

TITLE VI—AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS AND REPEALERS 

Sec. 601. Supersedence of Reorganization Plan No. 1 of July 1, 1971. 

Sec. 602. Creditable service for civil service retirement. 

Sec. 603. Repeal of title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act. 

Sec. 604. Repeal of title VI of the Older Americans Act. 

VOLUNTEERISM POLICY

SEC. 2. (a) Because of the long-standing importance of volunteerism throughout American history, it is the policy of the Congress to foster the tradition of volunteerism through greater involvement on the part of individuals of all ages and backgrounds. 

(b) The purpose of this Act is to foster and expand voluntary 

citizen service in communities throughout the Nation in activities 

designed to help the poor, the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, and 

the elderly. In carrying out this purpose, the Corporation for National and Community Service shall utilize to the fullest extent the 

programs authorized under this Act, coordinate with other Federal, 

State, and local agencies, expand relationships with, and support 
5 Sec. 103 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

for, the efforts of civic, community, and educational organizations, 

and utilize the energy, innovative spirit, experience, and skills of 

all Americans. 

(42 U.S.C. 4950) 

TITLE I—NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS 

PART A—VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

SEC. 101. This part provides for the Volunteers in Service to 

America (VISTA) program of full-time volunteer service, together 

with appropriate powers and responsibilities designed to assist in 

the development and coordination of such program. The purpose of 

this part is to strengthen and supplement efforts to eliminate and 

alleviate poverty and poverty-related problems in the United States 

by encouraging and enabling persons from all walks of life, all geographical areas, and all age groups, including low-income individuals, elderly and retired Americans, to perform meaningful and 

constructive volunteer service in agencies, institutions, and situations where the application of human talent and dedication may assist in the solution of poverty and poverty-related problems and secure and increase opportunities for self-advancement by persons affected by such problems. In addition, the objectives of this part are 

to generate the commitment of private sector resources, to encourage volunteer service at the local level, to support efforts by local 

agencies and community organizations to achieve long-term sustainability of projects, and to strengthen local agencies and community organizations to carry out the objectives of this part. 

(42 U.S.C. 4951) 

AUTHORITY TO OPERATE VISTA PROGRAM

SEC. 102. This part shall be administered by one of the Assistant Directors appointed pursuant to section 194(d)(1)(A) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. Such Director may recruit, select, and train persons to serve in full-time volunteer programs consistent with the provisions and to carry out the purpose 

of this part. 

(42 U.S.C. 4952) 

SELECTION AND ASSIGNMENT OF VOLUNTEERS

SEC. 103. (a) The Director, on the receipt of applications by 

public or nonprofit private organizations to receive volunteers 

under this part, may assign volunteers selected under subsection 

(b) to work in appropriate projects and programs sponsored by such 

organizations, including work— 

(1) in meeting the health, education, welfare, or related 

needs of Indians living on reservations or Federal trust lands, 

of migratory and seasonal farmworkers and their families, and 

of residents of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of 

the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands; 
Sec. 103 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 6 

(2) in the care and rehabilitation of mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and other individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with severe disabilities; 

(3) in addressing the problems of the homeless, unemployed individuals, and low-income youths; 

(4) in addressing the special needs connected with alcohol 

and drug abuse through prevention, education, rehabilitation, 

treatment, and related activities, consistent with the purpose 

of this part; 

(5) in addressing significant health care problems, including mental illness, chronic and life-threatening illnesses, and 

health care for homeless individuals (especially homeless children) through prevention, treatment, and community-based 

care activities; 

(6) in connection with programs or activities authorized, 

supported, or of a character eligible for assistance under this 

Act or the Community Service Block Grant Act, titles VIII and 

X of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the Head Start 

Act, the Community Economic Development Act of 1981, or 

other similar Acts, in furtherance of the purpose of this title; 

(7) in strengthening, supplementing, and expanding efforts 

to address the problem of illiteracy throughout the United 

States; 

(8) in assisting with the reentry and reintegration of formerly incarcerated youth and adults into society, including 

providing training and counseling in education, employment, 

and life skills; 

(9) in developing and carrying out financial literacy, financial planning, budgeting, saving, and reputable credit accessibility programs in low-income communities, including those 

programs that educate individuals about financing home ownership and higher education; 

(10) in initiating and supporting before-school and afterschool programs, serving children in low-income communities, 

that may engage participants in mentoring, tutoring, life skills 

and study skills programs, service-learning, physical, nutrition, 

and health education programs, and other activities addressing 

the needs of the children; 

(11) in establishing and supporting community economic 

development initiatives, with a priority on work on such initiatives in rural areas and the other areas where such initiatives 

are needed most; 

(12) in assisting veterans and their family members 

through establishing or augmenting programs that assist such 

persons with access to legal assistance, health care (including 

mental health care), employment counseling or training, education counseling or training, affordable housing, and other 

support services; and 

(13) in addressing the health and wellness of individuals 

in low-income communities and individuals in underserved 

communities, including programs to increase access to preventive services, insurance, and health services. 

(b)(1) The Director shall establish placement procedures that 

involve sponsoring organizations and that offer opportunities for 
7 Sec. 103 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

both local and national placement of volunteers for service under 

this part. 

(2)(A) The Director shall establish and maintain within the national headquarters of the Corporation (or any successor entity of 

such agency) a volunteer placement office which shall be responsible for all functions related to the recruitment and placement of 

volunteers under this part. Such functions and activities shall be 

carried out in coordination or in conjunction with recruitment and 

placement activities carried out under the National and Community Service Act of 1990. 

(B) Such volunteer placement office shall develop, operate, and 

maintain a current and comprehensive database that provides information— 

(i) to individuals, with respect to specific opportunities for 

service as a volunteer with approved projects or programs to 

which no volunteer has been assigned; and 

(ii) to approved projects or programs, with respect to the 

availability of individuals whose applications for service as a 

volunteer have been approved and who are awaiting an assignment with a specific project or program. 

(C) The Director shall assign or hire as necessary, such additional national, regional, and State personnel to carry out the functions described in this subsection and subsection (c) as may be necessary to ensure that such functions are carried out in a timely and 

effective manner. The Director shall give priority in the hiring of 

such additional personnel to individuals who have formerly served 

as volunteers under this part and to individuals who have specialized experience in the recruitment and management of volunteers. 

(3) Volunteers shall be selected from among qualified individuals submitting an application for such service at such time, in 

such form, and containing such information as may be necessary 

to evaluate the suitability of each individual for such service and 

to determine, in accordance with paragraph (7), the most appropriate assignment for each such volunteer. The Director shall approve the application of each individual who applies in conformance 

with this subsection and who, on the basis of the information provided in the application, is determined by the Director to be qualified to serve as a volunteer under this part. 

(4) The Director shall ensure that applications for service as a 

volunteer under this part are available to the public on request to 

the Corporation (including any State or regional offices of the 

Agency) and that an individual making such request is informed of 

the manner in which such application is required to be submitted. 

A completed application may be submitted by any interested individual to, and shall be accepted by, any office of the Corporation. 

(5)(A) The Director shall provide for the assignment of each applicant approved as a volunteer under this part to a project or program that is, to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with 

the abilities, experiences, and preferences of such applicant that 

are set forth in the application described in paragraph (4) and the 

needs and preferences of projects or programs approved for the assignment of such volunteers. 

(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Director shall utilize 

the database established under paragraph (2)(B). 
Sec. 103 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 8 

(C) A sponsoring organization of VISTA may recruit volunteers 

for service under this part. The Director shall give a locally recruited volunteer priority for placement in the sponsoring organization of VISTA that recruited such volunteer. 

(D) A volunteer under this part shall not be assigned to any 

project or program without the express approval and consent of 

such project or program. 

(E) If an applicant under this part who is recruited locally becomes unavailable for service prior to the commencement of service, the recipient of the project grant or contract that was designated to receive the services of such applicant may replace such 

applicant with another qualified applicant approved by the Director. 

(F) If feasible and appropriate, low-income community volunteers shall be given the option of serving in the home communities 

of such volunteers in teams with nationally recruited specialist volunteers. The Director shall attempt to assign such volunteers to 

serve in the home or nearby communities of such volunteers and 

shall make national efforts to attract other individuals to serve in 

the VISTA program. The Director shall also, in the assignment of 

volunteers under this subparagraph, recognize that communityidentified needs that cannot be met in the local area and the individual desires of VISTA volunteers in regard to the service in various geographical areas of the United States should be taken into 

consideration. 

(c)(1) The Director, in conjunction with the personnel described 

in subsection (b)(2)(C), shall engage in public awareness and recruitment activities. Such activities may include— 

(A) public service announcements through the Internet 

and related technologies, radio, television, and the print media; 

(B) advertising through the Internet and related technologies, print media, direct mail, and other means; 

(C) disseminating information about opportunities for service as a volunteer under this part to relevant entities including 

institutions of higher education and other educational institutions (including libraries), professional associations, community-based agencies, youth service and volunteer organizations, 

business organizations, labor unions, senior citizens organizations, State or local offices of economic development, State employment security agencies, employment offices, and other institutions and organizations from or through which potential 

volunteers may be recruited; 

(D) disseminating such information through presentations 

made personally by employees of the Corporation or other designees of the Director, to students and faculty at institutions 

of higher education and to other entities described in subparagraph (C), including presentations made at the facilities, conventions, or other meetings of such entities; 

(E) publicizing the student loan deferment and forgiveness 

opportunities available to VISTA volunteers under parts B and 

E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

1071 et seq.) and including such information in all applications 

and recruitment materials; 
9 Sec. 103 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

1 Effective July 1, 2000, Public Law 105–277 attempts to amend the second sentence of subsection (d) to read as follows: ‘‘private industry council established under the Job Training Partnership Act or’’. The amendment probably should just strike the quoted matter. 

(F) publicizing national service educational awards available under the National and Community Service Act of 1990; 

(G) providing, on request, technical assistance with the recruitment of volunteers under this part to programs and 

projects receiving assistance under this part; and 

(H) maintaining and publicizing a national toll-free telephone number through which individuals may obtain information about opportunities for service as a volunteer under this 

part and request and receive an application for such service. 

(2) In designing and implementing the activities authorized 

under this section, the Director shall seek to involve individuals 

who have formerly served as volunteers under this part to assist 

in the dissemination of information concerning the program established under this part. The Director may reimburse the costs incurred by such former volunteers for such participation, including 

expenses incurred for travel. 

(3) The Director shall consult with the Director of the Peace 

Corps to coordinate the recruitment and public awareness activities 

carried out under this subsection with those of the Peace Corps and 

to develop joint procedures and activities for the recruitment of volunteers to serve under this part. 

