89–006 

111TH CONGRESS REPT. 111–312 " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session Part 1 

PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT OF 2009 

OCTOBER 23, 2009.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. RAHALL, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 1612] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 1612) to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to 

expand the authorization of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide service-learning opportunities on 

public lands, help restore the Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, 

archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources, train a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts, and promote the 

value of public service, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendment and recommend that the bill as 

amended do pass. 

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009’’. 

SEC. 2. REFERENCE. 

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or 

repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other 

provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.; title II of Public 

Law 91–378). 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
2 

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC LANDS CORPS ACT OF 1993. 

(a) NAME AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION CHANGES.—The Act is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘Public Lands Corps’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Public Lands Service Corps’’; 

(2) in the title heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS CORPS’’ and inserting ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 

(3) in the section 204— 

(A) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS CORPS’’ and 

inserting ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; and 

(B) in the heading of subsection (a), by striking ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS CORPS’’ 

and inserting ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 

(4) in the heading of paragraph (2) of section 210(a), by striking ‘‘PUBLIC

LANDS CORPS’’ and inserting ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 

(5) by striking ‘‘conservation center’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘residential conservation center’’; and 

(6) by striking ‘‘appropriate conservation projects’’ each place it appears (except in paragraph (1) of section 204(e) as so redesignated) and inserting ‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects’’. 

(b) FINDINGS.—Section 202(a) of the Act is amended as follows: 

(1) In paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the natural and cultural’’ and inserting ‘‘natural and cultural’’. 

(2) By redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 

‘‘(2) Participants in conservation corps receive meaningful training and their 

experience with such corps provides preparation for careers in public service. 

‘‘(3) Young men and women who participate in the rehabilitation and restoration of our Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 

scenic treasures will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our 

public lands and heritage, and of the value of public service, and are likely to 

become life-long advocates for those values.’’. 

(3) In paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by inserting ‘‘, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic’’ after ‘‘Many facilities and natural’’. 

(4) By adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) The work of conservation corps can benefit communities adjacent to public lands and facilities through renewed civic engagement and participation by 

corps participants and those they serve; improved student achievement; and 

restoration and rehabilitation of public assets.’’. 

(c) PURPOSE.—Section 202(b) of the Act is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to— 

‘‘(1) introduce young men and women to public service while furthering their 

understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources; 

‘‘(2) facilitate training and recruitment opportunities in which service is credited as qualifying experience for careers in public land management; 

‘‘(3) instill in a new generation of young men and women from across the Nation, including those from diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in 

natural and cultural resource stewardship and public service by allowing them 

to work directly with professionals in agencies responsible for the management 

of the Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources; 

‘‘(4) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects where such projects are not being performed by 

existing employees; 

‘‘(5) assist governments and Indian tribes in performing research and public 

education tasks associated with natural and cultural resources; 

‘‘(6) expand educational opportunities by rewarding individuals who participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue higher education or 

job training; and 

‘‘(7) promote public understanding and appreciation of the individual missions 

and natural and cultural resources conservation work of the Federal agencies 

through training opportunities, community service and outreach, and other appropriate means.’’. 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—Section 203 of the Act is amended as follows: 

(1) By amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION

PROJECT.—The term ‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 

project’ means any project for the conservation, restoration, construction, or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic 

resources. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
3 

‘‘(2) CORPS AND PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS.—The terms ‘Corps’ and ‘Public 

Lands Service Corps’ mean the Public Lands Service Corps established under 

section 204 of this title.’’. 

(2) By striking paragraphs (3) and (8). 

(3) By redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), (10), (11), (12), and (13) 

as paragraphs (3) through (11), respectively. 

(4) By amending paragraph (7) (as so redesignated) to read as follows: 

‘‘(7) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘public lands’ means any lands or waters (or 

interest therein) owned or administered by the United States, including those 

areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting waters, 

and submerged lands over which the United States exercises jurisdiction, except 

that such term does not include any Indian lands.’’. 