(d) The Director shall provide each low-income community volunteer with an individual plan for job advancement or for transition to a situation leading to gainful employment. Whenever feasible, such efforts shall be coordinated with an appropriate local 

workforce investment board established under section 117 of the 

Workforce Investment Act of 1998. 1

(e) The Director may provide or arrange for educational and 

vocational counseling of volunteers and recent former volunteers 

under this part to (1) encourage them to use, in the national interest, the skills and experience which they have derived from their 

training and service, particularly working in combating poverty as 

members of the helping professions, and (2) promote the development of appropriate opportunities for the use of such skills and experience, and the placement therein of such volunteers. 

(f) Except as provided in subsection (e), the assignment of volunteers under this section shall be on such terms and conditions 

(including restrictions on political activities that appropriately recognize the special status of volunteers living among the persons or 

groups served by programs to which they have been assigned) as 

the Director may determine, including work assignments in their 

own or nearby communities. 

(g) Volunteers under this part shall not be assigned to work in 

a program or project in any community unless the application for 

such program or project contains evidence of local support and has 

been submitted to the Governor or other chief executive officer of 

the State concerned. In the event of a timely request in writing, 

supported by a statement of reasons, by the Governor or other chief 

executive officer of the State concerned, the Director shall terminate a program or project or the assignment of a volunteer to a 

program or project not later than 30 days after the date such re-
Sec. 104 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 10 

quest is received by the Director, or at such later date as is agreed 

upon by the Director and such Governor or other chief executive officer. 

(h) The Director is encouraged to enter into agreements with 

other Federal agencies to use VISTA volunteers in furtherance of 

program objectives that are consistent with the purposes described 

in section 101. 

(i) The Director may enter into agreements under which public 

and private nonprofit organizations, with sufficient financial capacity and size, pay for all or a portion of the costs of supporting the 

service of volunteers under this part. 

(42 U.S.C. 4953) 

TERMS AND PERIODS OF SERVICE

SEC. 104. (a) Volunteers serving under this part shall be required to make a full-time personal commitment to combating poverty and poverty-related problems. To the maximum extent practicable, the requirement for full-time commitment shall include a 

commitment to live among and at the economic level of the people 

served, and to remain available for service without regard to regular working hours, at all times during their periods of service, except for authorized periods of leave. 

(b)(1) Volunteers serving under this part may be enrolled initially for periods of service of not less than 1 year, nor more than 

2 years, except as provided in paragraph (2) or subsection (e). 

(2) Volunteers serving under this part may be enrolled for periods of service of less than 1 year if the Director determines, on an 

individual basis, that a period of service of less than 1 year is necessary to meet a critical scarce skill need. 

(3) Volunteers serving under this part may be reenrolled for 

periods of service in a manner to be determined by the Director. 

No volunteer shall serve for more than a total of 5 years under this 

part. 

(c) Volunteers under this part shall, upon enrollment, take the 

oath of office as prescribed for persons appointed to any office of 

honor or profit by section 3331 of title 5, United States Code, and 

shall swear (or affirm) that the volunteer does not advocate the 

overthrow of the constitutional form of government of the United 

States and that the volunteer is not a member of an organization 

that advocates the overthrow of the constitutional form of government of the United States, knowing that such organization so advocates, except that persons legally residing within a State but who 

are not citizens or nationals of the United States, may serve under 

this part without taking or subscribing to such oath, if the Director 

determines that the service of such persons will further the interests of the United States. Such persons shall take such alternative 

oath or affirmation as the Director shall deem appropriate. 

(d) The Director shall establish a procedure, including notice 

and opportunity to be heard, for volunteers under this part to 

present and obtain resolution of grievances and to present their 

views in connection with the terms and conditions of their service. 

The Director shall promptly provide to each volunteer in service on 

the date of enactment of this Act, and to each such volunteer begin-
11 Sec. 105 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

ning service thereafter, information regarding such procedure and 

the terms and conditions of their service. 

(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Director may enroll full-time VISTA summer associates in a program 

for the summer months only, under such terms and conditions as 

the Director shall determine to be appropriate. Such individuals 

shall be assigned to projects that meet the criteria set forth in section 103(a). 

(2) In preparing reports relating to programs under this Act, 

the Director shall report on participants, costs, and accomplishments under the summer program separately. 

(3) The limitation on funds appropriated for grants and contracts, as contained in section 108, shall not apply to the summer 

program. 

(42 U.S.C. 4954) 

SUPPORT SERVICE

SEC. 105. (a)(1)(A) The Director may provide a stipend to volunteers, while they are in training and during their assignments, 

enrolled for periods of service of not less than one year under this 

part, except that the Director may, on an individual basis, make 

an exception to provide a stipend to a volunteer enrolled under this 

part for an extended period of service not totaling one year. 

(B) Such stipend shall be set at a rate that is not less than a 

minimum of $125 per month and not more than a maximum of 

$150 per month, subject to the availability of funds to provide such 

a maximum rate. The Director may provide a stipend set at a rate 

that is not more than a maximum of $250 per month in the case 

of persons who have served as volunteers under this part for at 

least 1 year and who, in accordance with standards established in 

such regulations as the Director shall prescribe, have been designated volunteer leaders on the basis of experience and special 

skills and a demonstrated leadership among volunteers. 

(C) The Director shall not provide a stipend under this subsection to an individual who elects to receive a national service 

educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National and 

Community Service Act of 1990. 

(2) Stipends shall be payable only upon completion of a period 

of service, except that under such circumstances as the Director 

shall determine, in accordance with regulations which the Director 

shall prescribe, the accrued stipend, or any part of the accrued stipend, may be paid to the volunteer, or, on behalf of the volunteer, 

to members of the volunteer’s family or others during the period of 

the volunteer’s service. In the event of the death of a volunteer during service, the amount of any unpaid stipend shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of section 5582 of title 5, United 

States Code. 

(b)(1) The Director shall also provide volunteers such living, 

travel (including travel to and from places of training and to and 

from locations to which volunteers are assigned during periods of 

service) and leave allowances, and such housing, supplies, equipment, subsistence, clothing, health and dental care, transportation, 

supervision, preservice training and where appropriate in-service 
Sec. 106 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 12 

training, technical assistance and such other support as the Director deems necessary and appropriate to carry out the purpose and 

provisions of this part, and shall insure that each such volunteer 

has available such allowances and support as will enable the volunteer to carry out the purpose and provisions of this part and to effectively perform the work to which such volunteer is assigned. 

(2) The Director shall set the subsistence allowance for volunteers under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year so that— 

(A) the minimum allowance is not less than an amount 

equal to 95 percent of such poverty line (as defined in section 

673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 

9902(2))) for a single individual as expected for each fiscal 

year; and 

(B) the average subsistence allowance, excluding allowances for Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and Alaska, is no 

less than 105 percent of such poverty line. 

(3) The Director shall adjust the subsistence allowances for volunteers serving in areas that have a higher cost of living than the 

national average to reflect such higher cost. The Director shall review such adjustments on an annual basis to ensure that the adjustments are current. 

(c)(1) The Director shall— 

(A) make child care available for children of each volunteer 

enrolled under this part who need such child care in order to 

participate as volunteers; or 

(B) provide a child care allowance to each such volunteer 

who needs such assistance in order to participate as volunteers. 

(2) The Corporation shall establish guidelines regarding the 

circumstances under which child care shall be made available 

under this subsection and the value of any child care allowance to 

be provided. 

(42 U.S.C. 4955) 

PARTICIPATION OF BENEFICIARIES

SEC. 106. To the maximum extent practicable, the people of the 

communities to be served by volunteers under this title shall participate in planning, developing, and implementing programs thereunder, and the Director, after consultation with sponsoring agencies (including volunteers assigned to them) and the people served 

by such agencies, shall establish in regulations a continuing mechanism for the meaningful participation of such program beneficiaries. 

(42 U.S.C. 4956) 

SEC. 107. PARTICIPATION OF YOUNGER AND OLDER PERSONS. 

In carrying out this part and part C, the Director shall take 

necessary steps, including the development of special projects, 

where appropriate, to encourage the fullest participation of individuals 18 through 27 years of age, and individuals 55 years of age 

and older, in the various programs and activities authorized under 

such parts. 

(42 U.S.C. 4957) 
13 Sec. 109 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

1So in law. There is no part B. See amendment made by section 2121 of Public Law 111– 

13. 

LIMITATION

SEC. 108. (a) Of funds appropriated for the purpose of this part 

under section 501, not more than 30 percent for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1984, and for each fiscal year thereafter, may be 

obligated for the direct cost of supporting volunteers in programs 

or projects carried out pursuant to grants and contracts made 

under section 402(12). 

(b) No funds shall be obligated under this part pursuant to 

grants or contracts made after the date of the enactment of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act Amendments of 1979 for new projects 

for the direct cost of supporting volunteers unless the recipient of 

each such grant or contract has been selected through a competitive process which includes— 

(1) public announcements of the availability of funds for 

such grants or contracts, general criteria for the selection of 

new recipients, and a description of the application process and 

the application review process; and 

(2) a requirement that each applicant for any such grant 

or contract identify, with sufficient particularity to assure that 

the assignments of volunteers under such grants and contracts 

will carry out the purpose of this part, the particular poverty 

or poverty-related problems on which the grant or contract will 

focus, and any such grant or contract shall specifically so identify such problems. 

(42 U.S.C. 4958) 

SEC. 109. APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE. 

In reviewing an application for assistance under this part, the 

Director shall not deny such assistance to any project or program, 

or any public or private nonprofit organization, solely on the basis 

of the duration of the assistance such project, program, or organization has received under this part prior to the date of submission 

of the application. The Director shall grant assistance under this 

part on the basis of merit and to accomplish the goals of the VISTA 

program, and shall consider the needs and requirements of projects 

in existence on such date as well as potential new projects. 

(42 U.S.C. 4960) 

PART C—SPECIAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS 1

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

SEC. 121. This part provides for special emphasis and demonstration volunteer programs, together with appropriate powers 

and responsibilities designed to assist in the development and coordination of such programs. The purpose of this part is to 

strengthen and supplement efforts to meet a broad range of needs, 

particularly those related to poverty, by encouraging and enabling 

persons from all walks of life and from all age groups to perform 

meaningful and constructive volunteer service in agencies, institutions, and organizations where the application of human talent and 

dedication may help to meet such needs. It is the further purpose 
Sec. 122 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 14 

of this part to provide technical and financial assistance to encourage voluntary organizations and volunteer efforts at the national, 

State, and local level. 

(42 U.S.C. 4991) 

SEC. 122. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE SPECIAL VOLUNTEER AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director is authorized to conduct special 

volunteer programs for demonstration programs, or award grants 

to or enter into contracts with public or nonprofit organizations to 

carry out such programs. Such programs shall encourage wider volunteer participation on a full-time, part-time, or short-term basis 

to further the purpose of this part, and identify particular segments of the poverty community that could benefit from volunteer 

and other antipoverty efforts. 

(b) ASSIGNMENT AND SUPPORT OF VOLUNTEERS.—The assignment of volunteers under this section, and the provision of support 

for such volunteers, including any subsistence allowances and stipends, shall be on such terms and conditions as the Director shall 

determine to be appropriate, but shall not exceed the level of support provided under section 105. Projects using volunteers who do 

not receive stipends may also be supported under this section. 

(c) CRITERIA AND PRIORITIES.—In carrying out this section and 

section 123, the Director shall establish criteria and priorities for 

awarding grants and entering into contracts under this part in 

each fiscal year. No grant or contract exceeding $100,000 shall be 

made under this part unless the recipient of the grant or contractor 

has been selected by a competitive process that includes public announcement of the availability of funds for such grant or contract, 

general criteria for the selection of recipients or contractors, and a 

description of the application process and application review process. 

(42 U.S.C. 4992) 

SEC. 123. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 

The Director may provide technical and financial assistance to 

Federal agencies, State and local governments and agencies, private nonprofit organizations, employers, and other private organizations that utilize or desire to utilize volunteers in carrying out 

the purpose of this part. 

(42 U.S.C. 4993) 

TITLE II—NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS 

SEC. 200. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. 

It is the purpose of this title to provide— 

(1) opportunities for senior service to meet unmet local, 

State, and national needs in the areas of education, public 

safety, emergency and disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery, health and human needs, and the environment; 

(2) for the National Senior Service Corps, comprised of the 

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program, and 

demonstration and other programs, to empower people 55 

years of age or older to contribute to their communities 
15 Sec. 201 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

through service, enhance the lives of those who serve and those 

whom they serve, and provide communities with valuable services; 

(3) opportunities for people 55 years of age or older, 

through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, to share 

their knowledge, experiences, abilities, and skills for the betterment of their communities and themselves; 

(4) opportunities for low-income people 55 years of age or 

older, through the Foster Grandparents Program, to have a 

positive impact on the lives of children in need; and 

(5) opportunities for low-income people 55 years of age or 

older, through the Senior Companion Program, to provide support services and companionship to other older individuals 

through volunteer service. 

(42 U.S.C. 5000) 

PART A—RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS

SEC. 201. (a) In order to help retired individuals and working 

older individuals to share their experiences, abilities, and skills to 

improve their communities and themselves through service in their 

communities, the Director is authorized to make grants to State 

agencies (established or designated pursuant to section 305(a)(1) of 

the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 

3025(a)(1))) or grants to or contracts with other public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to pay part or all of the 

costs for the development or operation, or both, of volunteer service 

projects under this section, if the Director determines, in accordance with regulations the Director shall prescribe, that— 

(1) volunteers will not be reimbursed for other than transportation, meals, and other out-of-pocket expenses incident to 

the provision of services under this part; 

(2) only individuals 55 years of age or older will be enrolled as volunteers to provide services under this part (except 

for administrative purposes), and such services will be performed in the community where such individuals reside or in 

nearby communities either (A) on publicly owned and operated 

facilities or projects, or (B) on local projects sponsored by private nonprofit organizations (other than political parties), 

other than projects involving the construction, operation, or 

maintenance of so much of any facility used or to be used for 

sectarian instruction or as a place for religious worship; 

(3) the project includes such short-term training as may be 

necessary to make the most effective use of the skills and talents of participating volunteers and individuals, and provide 

for the payment of the reasonable expenses of such volunteers 

while undergoing such training; and 

(4) the project is being designed and implemented with the 

advice of persons competent in the field of service to be provided, as well as persons who have expertise in the management of volunteers and the needs of older individuals. 
Sec. 201 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 16 

(b) In no event shall the required proportion of the local contribution (including in-kind contributions) for a grant or contract 

made under this section be more than 10 per centum in the first 

year of assistance under this section, 20 per centum in the second 

such year, 30 per centum in any subsequent such years: Provided, 

however, That the Director may make exceptions in cases of demonstrated need, determined (in accordance with regulations which 

the Director shall prescribe) on the basis of the financial capability 

of a particular recipient of assistance under this section, to permit 

a lesser local contribution proportion than any required contribution proportion established by the Director in generally applicable 

regulations. 

(c) The Director shall not award any grant or contract under 

this part for a project in any State to any agency or organization 

unless, if such State has a State agency established or designated 

pursuant to section 305(a)(1) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, 

as amended (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)(1)), such agency itself is the recipient of the award or such agency has been afforded at least fortyfive days in which to review the project application and make recommendations thereon. 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, volunteer service under this part shall not be deemed employment for any purpose which the Director finds is not fully consistent with the provisions and in furtherance of the purpose of this part. 

(e)(1) Beginning with fiscal year 2013 and for each fiscal year 

thereafter, each grant or contract awarded under this section, for 

such a year, shall be— 

(A) awarded for a period of 3 years, with an option for a 

grant renewal of 3 years if the grantee meets the performances 

measures established under subsection (g); and 

(B) awarded through a competitive process described in 

paragraph (2). 

(2)(A) The Corporation shall promulgate regulations establishing the competitive process required under paragraph (1)(B), 

and make such regulations available to the public, not later than 

18 months after the date of the enactment of the Serve America 

Act. The Corporation shall consult with the directors of programs 

receiving grants under this section during the development and implementation of the competitive process. 

(B) The competitive process required by subparagraph (A) 

shall— 

(i) include the use of a peer review panel, including members with expertise in senior service and aging, to review applications; 

(ii) include site inspections of programs assisted under this 

section, as appropriate; 

(iii) in the case of an applicant who has previously received 

a grant or contract for a program under this section, include 

an evaluation of the program conducted by a review team, as 

described in subsection (f); 

(iv) ensure that— 

(I) the grants or contracts awarded under this section 

through the competitive process for a grant or contract 

cycle support an aggregate number of volunteer service 
17 Sec. 201 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

years for a given geographic service area that is not less 

than the aggregate number of volunteer service years supported under this section for such service area for the previous grant or contract cycle; 

(II) the grants or contracts awarded under this section 

through the competitive process for a grant or contract 

cycle maintain a similar program distribution, as compared to the program distribution for the previous grant or 

contract cycle; and 

(III) every effort is made to minimize the disruption to 

volunteers; and 

(v) include the use of performance measures, outcomes, 

and other criteria established under subsection (g). 

(f)(1) Notwithstanding section 412, and effective beginning 180 

days after the date of enactment of the Serve America Act, each 

grant or contract under this section that expires in fiscal year 2011, 

2012, or 2013 shall be subject to an evaluation process conducted 

by a review team described in paragraph (4). The evaluation process shall be carried out, to the maximum extent practicable, in fiscal year 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. 

(2) The Corporation shall promulgate regulations establishing 

the evaluation process required under paragraph (1), and make 

such regulations available to the public, not later than 18 months 

after the date of enactment of the Serve America Act. The Corporation shall consult with the directors of programs receiving grants 

under this section during the development and implementation of 

the evaluation process. 

(3) The evaluation process required under paragraph (1) 

shall— 

(A) include performance measures, outcomes, and other 

criteria established under subsection (g); and 

(B) evaluate the extent to which the recipient of the grant 

or contract meets or exceeds such performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria through a review of the recipient. 

(4) To the maximum extent practicable, the Corporation shall 

provide that each evaluation required by this subsection is conducted by a review team that— 

(A) includes individuals who are knowledgeable about programs assisted under this section; 

(B) includes current or former employees of the Corporation who are knowledgeable about programs assisted under 

this section; 

(C) includes representatives of communities served by volunteers of programs assisted under this section; and 

(D) shall receive periodic training to ensure quality and 

consistency across evaluations. 

(5) The findings of an evaluation described in this subsection 

of a program described in paragraph (1) shall— 

(A) be presented to the recipient of the grant or contract 

for such program in a timely, transparent, and uniform manner that conveys information of program strengths and weaknesses and assists with program improvement; and 

(B) be used as the basis for program improvement, and for 

the provision of training and technical assistance. 
Sec. 201 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 18 

(g)(1) The Corporation shall, with particular attention to the 

different needs of rural and urban programs assisted under this 

section, develop performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria for programs assisted under this section that— 

(A) include an assessment of the strengths and areas in 

need of improvement of a program assisted under this section; 

(B) include an assessment of whether such program has 

adequately addressed population and community-wide needs; 

(C) include an assessment of the efforts of such program 

to collaborate with other community-based organizations, units 

of government, and entities providing services to seniors, taking into account barriers to such collaboration that such program may encounter; 

(D) include a protocol for fiscal management that shall be 

used to assess such program’s compliance with the program requirements for the appropriate use of Federal funds; 

(E) include an assessment of whether the program is in 

conformity with the eligibility, outreach, enrollment, and other 

requirements for programs assisted under this section; and 

(F) contain other measures of performance developed by 

the Corporation, in consultation with the review teams described in subsection (f)(4). 

(2)(A) The performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria 

established under this subsection may be updated or modified as 

necessary, in consultation with directors of programs under this 

section, but not earlier than fiscal year 2014. 

(B) For each fiscal year preceding fiscal year 2014, the Corporation may, after consulting with directors of the programs under 

this section, determine that a performance measure, outcome, or 

criterion established under this subsection is operationally problematic, and may, in consultation with such directors and after notifying the authorizing committees— 

(i) eliminate the use of that performance measure, outcome 

or criterion; or 

(ii) modify that performance measure, outcome, or criterion 

as necessary to render it no longer operationally problematic. 

(3) In the event that a program does not meet one or more of 

the performance measures, outcome, or criteria established under 

this subsection, the Corporation shall initiate procedures to terminate the program in accordance with section 412. 

(h) The Chief Executive Officer shall develop procedures by 

which programs assisted under this section may receive training 

and technical assistance, which may include regular monitoring 

visits to assist programs in meeting the performance measures, 

outcomes, and criteria. 

(i)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (g)(3) or section 412, the Corporation shall continue to fund a program assisted under this section that has failed to meet or exceed the performance measures, 

outcomes, and other criteria established under this subsection for 

not more than 12 months if the competitive process established 

under subsection (e) does not result in a successor grant or contract 

for such program, in order to minimize the disruption to volunteers 

and the disruption of services. 
19 Sec. 211 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

(2) In the case where a program is continued under paragraph 

(1), the Corporation shall conduct outreach regarding the availability of a grant under this section for the area served by such 

program and establish a new competition for awarding the successor program to the continued program. The recipient operating 

the continued program shall remain eligible for the new competition. 

(3) The Corporation may monitor the recipient of a grant or 

contract supporting a program continued under paragraph (1) during this period and may provide training and technical assistance 

to assist such recipient in meeting the performance measures for 

such program. 