(5) In paragraph (8) (as so redesignated)— 

(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(D) makes available for audit for each fiscal year for which the qualified 

youth or conservation corps receives Federal funds under this Act, information pertaining to the expenditure of the funds, any matching funds, and 

participant demographics.’’. 

(6) In paragraph (10) (as so redesignated)— 

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(C) with respect to the National Marine Sanctuary System, coral reefs, 

and other coastal, estuarine, and marine habitats, and other lands and facilities administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary of Commerce.’’. 

(7) By adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(12) RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS.—The term ‘residential conservation centers’ means the facilities authorized under section 205. 

‘‘(13) CONSULTING INTERN.—The term ‘consulting intern’ means a consulting 

intern selected under section 206. 

‘‘(14) PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘Public Lands 

Service Corps participant’, ‘Corps participant’ or ‘participant of the Corps’ 

means an individual who is enrolled in the Public Lands Service Corps pursuant to section 204(b).’’. 

(e) PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM.—Section 204 of the Act is amended 

as follows: 

(1) In subsection (a)— 

(A) in the heading, by adding at the end ‘‘PROGRAM’’; 

(B) by striking ‘‘and the Department of Agriculture a’’ and inserting ‘‘, the 

Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a service and 

training program titled the’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The Secretary of the Interior 

shall establish a department-level office to coordinate Public Lands Service 

Corps activities within the Department of the Interior. The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish within the U.S. Forest Service an office to coordinate Public Lands Service Corps activities within that agency. The Secretary of Commerce shall establish within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an office to coordinate Public Lands Service Corps 

activities within that agency. The Secretary of each department shall designate a Public Lands Service Corps coordinator for each agency within that 

department that administers Public Lands Service Corps activities.’’. 

(2) By amending subsection (b) to read as follows: 

‘‘(b) PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary may enroll in the Public Lands Service Corps 

individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who are either hired by an 

agency under the Secretary’s jurisdiction to perform work authorized under this Act 

or who are members of a qualified youth or conservation corps with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative agreement to perform work authorized under 

this Act. The Secretary may also enroll resource assistants and consulting interns. 

All enrollees shall be considered Public Lands Service Corps participants, and may 

be enrolled for a term of up to 24 months of service, which may be served over more 

than two calendar years. The individuals may be enrolled without regard to the civil 

service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United States. The Secretary may establish a preference for the enrollment in the Corps of individuals who 

are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.’’. 

(3) In subsection (c)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
4 

(i) by striking ‘‘contracts and’’; 

(ii) by inserting ‘‘natural and cultural resources’’ after ‘‘appropriate’’; 

and 

(iii) by striking ‘‘subsection (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (e)’’; 

(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); 

(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 

‘‘(2) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary shall undertake, or enter into cooperative 

agreements to provide, a program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing Corps opportunities through high schools, colleges, employment centers, 

electronic media, and other appropriate institutions or means.’’; and 

(D) by amending paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) to read as follows: 

‘‘(3) PREFERENCE.—For purposes of entering into cooperative agreements 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or 

conservation corps located in a specific area that have a substantial portion of 

members who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged to 

carry out projects within the area.’’. 

(4) By redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (e) through (g), 

respectively. 

(5) By inserting after subsection (c) the following: 

‘‘(d) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall establish a training program based at appropriate residential conservation centers or at other suitable regional Federal or other 

appropriate facilities or sites to provide training for Corps participants. The Secretary shall— 

‘‘(1) ensure that the duration and comprehensiveness of the training program 

shall be commensurate with the projects Corps participants are expected to undertake; 

‘‘(2) develop department-wide standards for the program that include training 

in— 

‘‘(A) resource stewardship; 

‘‘(B) ethics for those in public service; 

‘‘(C) principles of national service; 

‘‘(D) health and safety; 

‘‘(E) teamwork and leadership; and 

‘‘(F) interpersonal communications; 

‘‘(3) direct each participating agency to develop agency-specific training guidelines to ensure that Corps participants enrolled to undertake projects for that 

agency are appropriately informed about matters specific to that agency, including— 

‘‘(A) the history and organization of the agency; 

‘‘(B) the agency’s core values; and 

‘‘(C) any agency-specific standards for the management of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources; and 

‘‘(4) take into account training already received by Corps participants enrolled 

from qualified youth or conservation corps, including in the matters outlined in 

paragraph (2).’’. 