(j) The Corporation shall develop and disseminate an online resource guide for programs under this section not later than 180 

days after the date of enactment of the Serve America Act, which 

shall include— 

(1) examples of high-performing programs assisted under 

this section; 

(2) corrective actions for underperforming programs; and 

(3) examples of meaningful outcome-based performance 

measures, outcomes, and criteria that capture a program’s mission and priorities. 

(42 U.S.C. 5001) 

PART B—FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS

SEC. 211. (a) The Director is authorized to make grants to or 

contracts with public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to pay part or all of the cost of development and operation 

of projects (including direct payments to individuals serving under 

this part) designed for the purpose of providing opportunities for 

low-income persons age 55 or over to provide supportive person-toperson services in health, education, welfare, and related settings 

to children having special or exceptional needs or circumstances 

identified as limiting their academic, social, or emotional development. Such services may include services by individuals serving as 

foster grandparents to children who are individuals with disabilities, who have chronic health conditions, who are receiving care in 

hospitals, who are residing in homes for dependent and neglected 

children, or who are receiving services provided by day care centers, schools, early intervention programs under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), 

Head Start agencies under the Head Start Act, or other programs, 

establishments, and institutions providing services for children 

having special or exceptional needs or circumstances identified as 

limiting their academic, social, or emotional development. Individual foster grandparents may provide person-to-person services 

to one or more children, depending on the needs of the project and 

local site. The Director may approve assistance in excess of 90 per 

centum of the costs of the development and operation of such 

projects only if the Director determines, in accordance with regulations the Director shall prescribe establishing objective criteria, 

that such action is required in furtherance of the purpose of this 
Sec. 211 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 20 

1Section 2144(2)(A)(i) of Public Law 111–13 provides as follows: 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘shall have’’ and all 

that follows through ‘‘(2) of the subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘may determine’’; 

The amendment was not executed because the amendment probably should have been to 

strike ‘‘shall have’’ and all that follows through ‘‘(2) of [this] subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘may determine’’. 

section. Provision for such assistance shall be effective as of September 19, 1972. In the case of any project with respect to which, 

prior to such date, a grant or contract has been made under section 

611(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 

3044b) or with respect to any project under the Foster Grandparent 

program in effect prior to September 17, 1969, contributions in 

cash or in kind from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of 

the Interior, toward the cost of the project may be counted as part 

of the cost thereof which is met from non-Federal sources. 

(b)(1) Any public or private nonprofit agency or organization 

responsible for providing person-to-person services to a child in a 

project carried out under subsection (a) of this section shall have 

the exclusive authority to determine, pursuant to the provisions of 

paragraph (2) of this subsection 1— 

(A) which children may receive supportive person-to-person services under such project; 

(B) the period of time during which such services shall be 

continued in the case of each individual child; and 

(C) whether it is in the best interest of the child receiving, 

and the particular foster grandparent providing, services in 

such a project, to continue the relationship between the child 

and the grandparent under this part after the child reaches 

the age of 21, if such child is an individual with a disability 

who was receiving such services prior to attaining the age of 

21. 

(2) If an assignment of a foster grandparent under this part is 

suspended or discontinued, the replacement of that foster grandparent shall be determined in a manner consistent with paragraph 

(3). 

(3) Any determination made by a public or nonprofit private 

agency or organization under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be made through mutual agreement by all parties involved with respect to the provision of services to the child involved. 

(c) For the purposes of this section, the terms ‘‘child’’ and ‘‘children’’ mean any individual or individuals who are less than 21 

years of age. 

(d) The Director, in accordance with regulations the Director 

shall prescribe, may provide to low-income persons serving as volunteers under this part, such allowances, stipends, and other support as the Director determines are necessary to carry out the purpose of this part. Any stipend or allowance provided under this section shall not be less than $3.00 per hour, except that (1) such stipend or allowance shall not be increased as a result of an amendment made to this sentence unless the funds appropriated for carrying out this part are sufficient to maintain for the fiscal year in 
21 Sec. 211 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

question a number of participants to serve under this part at least 

equal to the number of such participants serving during the preceding fiscal year, and (2) in the event that sufficient appropriations for any fiscal year are not available to increase any such stipend or allowance provided to the minimum hourly rate specified 

in this sentence, the Director shall increase the stipend or allowance to such amount as appropriations for such year permit consistent with clause (1) of this exception. In establishing the amount 

of, and the effective date for, such adjustment, the Director, in consultation with the State Commissions on National and Community 

Service (as established under section 178 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990) and the heads of the State offices established under section 195 of such Act, shall consider the effect 

such adjustment will have on the ability of non-federally funded 

volunteer programs similar to the programs under this title to 

maintain their current level of volunteer hours. 

(e) For purposes of this part, the terms ‘‘low-income person’’ 

and ‘‘person of low income’’ mean— 

(1) any person whose income is not more than 200 percent 

of the poverty line defined in section 673(2) of the Community 

Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) and adjusted by 

the Director in the manner described in such section; and 

(2) any person whose income is not more that 100 percent 

of such poverty line, as so adjusted and determined by the Director after taking into consideration existing poverty guidelines as appropriate to local situations. 

Persons described in paragraph (2) shall be given special consideration for participation in projects under this part. 

(f)(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), individuals 

who are not low-income persons may serve as volunteers under this 

part, in accordance with such regulations as the Director shall 

issue, if such individuals serve without receiving any allowance, 

stipend, or other financial support under this part except reimbursement for transportation, meals, and out-of-pocket expenses incident to serving under this part. 

(B) The regulations issued by the Director to carry out this 

part (other than any regulations relating to allowances, stipends, 

and other financial support authorized by subsection (d) to be paid 

under this part to low-income persons) shall apply to all volunteers 

under this part, without regard to whether such volunteers are eligible to receive a stipend under subsection (d). 

(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each recipient 

of a grant or contract to carry out a project under this part shall 

give equal treatment to all volunteers who participate in such 

project, without regard to whether such volunteers are eligible to 

receive a stipend under subsection (d). 

(B) An individual who is not a low-income person may not become a volunteer under this part if allowing such individual to become a volunteer under this part would prevent a low-income individual from becoming a volunteer under this part or would displace 

a low-income person from being such a volunteer. 
Sec. 213 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 22 

1Section 7(a) of Public Law 99–551, approved October 27, 1987, provides as follows: 

‘‘(2) Section 211(f)(3) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as added by paragraph 

(1), shall apply with respect to grants and contracts made under section 211(a) of such Act before the date of the enactment of this Act.’’. 

(3) 1 The Director may not take into consideration or require as 

a condition of receiving a grant or contract to carry out a project 

under this part, any applicant for such grant or contract— 

(A) to accept or recruit individuals who are not low-income 

persons to serve as volunteers under this part; or 

(B) to solicit locally generated contributions, in cash or in 

kind, to support such individuals. 

The Director may not coerce any applicant for, or recipient of, such 

grant or contract to engage in conduct described in subparagraph 

(A) or (B). 

(4) Funds appropriated to carry out this part may not be used 

to pay any cost, including any administrative cost, incurred in connection with volunteers under this part who do not receive a stipend under subsection (d). Such cost incurred with respect to a volunteer may be paid with— 

(A) funds received by the Director as unrestricted gifts; 

(B) funds received by the Director as gifts to pay such cost; 

(C) funds contributed by such volunteer; or 

(D) locally generated contributions in excess of the amount 

required to be contributed under subsection (a), in the discretion of the recipient of a grant or contract under such subsection. 

(42 U.S.C. 5011) 

PART C—SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS

SEC. 213. (a) The Director is authorized to make grants to or 

contracts with public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to pay part or all of the cost of development and operation 

of projects (including direct payments to individuals serving under 

this part in the same manner as provided in section 211(a)) designed for the purpose of providing opportunities for low-income 

persons age 55 or older to serve as ‘‘senior companions’’ to persons 

with exceptional needs. Senior companions may provide services 

designed to help older persons requiring long-term care, including 

services to persons receiving home health care, nursing care, homedelivered meals or other nutritional services; services designed to 

help persons deinstitutionalized from mental hospitals, nursing 

homes, and other institutions; and services designed to assist persons having developmental disabilities and other special needs for 

companionship. 

(b) Subsections (d), (e), and (f) of section 211, and such other 

provisions of part B as the Director determines to be necessary, 

shall apply to this part, except that for purposes of this part any 

reference in such subsections and such provisions to part B shall 

be deemed to be a reference to this part. 

(c)(1) The Director is authorized to make grants or contracts 

after subsection (a) for senior companion projects to assist homebound elderly individuals to remain in their own homes and to en-
23 Sec. 221 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

1Section 205(c) of Public Law 94–135, supra, provides that: 

‘‘(c)(1) In order to provide maximum coordination between programs carried out under title 

III and title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 3045 

et seq.) and national older American volunteer programs carried out under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5001 et seq.), and in order to enhance the effectiveness of the support provided to such national older American volunteer programs by the ACTION Agency, the Director of the ACTION Agency shall designate an aging resource specialist 

with respect to programs carried out in each State under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. 

‘‘(2)(A) Each aging resource specialist designated under paragraph (1) shall be qualified to 

serve in such capacity by appropriate experience and training, and shall be stationed in a State 

office of the ACTION Agency. 

‘‘(B) The primary responsibility of each aging resource specialist shall be— 

‘‘(i) to support programs carried out under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act 

of 1973 in any State or other jurisdiction served by the State office involved; and 

‘‘(ii) to seek to coordinate such programs with programs carried out under title III and 

title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 in any such State or other jurisdiction. 

‘‘(3) For purposes of this subsection— 

‘‘(A) the term ‘ACTION Agency’ means the ACTION Agency established by section 401 

of the Act (42 U.S.C. 5041); 

‘‘(B) the term ‘primary responsibility’ means the devotion of more than one-half of regular 

working hours to the performance of duties described in paragraph (2)(B); and 

‘‘(C) the term ‘State’ means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.’’ 

able institutionalized elderly individuals to return to home care 

settings. 

(2)(A) The Director is authorized to recruit, subject to subparagraph (B), senior companion volunteer trainers who on the basis of 

experience (such as, doctors, nurses, home economists, social workers) will be used to train senior companion volunteers to participate in and monitor initial and continuing needs assessments and 

appropriate in-home services for senior companion volunteer recipients. The needs assessments and in-home services shall be coordinated with and supplement existing community based home health 

and long-term care systems. The Director may also use senior companion volunteer leaders, who on the basis of experience as volunteers, special skills, and demonstrated leadership abilities may 

spend time in the program (in addition to their regular assignment) 

to assist newer senior companion volunteers in performing their assignments and in coordinating activities of such volunteers. 

(B) Senior companion volunteer trainers recruited under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not be paid stipends. 

(42 U.S.C. 5013) 

PART D—GENERAL PROVISIONS

PROMOTION OF NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS

SEC. 221. (a)(1) In carrying out this title, the Director shall 

consult with the Departments of Labor and Health and Human 

Services, and any other Federal agencies administering relevant 

programs with a view to achieving optimal coordination with such 

other programs, and shall promote the coordination of projects 

under this title with other public or private programs or projects 

carried out at State and local levels. Such Federal agencies shall 

cooperate with the Director in disseminating information about the 

availability of assistance under this title and in promoting the 

identification and interest of low-income and other older persons 

whose services may be utilized in projects under this title. 1

(2) To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall 

enter into agreements with— 
Sec. 222 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 24 

(A) the Department of Health and Human Services to— 

(i) involve retired and senior volunteers, and foster 

grandparents, in Head Start programs; 

(ii) involve retired and senior volunteers, and senior 

companions, in providing services authorized by title III of 

the Older Americans Act of 1965; and 

(iii) promote the recognition of such volunteers who 

are qualified to provide in-home services for reimbursement under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for providing such services; 

(B) the Department of Education to promote intergenerational tutoring and mentoring for at-risk children; and 

(C) the Environmental Protection Agency to support conservation efforts. 

(b)(1) In carrying out this title, the Director shall encourage 

and facilitate the efforts of private organizations to promote the 

programs established in parts A, B, and C and the involvement of 

older individuals as volunteers in such programs. 

(2) The Director shall take appropriate actions to ensure that 

special efforts are made to publicize the programs established in 

parts A, B, and C, in order to facilitate recruitment efforts, to encourage greater participation of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, living in urban or rural communities, and to emphasize 

the value of volunteering to the health and well-being of volunteers 

and the communities of such volunteers. Such actions shall include 

informing recipients of grants and contracts under this title of all 

informational materials available from the Director. 

(3) From funds appropriated under section 502, the Director shall expend not less than $375,000 in each fiscal year to carry out 

paragraph (2). 

(42 U.S.C. 5021) 

PAYMENTS

SEC. 222. Payments under this title pursuant to a grant or contract may be made (after necessary adjustment, in the case of 

grants, on account of previoulsy made overpayments or underpayments) in advance or by way of reimbursement, in such installments and on such conditions, as the Director may determine. 

(42 U.S.C. 5022) 

MINORITY POPULATION PARTICIPATION

SEC. 223. The Director shall take appropriate steps to insure 

that special efforts are made to recruit, select, and assign qualified 

individuals age 55 years or older from minority populations to 

serve as volunteers under this title. 

(42 U.S.C. 5023) 

USE OF LOCALLY GENERATED CONTRIBUTIONS IN NATIONAL SENIOR

SERVICE CORPS

SEC. 224. Whenever locally generated contributions made to 

National Senior Service Corps projects under this title are in excess 

of the amount required by the Director, the Director may not re-
25 Sec. 225 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

strict the manner in which contributions are expended if expenditures from locally generated contributions are not inconsistent with 

the provisions of this Act. 

(42 U.S.C. 5024) 

PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

SEC. 225. (a)(1) With not less than one-third of the funds made 

available under subsection (d) in each fiscal year, the Director shall 

make grants under the programs authorized in parts A, B, and C 

to support programs that address national problems of local concern. 

(2) An applicant for a grant under paragraph (1) shall determine whether the program to be supported by the grant is a program under part A, B, or C, and shall submit an application as required for such program. 

(3) Each program for which a grant is received under this subsection shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements 

applicable to the program under part A, B, or C under which the 

program supported by such grant is to be carried out. 

(4) To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall ensure that not less than 25 percent of the funds appropriated under 

this section are used to award grants— 

(A) to applicants for grants under this section that are not 

receiving assistance from the Corporation at the time of such 

grant award; or 

(B) to applicants from locations where no programs supported under part A, B, or C are in effect at the time of such 

grant award. 

(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (4), if, for a fiscal year, less 

than 25 percent of the applicants for grants under this section are 

applicants described in paragraph (4), the Director may use an 

amount that is greater than 75 percent of the funds appropriated 

under this subsection to award grants to applicants that are already receiving assistance from the Corporation at the time of such 

grant award. 

(b) The Director shall make grants under subsection (a) to support one or more of the following programs to address problems 

that concern the Nation: 

(1) Programs that assist individuals with chronic and debilitating illnesses, such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome. 

(2) Programs designed to decrease drug and alcohol abuse 

through education, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. 

(3) Programs that work with teenage parents. 

(4) Programs that establish and support mentoring programs for low-income youth, including mentoring programs 

that match such youth with mentors and match such youth 

with employment and training programs, including apprenticeship programs. 

(5) Programs that provide adult and school-based literacy 

assistance, including literacy programs that serve youth, and 

adults, with limited English proficiency. 
Sec. 225 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 26 

(6) Programs that provide respite care, including care for 

elderly individuals and for children and individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses who are living at home. 

(7) Programs that provide before-school and after-school 

activities, serving children in low-income communities, that 

may engage participants in mentoring relationships, tutoring, 

life skills, and study skills programs, service-learning, physical, 

nutrition, and health education programs, and other activities 

addressing the needs of the children in the communities, including children of working parents. 

(8) Programs that serve children who are enrolled in child 

care programs, giving priority to such programs that serve children with special needs. 

(9) Programs that provide care to developmentally disabled 

adults who reside at home and in community-based settings, 

including programs that, when appropriate, involve older developmentally disabled individuals as volunteers under this 

title. 

(10) Programs that provide volunteer tutors to assist students, on a one-to-one basis, to improve the academic achievement of such students. 

(11) Programs that engage older individuals with children 

and youth to complete service in energy conservation, environmental stewardship, or other environmental needs of a community, including service relating to conducting energy audits, insulating homes, or conducting other activities to promote energy efficiency. 

(12) Programs that reach out to organizations (such as 

labor unions and profitmaking organizations) not previously involved in addressing national problems of local concern. 

(13) Programs that provide for outreach to increase participation of members of ethnic groups who have limited English 

proficiency. 

(14) Programs in which the grant recipients involved collaborate with criminal justice professionals and organizations 

in order to provide prevention programs that serve low-income 

youth or youth reentering society after incarceration and their 

families, which prevention programs may include mentoring, 

counseling, or employment counseling. 

(15) Programs that support the community integration of 

individuals with disabilities. 

(16) Programs that provide health, education, and welfare 

services that augment the activities of State and local agencies, 

to be carried out in a fiscal year for which the aggregate 

amount of funds available to such agencies is not less than the 

annual average aggregate amount of funds available to such 

agencies for the period of 3 fiscal years preceding such fiscal 

year. 

(c)(1) In order for an applicant to be eligible to receive a grant 

under subsection (a), such applicant shall demonstrate to the Director that such grant will be used to increase the total number of volunteers supported by such applicant and that such applicant has 

expertise applicable to implementing the proposed program for 

which the applicant is requesting the grant. 
27 Sec. 227 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

(2) Funds made available under subsection (d) shall be used to 

supplement and not supplant the number of volunteers engaged in 

activities under parts A, B, and C (without regard to this section) 

addressing the problem for which such funds are awarded unless 

such sums are an extension of funds previously provided under this 

section. 

(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), from the amounts 

appropriated under subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 502, for 

each fiscal year there shall be available to the Director such sums 

as may be necessary to make grants under subsection (a). 

(2) No funds shall be available to the Director to make grants 

under subsection (a) for a fiscal year unless the amounts appropriated under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 502 and available for such fiscal year to carry out parts A, B, and C (without 

regard to this section) are sufficient to maintain the number of 

projects and volunteers funded under parts A, B, and C, respectively, in the preceding fiscal year. 

(e) The Director shall widely disseminate information on 

grants that may be made under subsection (a) to field personnel of 

the Corporation and to community volunteer organizations that request such information. 

(42 U.S.C. 5025) 

ADJUSTMENTS TO FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 226. (a)(1) In determining the amount of Federal financial 

assistance to be provided under this title to applicants, the Director 

shall consider the impact of changes in the Consumer Price Index 

For All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor on the administrative costs of operating the projects for which such assistance will be provided. 

(2) The Director shall, to the fullest extent practicable, make 

appropriate adjustments in the amount referred to in paragraph (1) 

to ensure the effective administration of such projects. 

(b) The Director shall take reasonable actions to inform applicants for such assistance that such adjustments may be available. 

(42 U.S.C. 5026) 

MULTIYEAR GRANTS OR CONTRACTS

SEC. 227. (a)(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and the availability of 

funds, the Director may make a grant or enter into a contract 

under part A, B, or C for a period not to exceed 3 years. Each applicant who receives a grant, or enters into a contract, under such 

part for a period exceeding 1 year shall comply with such regulations as the Director may issue to require such applicant— 

(A) to demonstrate that such applicant is in compliance 

with such part and with the terms and conditions of such grant 

or contract; and 

(B) to provide information to update the application submitted to obtain such grant or contract. 

(2) If the amount appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out 

part A, B, or C in a period during which multiyear grants or contracts are in effect under such part is less than the amount appropriated to carry out such part in the first fiscal year in such period, 
Sec. 228 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 28 

then the amounts payable under all such grants and contracts in 

effect in such period under such part shall be reduced pro rata. 

(b) The Director shall require each applicant for a multiyear 

grant or contract under this section, to document or describe in the 

application any meaningful administrative savings that will result 

from such multiyear grant or contract. 

(c) If an applicant does not receive a multiyear grant or contract under this section, the Director shall consider such applicant 

for a single-year grant or contract. 

(d) If the Director approves an application for a contract or 

grant to carry out a project for a multiyear period as referred to 

in subsection (a), the Director shall ensure that such project shall 

be treated in the same manner as a single-year contract or grant 

with respect to— 

(1) the overall level of funding for such project; 

(2) any adjustments to Federal financial assistance that 

may be available under section 226; and 

(3) the renewal of funding on the expiration of the term of 

such contract or grant. 

(42 U.S.C. 5027) 

SEC. 228. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), an entity receiving assistance under this title may accept donations, including donations in cash or in kind fairly evaluated, including 

plant, equipment, or services. 

(b) EXCEPTION.—An entity receiving assistance under this title 

to carry out an activity shall not accept donations from the beneficiaries of the activity. 

(42 U.S.C. 5027a) 

PART E—DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS

SEC. 231. AUTHORITY OF DIRECTOR. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director is authorized to make grants to 

or enter into contracts with public or nonprofit organizations, including organizations funded under part A, B, or C, for the purposes of demonstrating innovative activities involving older Americans as volunteers. The Director may support under this part both 

volunteers receiving stipends and volunteers not receiving stipends. 

(b) ACTIVITIES.—An organization that receives a grant or enters into a contract under subsection (a) may use funds made available through the grant or contract for activities such as— 

(1) linking youth groups and older American organizations 

in volunteer activities; 

(2) involving older volunteers in programs and activities 

different from programs and activities supported in the community; and 

(3) testing whether older American volunteer programs 

may contribute to new objectives or certain national priorities. 