(6) In subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘The Secretary may utilize the Corps or any qualified 

youth or conservation corps to carry out appropriate’’ and inserting 

‘‘The Secretary may use Corps participants to carry out, under appropriate supervision and training, appropriate natural and cultural resource’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘law on public lands.’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘law. Such projects may include, but are not limited to— 

‘‘(A) protection, restoration, or enhancement of ecosystem components to 

promote species recovery, improve biological diversity, enhance productivity 

and carbon sequestration, and enhance adaptability and resilience of public 

lands and resources in the face of climate change and other natural and 

human disturbances; 

‘‘(B) promoting the health of forests and public lands, refuges, and coastal 

and marine areas, including— 

‘‘(i) protection and restoration of watersheds and forest, riparian, estuarine, grassland, coral reef, intertidal, or other habitat; 

‘‘(ii) reduction of wildfire risk and mitigation of damage from insects, 

disease, and disasters; 

‘‘(iii) erosion control; 

‘‘(iv) control or removal of invasive, noxious, or non-native species; 

and 

‘‘(v) restoration of native species; 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
5 

‘‘(C) collection of biological, archaeological, and other scientific data, including monitoring of climatological information, species populations and 

movement, habitat status, and other factors; 

‘‘(D) assisting in historical and cultural research, archival and curatorial 

work, oral history projects, documentary photography, and activities that 

support the creation of public works of art related to public lands; and 

‘‘(E) construction, repair, rehabilitation, green building retrofitting, and 

maintenance of roads, trails, campgrounds, and other facilities, employee 

housing, cultural and historic sites and structures, and facilities that further the purposes of the Public Lands Service Corps.’’. 

(B) By redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively. 

(C) By inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 

‘‘(2) VISITOR SERVICES.—The Secretary may— 

‘‘(A) enter into or amend an existing cooperative agreement with a cooperating association, educational institute, friends group, or similar nonprofit 

partner organization for the purpose of providing training and work experience to Corps participants in areas including, but not limited to, sales, office work, accounting, and management provided that the work experience 

directly relates to the protection and management of the public lands; and 

‘‘(B) allow Corps participants to help promote visitor safety and enjoyment of public lands, and assist in the gathering of visitor use data. 

‘‘(3) INTERPRETATION.—The Secretary may assign Corps participants to provide interpretation or education services for the public under the appropriate 

direction and supervision of agency personnel, including— 

‘‘(A) providing orientation and information services to visitors, including 

services for non-English speaking visitors and visitors who use American 

Sign Language; 

‘‘(B) assisting agency personnel in the delivery of interpretive or educational programs, including outdoor learning and classroom learning; 

‘‘(C) presenting programs on Federal lands or at schools, after-school programs, and youth-serving community programs that relate the personal experience of the Corps participant for the purpose of promoting public awareness of the Corps, its role in public land management agencies, and its 

availability to potential participants; and 

‘‘(D) creating nonpersonal interpretive products, such as Web site content, 

Junior Ranger program books, printed handouts, and audiovisual programs.’’. 

(D) In paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘Appropriate conservation projects’’ and inserting ‘‘Appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects’’. 

(7) In subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘appropriate conservation project’’ inserting ‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 

project’’. 

(8) By amending the text of subsection (f)(2) (as so redesignated) to read as 

follows: ‘‘will instill in Corps participants a work ethic and a sense of public 

service;’’. 