(42 U.S.C. 5028) 
29 Sec. 403 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

1Section 401 was repealed by section 203(b) of Public Law 103–82. 

2Section 402 was repealed by section 203(b) of Public Law 103–82. 

SEC. 232. PROHIBITION. 

The Director may not reduce the activities, projects, or volunteers funded under the other parts of this title in order to support 

projects under this part. 

(42 U.S.C. 5028a) 

[TITLE III—Repealed] 

TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION 

[Sec. 401 Repealed] 1

[Sec. 402 Repealed] 2

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

SEC. 403. (a) No part of any funds appropriated to carry out 

this Act, or any program administered by the Corporation under 

this Act, shall be used to finance, directly or indirectly, and activity 

designed to influence the outcome of any election to Federal office, 

or the outcome of any election to any State or local public office, 

or any voter registration activity, or to pay the salary of any officer 

or employee of the Corporation, who, in an official capacity as such 

an officer or employee, engages in any such activity. As used in this 

section, the term ‘‘election’’ has the same meaning (when referring 

to an election for Federal office) given such term by section 301(1) 

of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (Public Law 92–225), 

and the term ‘‘Federal office’’ has the same meaning given such 

term by section 301(3) of such Act. 

(b)(1) Programs assisted under this Act shall not be carried on 

in a manner involving the use of funds, the provision of services, 

or the employment or assignment of personnel in a manner supporting or resulting in the identification of such programs with— 

(A) any partisan or nonpartisan political activity associated with a candidate, or a contending faction or group, in an 

election for public or party office; 

(B) any activity to provide voters or prospective voters 

with transportation to the polls or similar assistance in connection with any such election; or 

(C) any voter registration activity; 

except that programs assisted under this Act may make voter registration applications and nonpartisan voter registration information available to the public on the premises of such programs. 

(2) In carrying out any voter registration activity permitted 

under paragraph (1), an individual who is affiliated with, or employed to carry out, a program assisted under this Act shall not— 

(A) indicate a preference with respect to any candidate, political party, or election issue; or 

(B) seek to influence the political or party affiliation, or 

voting decision, of any individual. 

(c) No funds appropriated to carry out this Act shall be used 

by any program assisted under this Act in any activity for the pur-
Sec. 404 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 30 

1Two commas in section 404(a) so in law. See amendment made by section 2151 of Public 

Law 111–13. 

pose of influencing the passage of defeat of legislation or proposals 

by initiative petition, except— 

(1) in any case in which a legislative body, a committee of 

a legislative body, or a member of a legislative body requests 

any volunteer in, or employee of, such a program to draft, review, or testify regarding measures or to make representations 

to such legislative body, committee, or member; or 

(2) in connection with an authorization or appropriations 

measure directly affecting the operation of the program. 

(d) The Director, after consultation with the Office of Personnel 

Management, shall issue rules and regulations to provide for the 

enforcement of this section, which shall include provisions for summary suspension of assistance for no more than thirty days until 

notice and an opportunity to be heard can be provided or other action necessary to permit enforcement on an emergency basis. 

(42 U.S.C. 5043) 

SPECIAL LIMITATIONS

SEC. 404. (a) The Director shall prescribe regulations and shall 

carry out the provisions of this Act so as to assure that the service 

of volunteers assigned, referred, or serving pursuant to grants, contracts, or agreements made under this Act is limited to activities 

which would not otherwise be performed by employed workers or 

other volunteers (not including participants under this Act and the 

National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et 

seq.)), and which will not supplant the hiring of or result in the displacement of employed workers or other volunteers (not including 

participants under this Act and the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.)),, 1 or impair existing contracts for service. 

(b) All support, including transportation provided to volunteers 

under this Act, shall be furnished at the lowest possible costs consistent with the effective operation of volunteer programs. 

(c) No agency or organization to which volunteers are assigned 

hereunder, or which operates or supervises any voluntary program 

hereunder, shall request or receive any compensation from such 

volunteers or from beneficiaries for services of volunteers supervised by such agency or organization. 

(d) No funds authorized to be appropriated herein shall be directly or indirectly utilized to finance labor or anti-labor organization or related activity. 

(e) Persons serving as volunteers under this Act shall provide 

such information concerning their qualifications, including their 

ability to perform their assigned tasks, and their integrity, as the 

Director shall prescribe and shall be subject to such procedures for 

selection and approval as the Director determines are necessary to 

carry out the purposes of this Act. The Director may establish such 

special procedures for the recruitment, selection, training, and assignment of low-income residents of the area to be served by a program under this Act who wish to become volunteers as the Director 

determines will further the purposes of this Act. 
31 Sec. 408 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

1Section 405 was repealed by section 20 of Public Law 98–288, effective January 1, 1986. 

2Section 407 was repealed by section 367 of Public Law 103–82. 

(f)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law except as 

may be provided expressly in limitation of this subsection, payments to volunteers under this Act shall not in any way reduce or 

eliminate the level of or eligibility for assistance or services any 

such volunteers may be receiving under any governmental program, except that this paragraph shall not apply in the case of 

such payments when the Director determines that the value of all 

such payments, adjusted to reflect the number of hours such volunteers are serving, is equivalent to or greater than the minimum 

wage then in effect under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 

U.S.C. 201 et seq.) or the minimum wage, under the laws of the 

State where such volunteers are serving, whichever is the greater. 

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person enrolled for full-time service as a volunteer under title I of this Act 

who was otherwise entitled to receive assistance or services under 

any governmental program prior to such volunteer’s enrollment 

shall not be denied such assistance or services because of such volunteer’s failure or refusal to register for, seek, or accept employment or training during the period of such service. 

(42 U.S.C. 5044) 

[Sec. 405 Repealed] 1

LABOR STANDARDS

SEC. 406. All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors 

or subcontractors in the construction, alteration or repair, including 

painting and decorating of projects, buildings and works which are 

federally assisted under this Act shall be paid wages at rates not 

less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as 

determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the DavisBacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276a—276a–5). The Secretary of 

Labor shall have, with respect to such labor standards, the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Number 14 of 

1950 (15 F.R. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267) and in section 2 of the Act of 

June 1, 1934, as amended (48 Stat. 948, ch. 492, as amended; 40 

U.S.C. 276c). 

(42 U.S.C. 5046) 

[Sec. 407 Repealed] 2

JOINT FUNDING

SEC. 408. Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the President, 

and to the extent consistent with the other provisions of this Act, 

where funds are provided for a single project by more than one 

Federal agency to an agency or organization assisted under this 

Act, the Federal agency principally involved may be designated to 

act for all in administering the funds provided, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, in such cases, a single nonFederal share requirement may be established according to the proportion of funds advanced by each agency. When the principal 

agency involved is the Corporation, it may waive any grant or contract requirement (as defined by such regulations) under or pursu-
Sec. 409 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 32 

ant to any law other than this Act, which requirement is inconsistent with the similar requirements under or pursuant to this 

Act. 

(42 U.S.C. 5048) 

PROHIBITION OF FEDERAL CONTROL

SEC. 409. Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to 

authorize any department, agency, officer, or employee of the 

United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over 

the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any education institution or school system. 

(42 U.S.C. 5049) 

COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS

SEC. 410. The Director shall take necessary steps to coordinate 

volunteer programs authorized under this Act with one another, 

with community action programs, and with other related Federal, 

State, and local programs. The Director shall also consult with the 

heads of other Federal, State, and local agencies responsible for 

programs related to the purposes of this Act with a view to encouraging greater use of volunteer services in those programs and establishing in connection with them systematic procedures for the 

recruitment, referral, or necessary preservice orientation or training of volunteers serving pursuant to this Act. The Director, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management 

and the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and the Treasury and officials of other appropriate departments and agencies, shall take all 

appropriate steps to encourage State and local governments, charitable and service organizations, and private employers (1) to take 

into account experience in volunteer work in the consideration of 

applicants for employment; and (2) to make provisions for the listing and description of volunteer work on all employment application forms. 

(42 U.S.C. 5050) 

PROHIBITION

SEC. 411. In order to assure that existing Federal agencies are 

used to the fullest extent possible in carrying out the purposes of 

this Act, no funds appropriated to carry out this Act shall be used 

to establish any new department or office when the intended function is being performed by an existing department or office. 

(42 U.S.C. 5051) 

NOTICE AND HEARING PROCEDURES FOR SUSPENSION AND

TERMINATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 412. (a) The Director is authorized, in accordance with the 

provisions of this section, to suspend further payments or to terminate payments under any contract or grant providing assistance 

under this Act, whenever the Director determines there is a material failure to comply with the applicable terms and conditions of 

any such grant or contract. The Director shall prescribe procedures 

to insure that— 
33 Sec. 415 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

1Section 413 was repealed by section 5(a) of P.L. 94–293. 

(1) assistance under this Act shall not be suspended for 

failure to comply with applicable terms and conditions, except 

in emergency situations for thirty days; 

(2) an application for refunding under this Act may not be 

denied unless the recipient has been given (A) notice at least 

75 days before the denial of such application of the possibility 

of such denial and the grounds for any such denial, and (B) opportunity to show cause why such action should not be taken; 

(3) in any case where an application for refunding is denied for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the 

grant or contract award, the recipient shall be afforded an opportunity for an informal hearing before an impartial hearing 

officer, who has been agreed to by the recipient and the Agency; and 

(4) assistance under this Act shall not be terminated for 

failure to comply with applicable terms and conditions unless 

the recipient has been afforded reasonable notice and opportunity for a full and fair hearing. 

(b) In order to assure equal access to all recipients, such hearings or other meetings as may be necessary to fulfill the requirements of this section shall be held at locations convenient to the 

recipient agency. 

(42 U.S.C. 5052) 

[Sec. 413, Repealed.] 1

DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS

SEC. 414. The Director shall adopt appropriate administrative 

measures to assure that the benefits of and services under this Act 

will be distributed equitably between residents of rural and urban 

areas. 

(42 U.S.C. 5054) 

APPLICATION OF FEDERAL LAW

SEC. 415. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), and 

(e) of this section, volunteers under this Act shall not be deemed 

Federal employees and shall not be subject to the provisions of 

laws relating to Federal officers and employees and Federal employment. 