(9) In subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘on eligible service 

lands’’. 

(10) By adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(h) OTHER PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary may allow volunteers from other programs administered or designated by the Secretary to participate as volunteers in 

projects carried out under this section on such terms as the Secretary considers appropriate.’’. 

(f) RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT.—Section 205 of 

the Act is amended as follows: 

(1) In the section heading, by striking ‘‘CONSERVATION’’ and inserting 

‘‘RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION’’. 

(2) In subsection (a)— 

(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish residential conservation centers for— 

‘‘(A) such housing, food service, medical care, transportation, and other 

services as the Secretary deems necessary for the Public Lands Service 

Corps; and 

‘‘(B) the conduct of appropriate residential conservation projects under 

this Act.’’; 

(B) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) 

as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
6 

(C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)— 

(i) in the text, by inserting ‘‘residential’’ before ‘‘conservation centers’’; 

and 

(ii) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘RESIDENTIAL’’ before ‘‘CONSERVATION

CENTERS’’; and 

(D) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘with a State or’’ 

and inserting ‘‘a cooperative agreement with another Federal, State, or’’. 

(3) In subsection (b)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) The Secretary’’; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(2) The Secretary may make arrangements with other Federal agencies, 

States, local governments, or private organizations to provide temporary housing as needed and available. 

‘‘(3) In project areas where Corps participants can reasonably be expected to 

reside at their own homes, the Secretary may fund or provide transportation to 

and from project sites.’’. 

(4) By redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (g). 

(5) By inserting after subsection (c) the following: 

‘‘(d) FACILITIES.—The Secretary may, as an appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project, direct Corps participants to aid in the rehabilitation 

or construction of residential conservation center facilities, including housing. 

‘‘(e) GREEN BUILDINGS.—The Secretary may seek the assistance of the Secretary 

of Energy in identifying and using solar and other green building technologies and 

modular housing designs that may be adapted for residential conservation center facilities, including— 

‘‘(1) designs from the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition; 

and 

‘‘(2) logistical support, assistance, and training from Solar Decathlon participants. 

‘‘(f) MENTORS.—The Secretary may recruit from programs, such as agency volunteer programs, and from agency retirees, veterans groups, military retirees, active 

duty personnel, and from appropriate youth-serving organizations, such adults as 

may be suitable and qualified to provide training, mentoring, and crew-leading services to Corps participants.’’. 

(6) In subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘are appropriate to carry 

out this title’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary determines to be necessary for the 

residential conservation center’’. 

(g) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS.—Section 206 of the Act is 

amended as follows: 

(1) In the section heading, by inserting ‘‘AND CONSULTING INTERNS’’ before the period. 

(2) In subsection (a), by striking ‘‘The Secretary is authorized to provide individual placements of resource’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘The Secretary is authorized, to provide individual placements of the following: 

‘‘(1) Resource’’. 

(3) By inserting after subsection (a)(1) (as so designated), the following: 

‘‘(2) Consulting interns with any Federal land, coastal, or ocean management 

agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to carry out management analysis activities on behalf of the agency. To be eligible for selection as a consulting 

intern, an individual must be a current enrollee and have completed at least 

one full year at a graduate or professional school that has been accredited by 

an accrediting body that has been recognized by the Secretary of Education. The 

Secretary may select consulting interns without regard to the civil service and 

classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United States.’’. 

(4) In subsection (b)— 

(A) by inserting ‘‘or consulting interns’’ before ‘‘through private sources’’; 

(B) in the second sentence, before the period, by inserting ‘‘; up to 15 percent may be in-kind’’; and 

(C) by striking ‘‘Resource Assistants’’ and inserting ‘‘resource assistants 

or consulting interns’’. 

(5) By adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(c) COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS.—At the Secretary’s discretion, the requirements for cost sharing applicable to participating nonprofit organizations for the expenses of resource assistants and consulting interns under subsection (b) may be reduced to not less than 10 percent.’’. 

(h) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The Act is amended by redesignating sections 207, 

208, 209, 210, and 211 as sections 208, 209, 210, 211, and 212, respectively. 

(i) GUIDANCE.—The Act is amended by inserting after section 206 the following: 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
7 

‘‘SEC. 207. GUIDANCE. 

‘‘Not later than 18 months after funds are made available for this purpose, the 

Secretaries shall issue guidelines for the management of the Public Lands Service 

Corps programs for use by regional and State directors, and the supervisors of individual parks, forests, districts, sanctuaries, reserves, hatcheries, and refuges.’’. 

(j) LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERVICE.—Section 208 of the Act (as so redesignated) is amended— 

(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) LIVING ALLOWANCES.—The Secretary shall provide each Corps participant 

with a living allowance in an amount established by the Secretary. The Secretary 

may— 

‘‘(1) apply a cost-of-living differential to such allowances; and 

‘‘(2) reimburse Corps participants for travel costs at the beginning and end 

of their term of service if the Secretary deems appropriate.’’; 

(2) by amending the text of subsection (b) to read as follows: ‘‘Each Corp participant shall agree to participate in the Corps for such term of service as may 

be established by the Secretary enrolling or selecting the individual.’’; 

(3) in the heading of subsection (c), by adding at the end ‘‘PREFERENCE AND

FUTURE EMPLOYMENT’’; and 

(4) in subsection (c)— 

(A) by amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) grant to a participant of the Public Lands Service Corps credit for service 

time in the Corps to be used as qualifying experience toward future Federal hiring; 

‘‘(2) provide to a former participant of the Public Lands Service Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than two years after the date 

on which the participant’s service with the Public Lands Service Corps is complete (not counting any time spent enrolled in an academic institution or trade 

school), if the candidate— 

‘‘(A) has served a minimum of 960 hours on an appropriate natural or 

cultural resource conservation project that included at least 120 hours 

through the Public Lands Service Corps; and 

‘‘(B) meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards for 

the position to which the candidate is applying;’’; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(3) develop a system to provide consideration for participants who cannot 

meet the requirements of paragraph (2); 

‘‘(4) provide to an individual who has successfully fulfilled the resource assistant program noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than two 

years after the date on which the individual has completed an undergraduate 

degree from an accredited institution; 

‘‘(5) provide to an individual who has successfully fulfilled the consulting internship program noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than 

two years after the date on which the individual has completed a graduate degree from an accredited institution; and 

‘‘(6) provide, or enter into cooperative agreements with qualified employment 

agencies to provide, alumni services such as job and education counseling, referrals, verification of service, communications, and other appropriate services to 

participants who have completed their Corps service.’’. 

(k) NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.—Section 209 of the Act (as so redesignated) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘If a’’ and all that follows through ‘‘shall be 

eligible’’ and inserting ‘‘If a Corps participant also serves in an approved national service position designated under subtitle C of title I of the National and 

Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.), the Corps participant 

shall be eligible’’; and 

(2) in subsection (b), by striking— 

(A) ‘‘either participants in the Corps or resource assistants’’ and inserting 

‘‘participants in the Corps’’ ; and 

(B) ‘‘or a resource assistant’’. 

(l) NONDISPLACEMENT.—Section 210 of the Act (as so redesignated) is amended to 

read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 210. NONDISPLACEMENT. 

‘‘The nondisplacement requirements of the National and Community Service Act 

of 1990 shall be applicable to all activities carried out by the Public Lands Service 

Corps participants.’’. 

(m) FUNDING.—Section 211 of the Act (as so redesignated) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
8 

(A) by striking ‘‘appropriate conservation project’’ each place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 

project’’; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The Secretary may reduce to no 

less than 10 percent the non-Federal costs of a project when the Secretary 

determines that it is necessary to enable participation in the Public Lands 

Service Corps from a greater range of organizations.’’; and 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) by inserting ‘‘program’’ after ‘‘Corps’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘, consulting interns’’ before ‘‘and qualified youth’’. 