(b) Individuals enrolled as volunteers for periods of full-time 

service, or, as the Director deems appropriate in accordance with 

regulations, for periods of part-time service of not less than 20 

hours per week for not less than 26 consecutive weeks, under title 

I of this Act: shall, with respect to such service or training, (1) for 

the purposes of subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 5, United 

States Code, be deemed persons employed in the executive branch 

of the Federal Government, (2) for the purposes of the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) and title II of the Social 

Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), be deemed employees of the 

United States, and any service performed by an individual as a volunteer (including training) shall be deemed to be performed in the 

employ of the United States, (3) for the purposes of the Federal 
Sec. 415 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 34 

Tort Claims provisions of title 28, United States Code, be deemed 

employees of the United States, (4) for the purposes of subchapter 

1 of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (relative to compensation to Federal employees for work injuries), shall be deemed civil 

employees of the United States within the meaning of the term 

‘‘employee’’ as defined in section 8101 of title 5, United States 

Code, and the provisions of that subchapter shall apply except as 

follows: (A) in computing compensation benefits for disability or 

death, the annual rate of pay of a volunteer enrolled for a period 

of full-time service under such title I shall be deemed to be that 

received under the entrance salary for an employee at grade GS– 

5 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United 

States Code, and the annual rate of pay of a volunteer enrolled for 

a period or part-time service under such title I shall be deemed to 

be such entry salary or an appropriate portion thereof as determined by the Director, and subsections (a) and (b) of section 8113 

of title 5, United States Code, shall apply, and (B) compensation for 

disability shall not begin to accrue until the day following the date 

on which the injured volunteer is terminated, and (5) be deemed 

employees of the United States for the purposes of section 5584 of 

title 5, United States Code (and stipends and allowances paid 

under this Act shall be considered as pay for such purposes). 

(c) Any period of service of a volunteer enrolled in a program 

for a period of service of at least one year under part A of title I 

of this Act, and any period of full-time service of a volunteer enrolled in a program for a period of service of at least one year 

under part B (as such part was in effect on the day before the date 

of enactment of the Serve America Act) or C of title I of this Act, 

shall be credited in connection with subsequent employment in the 

same manner as a like period of civilian employment by the United 

States Government— 

(1) for the purposes of any Act establishing a retirement 

system for civilian employees of any United States Government 

agency; and 

(2) except as otherwise determined by the President, for 

the purposes of determining seniority, reduction in force, and 

layoff rights, leave entitlement, and other rights and privileges 

based upon length of service under the laws administered by 

the Office of Personnel Management, the Foreign Service Act 

of 1980, and every other Act establishing or governing terms 

and conditions of service of civilian employees of the United 

States Government: Provided, That service of a volunteer shall 

not be credited toward completion of any probationary or trial 

period or completion of any service requirement for career appointment. 

(d) Volunteers serving in programs for periods of service of at 

least one year under part A of title I of this Act, and volunteers 

serving for such periods under title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2991–2994d), including 

those whose service was completed under such Act, who the Director determines, in accordance with regulations the Director shall 

prescribe, have successfully completed their periods of service, shall 

be eligible for appointment in the competitive service in the same 
35 Sec. 415 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

manner as Peace Corps volunteers as prescribed in Executive 

Order Number 11103 (April 10, 1963). 

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all references 

in any other law to persons serving as volunteers under title VIII 

of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended, shall be 

deemed to be references to persons serving as full-time volunteers 

in a program of at least one year’s duration under part A, B (as 

such part was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of 

the Serve America Act), or C of title I of this Act. 

(f)(1) The remedy— 

(A) against the United States provided by sections 1346(b) 

and 2672 of title 28, United States Code, or 

(B) through proceedings for compensation or other benefits 

from the United States as provided by any other law, where 

the availability of such benefits precludes a remedy under section 1346(b) or 2672 of such title 28, 

for damages for personal injury, including death, allegedly arising 

from malpractice or negligence of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, 

optometrist, nurse, physician assistant, expanded-function dental 

auxiliary, pharmacist, or paramedical (for example, medical and 

dental technicians, nursing assistants, and therapists) or other 

supporting personnel in furnishing medical care or treatment while 

in the exercise of such person’s duties as a volunteer enrolled 

under title I of this Act shall be exclusive of any other civil action 

or proceeding by reason of the same subject matter against such 

person (or such person’s estate) whose action or omission gave rise 

to such claim. 

(2) The Attorney General of the United States shall defend any 

civil action or proceeding brought in any court against any person 

referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection (or such person’s estate) for any such damage or injury. Any such person against 

whom such civil action or proceeding is brought shall deliver, within such time after date of service or knowledge of service as determined by the Attorney General, all process served upon such person or an attested true copy thereof to such person’s immediate supervisor or to whomever is designated by the Director to receive 

such papers, and such person shall promptly furnish copies of the 

pleading and process therein to the United States attorney for the 

district embracing the place wherein the proceeding is brought and 

to the Attorney General. 

(3) Upon a certification by the Attorney General that the defendant was acting in the scope of such person’s volunteer assignment at the time of the incident out of which the suit arose, any 

such civil action or proceeding commenced in a State court shall be 

removed without bond at any time before trial by the Attorney 

General to the district court of the United States of the district and 

division embracing the place wherein it is pending and the proceeding deemed a tort action brought against the United States 

under the provisions of title 28, United States Code, and all references thereto. After removal the United States shall have available all defenses to which it would have been entitled if the action 

had originally been commenced against the United States. Should 

a district court of the United States determine on a hearing on a 

motion to remand held before a trial on the merits that the volun-
Sec. 416 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 36 

teer whose act or omission gave rise to the suit was not acting 

within the scope of such person’s volunteer assignment, the case 

shall be remanded to the State court. 

(4) The Attorney General may compromise or settle any claim 

asserted in such civil action or proceeding in the manner provided 

in section 2677 of title 28, United States Code, and with the same 

effect. 

(42 U.S.C. 5055) 

EVALUATION

SEC. 416. (a) The Director shall measure and evaluate the impact of all programs authorized by this Act, their effectiveness in 

achieving stated goals in general, and in relation to their cost, their 

impact on related programs, and their structure and mechanisms 

for delivery of services. Each program shall be evaluated at least 

once every three years. Evaluations shall be conducted by persons 

not immediately involved in the administration of the program or 

project evaluated. Such evaluation shall also measure and evaluate 

compliance with the equitable distribution requirement of section 

414 of this Act. 

(b) The Director shall develop and publish general standards 

for evaluation of program and project effectiveness in achieving the 

objectives of this Act. Reports submitted pursuant to section 407 

shall describe the actions taken as a result of evaluations carried 

out under this section. 

(c) In carrying out evaluations under this title, the Director 

shall whenever possible, arrange to obtain the opinions of program 

and project participants about the strengths and weaknesses of 

such programs and projects. 

(d) The Director shall publish summaries of the results of evaluations of program and project impact and effectiveness no later 

than sixty days after the completion thereof. 

(e) The Director shall take the necessary action to assure that 

all studies, evaluations, proposals, and data produced or developed 

with Federal funds shall become the property of the United States. 

(f) Not later than December 31, 1988, the Director shall— 

(1) evaluate the impact of Corporation programs carried 

out under title II that relate to services that assist families 

caring for frail and disabled adult family members and shall 

include in such evaluation information on— 

(A) the range and extent of service needs of, and the 

services provided to, family caregivers assisted by volunteers; 

(B) the characteristics of volunteers and the skills, 

training, and supervision necessary to provide various 

types of volunteer assistance to family caregivers; 

(C) administrative costs, including recruitment, training, and supervision costs, associated with volunteer assistance to family caregivers; and 

(D) such other issues as may be relevant to provide 

services to assist family caregivers; 

(2) evaluate the impact that volunteers who participate in 

programs under parts B and C of title II without receiving a 
37 Sec. 417 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

stipend have on such programs and shall include in such evaluation— 

(A) information on administrative costs associated 

with such volunteers; 

(B) a comparison of the quality of services provided by 

such volunteers and the quality of services provided by volunteers who receive a stipend under such parts, including 

the rate of absenteeism and turnover; and 

(C) a review of the effect that participation by volunteers who do not receive such stipend have on the administration of such programs; and 

(3) submit to the authorizing committees a report summarizing in detail the results of the evaluations made under paragraphs (1) and (2). 

(g) The Director is authorized to use such sums as are required, but not to exceed 1 per centum of the funds appropriated 

under this Act, to conduct program and project evaluations (directly, or by grants or contracts) as required by this Act. In the 

case of allotments from such an appropriation, the amount available for such allotments (and the amount deemed appropriate 

therefor) shall be reduced accordingly. 

(42 U.S.C. 5056) 

SEC. 417. NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.— 

(1) BASIS.—An individual with responsibility for the operation of a program that receives assistance under this Act shall 

not discriminate against a participant in, or member of the 

staff of, such program on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or political affiliation of such participant or member, or on the basis of disability, if the participant or member 

is a qualified individual with a disability. 

(2) DEFINITION.—As used in paragraph (1), the term 

‘‘qualified individual with a disability’’ has the meaning given 

the term in section 101(8) of the Americans with Disabilities 

Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12111(8)). 

(b) FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—Any assistance provided 

under this Act shall constitute Federal financial assistance for purposes of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d 

et seq.), title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 

1681 et seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 

U.S.C. 794), and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 

6101 et seq.). 

(c) RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), an 

individual with responsibility for the operation of a program 

that receives assistance under this Act shall not discriminate 

on the basis of religion against a participant in such program 

or a member of the staff of such program who is paid with 

funds received under this Act. 

(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the employment, with assistance provided under this Act, of any 

member of the staff, of a program that receives assistance 

under this Act, who was employed with the organization oper-
Sec. 418 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 38 

ating the program on the date the grant under this Act was 

awarded. 

(d) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The Director shall promulgate 

rules and regulations to provide for the enforcement of this section 

that shall include provisions for summary suspension of assistance 

for not more than 30 days, on an emergency basis, until notice and 

an opportunity to be heard can be provided. 

(42 U.S.C. 5057) 

ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER BENEFITS

SEC. 418. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no payment for supportive services or reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses made to persons serving pursuant to title II of this Act shall 

be subject to any tax or charge or be treated as wages or compensation for the purposes of unemployment, temporary disability, retirement, public assistance, workers’ compensation or similar benefit 

payments, or minimum wage laws. This section shall become effective with respect to all payments made after the effective date of 

this Act. 

(42 U.S.C. 5058) 

LEGAL EXPENSES

SEC. 419. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and pursuant to regulations which the Director shall prescribe, counsel 

may be employed and counsel fees, court costs, bail, and other expenses incidental to the defense of volunteers may be paid in judicial or administrative proceedings to which full-time volunteers (or 

part-time volunteers when such proceeding arises directly out of 

the performance of activities pursuant to this Act), serving under 

this Act have been made parties. 