(n) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 212 of the Act (as so redesignated) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘to the Secretary’’ after ‘‘authorized to be 

appropriated’’; 

(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘to carry out’’ the first place it appears and 

all that follows through the period and inserting ‘‘such sums as may be necessary to carry out this title.’’; 

(3) by striking subsection (b); and 

(4) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b). 

Amend the title so as to read: 

A bill to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization 

of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide service opportunities for young Americans; help restore the nation’s natural, cultural, historic, 

archaeological, recreational and scenic resources; train a new generation of public 

land managers and enthusiasts; and promote the value of public service. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 1612, as ordered reported, is to amend the 

Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization of the 

Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide 

service opportunities for young Americans; help restore the nation’s 

natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and scenic 

resources; train a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts; and promote the value of public service. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

H.R. 1612 builds on the already successful, but underfunded, program established in the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (Sec. 105 

of P.L. 103–82). That program has employed thousands of young 

people to repair and restore our national parks. 

The program is currently authorized at $12 million annually for 

conservation projects by Department of the Interior land management agencies and the U.S. Forest Service. However, until fiscal 

year 2009, no money had been appropriated for the program. The 

National Park Service has utilized its authority to use fee revenues 

for backlog maintenance work to finance projects under the Public 

Lands Corps program. In fiscal year 2009, $2.5 million was appropriated for healthy forests projects under the authority of 2005 

amendments to the Public Lands Corps Act (P.L. 109–154). 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 1612 was introduced on March 19, 2009, by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall II (D–WV) and Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Chairman 

Raul Grijalva (D–AZ). The bill was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 

on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
9 

On April 2, 2009, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. 

Representatives of the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior 

testified in favor of H.R. 1612. The Subcommittee has also received 

a letter of support from the Department of Commerce. 

On June 10, 2009, the Subcommittee was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1612 and the Full Natural Resources 

Committee met to consider the bill. Subcommittee Chairman 

Grijalva offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to 

clarify that the authorities granted in this bill apply across the entire Department of the Interior, and ensure that each Interior 

agency, as well as the Forest Service and the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), may engage in Public Land 

Service Corps activities, have a coordinator assigned by the Secretary, and develop specific training guidelines. Also at the request 

of the Administration, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 

alters the cost-sharing language for resource assistants and consulting interns. The amendment in the nature of a substitute also 

made technical, clarifying and conforming changes to the bill. 

Representative Rob Bishop (R–UT) offered an amendment to the 

amendment in the nature of a substitute to identify projects under 

the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (P.L. 108–148) as priority projects and direct that half the funding appropriated for the 

Public Lands Service Corps be directed to those priority projects. 

The amendment was not agreed to by voice vote. 

Representative Doc Hastings (R–WA) offered an amendment to 

the amendment in the nature of a substitute to allow the Secretary 

to grant an enrollment preference to residents of counties eligible 

to receive funds under the Secure Rural Schools Program (P.L. 

106–393). The amendment was withdrawn. 

Representative Bishop offered an amendment to the amendment 

in the nature of a substitute to clarify that appropriate natural and 

cultural resource conservation projects will take place on public 

lands, and to clarify what constitutes a preferred project. The 

amendment was withdrawn. 

The amendment in the nature of a substitute was then agreed 

to by voice vote, and H.R. 1612, as amended, was ordered favorably 

reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 provides that the bill may be cited as the ‘‘Public Lands 

Service Corps Act of 2009.’’ 

Section 2. Reference 

Section 2 provides that all references to ‘‘the Act’’ in this bill are 

references to the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 

et seq.; title II of Public Law 91–378). 

Section 3. Amendments to the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 

Section 3 renames the corps as the Public Lands Service Corps, 

and makes numerous amendments to expand the scope of the program by including all Interior Department agencies and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce. Current law applies only to the National 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
10 

Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of 

Land Management and the Agriculture Department’s U.S. Forest 

Service. 