(42 U.S.C. 5059) 

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 421. For the purposes of this Act— 

(1) the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Chief Executive Officer 

of the Corporation for National and Community Service appointed under section 193 of the National and Community 

Service Act of 1990; 

(2) the terms ‘‘United States’’ and ‘‘States’’ mean the several States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands, and, for the purposes of title II of 

this Act, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; 

(3) the term ‘‘nonprofit’’ as applied to any agency, institution, or organization means an agency, institution, or organization which is, or is owned and operated by, one or more corporations or associations no part of the net earnings of which 

inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private 

shareholder or individual; 

(4) the term ‘‘poor’’ or ‘‘low-income’’ persons, individuals, or 

volunteers means such individuals whose incomes fall at or 

below the poverty line as set forth in section 625 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended by Public Law 92– 
39 Sec. 421 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

424 (42 U.S.C. 2971d): Provided, That in determining who is 

‘‘poor’’ or ‘‘low-income’’, the Director shall take into consideration existing poverty guidelines as appropriate to local situations; 

(5) the terms ‘‘public agencies or organizations’’ and ‘‘Federal, State, or local agencies’’ shall include any Indian tribe, 

band, nation, or other organized group or community (including any Alaskan native village or regional village corporation 

as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native 

Claims Settlement Act) which is recognized by the United 

States or the State in which it resides as eligible for special 

programs and services provided to Indians because of their status as Indians; 

(6) the term ‘‘poverty line for a single individual’’ means 

such poverty line as established by the Director of the Office 

of Management and Budget in accordance with section 673(2) 

of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 

9902(2)); 

(7) the term ‘‘Corporation’’ means the Corporation for National and Community Service established under section 191 of 

the National and Community Service Act of 1990; 

(8) the term ‘‘foster grandparent’’ means a volunteer in the 

Foster Grandparent Program; 

(9) the term ‘‘Foster Grandparent Program’’ means the 

program established under part B of title II; 

(10) except as provided in section 417, the term ‘‘individual 

with a disability’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

7(20)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; 

(11) the term ‘‘Inspector General’’ means the Inspector 

General of the Corporation; 

(12) the term ‘‘national senior volunteer’’ means a volunteer in the National Senior Service Corps; 

(13) the term ‘‘National Senior Service Corps’’ means the 

programs established under parts A, B, C, and E of title II; 

(14) the term ‘‘Retired and Senior Volunteer Program’’ 

means the program established under part A of title II; 

(15) the term ‘‘retired or senior volunteer’’ means a volunteer in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; 

(16) the term ‘‘senior companion’’ means a volunteer in the 

Senior Companion Program; 

(17) the term ‘‘Senior Companion Program’’ means the program established under part C of title II; 

(18) the terms ‘‘VISTA’’ and ‘‘Volunteers in Service to 

America’’ mean the program established under part A of title 

I; 

(19) the term ‘‘VISTA volunteer’’ means a volunteer in 

VISTA; and 

(20) the term ‘‘authorizing committees’’ means the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives 

and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

of the Senate. 

(42 U.S.C. 5061) 
Sec. 422 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 40 

AUDIT

SEC. 422. (a) Each recipient of Federal grants, subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or loans entered into under this Act other 

than by formal advertising, and which are otherwise authorized by 

this Act, shall keep such records as the Director or the Inspector 

General shall prescribe, including records which fully disclose the 

amount and disposition by such recipient of the proceeds of such 

assistance, the total cost of the project or undertaking in connection 

with which such assistance is given or used, the amount of that 

portion of the cost of the project or undertaking supplied by other 

sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit. 

(b) The Director, the Inspector General, and the Comptroller 

General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall, until the expiration of three years after completion of the project or undertaking referred to in subsection (a) of 

this section, have access for the purpose of audit and examination 

to any books, documents, papers, and records of such recipients 

which in the opinion of the Director, the Inspector General, or the 

Comptroller General may be related or pertinent to the grants, contracts, subcontracts, subgrants, or loans referred to in subsection 

(a). 

(42 U.S.C. 5062) 

REDUCTION OF PAPERWORK

SEC. 423. In order to reduce unnecessary, duplicative, or disruptive demands for information, the Director, in consultation with 

other appropriate agencies and organizations, shall continually review and evaluate all requests for information made under this Act 

and take such action as may be necessary to reduce the paper work 

required under this Act. The Director shall request only such information as the Director deems essential to carry out the purposes 

and provisions of this Act. 

(42 U.S.C. 5063) 

REVIEW OF PROJECT RENEWALS

SEC. 424. If the executive authority of any State of local government submits to the director, not later than 30 days before the 

expiration of any contract or grant to carry out any project under 

this Act, a statement which objects to the renewal of such contract 

or grant, then the Director shall (1) review such statement and 

take it into account in determining whether to renew such contract 

or grant; and (2) submit to such executive authority a written 

statement of reasons regarding the Director’s determination with 

respect to such renewal and specifically with respect to any objection so submitted. 

(42 U.S.C. 5064) 

SEC. 425. PROTECTION AGAINST IMPROPER USE. 

Whoever falsely— 

(1) advertises or represents; or 

(2) publishes or displays any sign, symbol, or advertisement, reasonably calculated to convey the impression, 
41 Sec. 502 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

that an entity is affiliated with, funded by, or operating under the 

authority of the Corporation, VISTA, or any of the programs of the 

National Senior Service Corps may be enjoined under an action 

filed by the Attorney General, on a complaint by the Director. 

(42 U.S.C. 5065) 

SEC. 426. PROVISIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT OF 1990. 

The Corporation shall carry out this Act in accordance with the 

provisions of this Act and the relevant provisions of the National 

and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.), particularly the provisions of section 122 and subtitle F of title I of the 

National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572, 

12631 et seq.) relating to the national service laws. 

(42 U.S.C. 5066) 

TITLE V—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 

SEC. 501. NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS. 

(a) AUTHORIZATIONS.— 

(1) VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part A of title I 

$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be 

necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014. 

(2) SPECIAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to carry out part C of title I such sums as 

may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. 

(3) SPECIFICATION OF BUDGET FUNCTION.—The authorizations of appropriations contained in this subsection shall be 

considered to be a component of budget function 500 as used 

by the Office of Management and Budget to cover education, 

training, employment, and social services, and, as such, shall 

be considered to be related to the programs of the Departments 

of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for budgetary purposes. 

(b) SUBSISTENCE.—The minimum level of an allowance for subsistence required under section 105(b)(2), to be provided to each 

volunteer under title I, may not be reduced or limited in order to 

provide for an increase in the number of volunteer service years 

under part A of title I. 

(c) LIMITATION.—No part of the funds appropriated to carry out 

part A of title I may be used to provide volunteers or assistance 

to any program or project authorized under part C of title I, or 

under title II, unless the program or project meets the antipoverty 

criteria of part A of title I. 

(d) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated for part A of title I 

shall remain available for obligation until the end of the fiscal year 

following the fiscal year for which the amounts were appropriated. 

(42 U.S.C. 5081) 

SEC. 502. NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS. 

(a) RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part A of title II, 

$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014. 
Sec. 505 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 42 

(b) FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM.—There are authorized to 

be appropriated to carry out part B of title II, $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 

fiscal years 2011 through 2014. 

(c) SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM.—There are authorized to be 

appropriated to carry out part C of title II, $55,000,000 for fiscal 

year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014. 

(d) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.—There are authorized to be 

appropriated to carry out part E of title II, such sums as may be 

necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014. 

(42 U.S.C. 5082) 

[Sec. 503. Repealed. P.L. 95–510, sec. 102(b) October 24, 1978, 

92 Stat. 1781.] 

SEC. 504. ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 

2014, there are authorized to be appropriated for the administration of this Act as provided for in title IV, 18 percent of the total 

amount appropriated under sections 501 and 502 with respect to 

such year. 

(b) EVALUATION.—For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 

2014, the Director is authorized to expend not less than 21⁄2 percent, and not more than 5 percent, of the amount appropriated 

under subsection (a), for the purposes prescribed in section 416. 

(42 U.S.C. 5084) 

AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 505. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, unless 

enacted in express and specific limitation of the provisions of this 

section, funds appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out any program under this Act or any predecessor authority shall remain 

available, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, for obligation and expenditure until expended. 

(42 U.S.C. 5085) 

TITLE VI—AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS AND REPEALERS 

SUPERSEDENCE OF REORGANIZATION PLAN NUMBER 1 OF JULY 1, 1971

SEC. 601. (a) Sections 1, 2(a), 3, and 4 of the Reorganization 

Plan Number 1 of 1971 (July 1, 1971) are hereby superseded. 

(b) The personnel, property, records, and unexpected balances 

of appropriations, allocations, and other funds employed, used, 

held, available, or to be made available in connection with the functions transferred to the Director of the ACTION Agency by sections 

2(a) and 4 of such reorganization plan are hereby transferred to the 

ACTION Agency established by section 401. All grants, contracts, 

and other agreements awarded or entered into under the authority 

of such reorganization plan will be recognized under comparable 

provisions of this Act so that there is no disruption of ongoing activities for which there is continuing authority. 

(c) All official actions taken by the Director of the ACTION 

Agency, the designee of the Director, or any other person under the 
43 Sec. 604 DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973 

authority of such reorganization plan which are in force on the effective date of this Act and for which there is continuing authority 

under the provisions of this Act, and the length of the period of 

service of volunteers serving or under going training under title 

VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended (42 

U.S.C. 2991–2994d) on the effective date of this Act, shall continue 

in full force and effect until modified, superseded, or revoked by the 

Director. 

(d) All references to ACTION, or the Director of ACTION in 

any statute, reorganization plan, Executive order, regulation, or 

other official document or proceeding shall, on and after the effective date of this Act, be deemed to refer to the ACTION Agency established by section 401 and the Director thereof. 

(e) No suit, action or other proceeding, and no cause of action, 

by or against the agency known as ACTION created by such reorganization plan, or any action by any officer thereof acting in an 

official capacity, shall abate by reason of enactment of this Act. 

(f) Persons appointed by the President, by and with the advice 

and consent of the Senate, to positions requiring such advice and 

consent under such reorganization plan may continue to serve in 

the same capacity in the ACTION Agency without the necessity of 

an additional appointment by the President or further such advice 

and consent by the Senate. 

CREDITABLE SERVICE FOR CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT

SEC. 602. Section 8332(b)(7) of title 5, United States Code (relating to creditable service to civil service retirement), is amended 

by inserting a comma and ‘‘or a period of service of a full-time volunteer enrolled in a program of at least one year’s duration under 

part A, B, or C of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 

1973 (—U.S.C.—)’’ after ‘‘Economic Opportunity Act of 1964’’. 

REPEAL OF TITLE VIII OF THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT

SEC. 603. Title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, 

as amended (42 U.S.C. 2991–2994d), is hereby repealed. 

REPEAL OF TITLE VI OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT

SEC. 604. (a) Title VI of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. 3044–3044e), is hereby repealed. 

(b) Section 908 of the Older Americans Comprehensive Services AmendmentsAct of 1973 (Public Law 93–29) is amended by 

striking out ‘‘1973,’’ and ‘‘1974,’’ and inserting in lieu thereof 

‘‘1974,’’ and ‘‘1975,’’, respectively.