Section 3(c) adds additional purposes to the act, including instilling in a new generation of young people, including those from diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in natural and cultural resource stewardship and public service by allowing them to 

work directly with professionals in the agencies responsible for 

managing the nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, 

recreational and scenic resources. 

Section 3(d) refines the definitions in the original act to conform 

to the new version of the program, including making clear that the 

‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects’’ 

authorized in the bill mean any project for the conservation, restoration, construction or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, 

archaeological, recreational, or scenic resources. This section also 

expands the definition of public lands to include those areas of 

coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting 

waters, and submerged lands over which the United States has jurisdiction; and clarify that in the case of the National Marine Sanctuary system and other lands and facilities administered by NOAA, 

the term ‘‘Secretary’’ refers to the Secretary of Commerce. 

Section 3(e)(1) establishes the Public Lands Service Corps and directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce to establish a 

coordinating office and a coordinator for the corps within the Forest 

Service and NOAA, respectively. For the Department of the Interior, this provision directs the Secretary to establish a departmentwide coordinating office and a coordinator for each agency that administers Corps activities. 

Section 3(e)(2) outlines who may be enrolled in the Corps, allows 

the Secretaries to enter into agreements with qualified youth or 

conservation corps to perform the projects authorized under the 

bill. 

Section 3(e)(3) directs the Secretaries to undertake, or enter into 

cooperative agreements to provide, a recruiting program to attract 

eligible youth to the program and allows the Secretaries to give 

preference to qualified youth or conservation corps from disadvantaged areas. 

Section 3(e)(5) directs the Secretaries to establish training programs based at residential conservation centers or other appropriate facilities to ensure that, during their service term, participants receive adequate training for the work they have been assigned, including agency-specific standards, principles and practices. This provision also provides guidance as to the matters in 

which Corps participants should be instructed. 

Section 3(e)(6) modernizes the scope of eligible projects that may 

be performed by Corps participants to reflect new challenges, such 

as climate change. 

Section 3(f) authorizes agencies to provide housing for Corps participants, including allowing Corps participants to construct such 

housing if needed. The Secretaries may also make arrangements 

with other federal agencies, states, local governments, or private 

organizations to provide temporary housing as needed and available. The section also allows the Secretaries to seek the assistance 

of the Secretary of Energy in identifying and using solar and other 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
11 

green building design for those residential conservation centers. 

This section also allows the Secretaries to fund or provide transportation in project areas where Corps participants can reasonably be 

expected to reside at home. 

Another provision of Section 3(f) authorizes agencies to enlist 

current employees and volunteers, public lands agency retirees, 

military personnel and/or veterans to serve as mentors and allows 

agency volunteers to participate as crew members on Corps 

projects. 

Section 3(g) establishes a new category of Corps participants, to 

be known as consulting interns, to carry out management analysis 

activities for the agencies. The category, aimed at graduate students, is similar to the existing category of resource assistants, a 

position aimed at college students who are selected to carry out research or resource activities for the agencies. 

Section 3(i) requires the Secretaries to issue guidelines for the 

management of the Public Lands Service Corps for use by agency 

managers. 

Section 3(j) directs the Secretaries to provide each Corps participant with a living allowance, to which the Secretaries may apply 

a cost-of-living differential, and provide reimbursement for transportation at the beginning and end of a participant’s term if appropriate. This section also broadens existing preferential hire provisions and authorizes the agencies to provide alumni services such 

as verification of service and/or references for students and other 

appropriate career development assistance. 

Section 3(m) allows the Secretaries to reduce the existing 25 percent cost-share required of qualified youth or conservation corps 

who are participating in a project to no less than 10 percent if the 

Secretaries find the reduction is needed to enable participation by 

a greater range of organizations. 

Section 3(n) repeals the $12 million appropriations ceiling contained in existing law, and authorizes the appropriation to the Secretaries of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the legislation. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution 

of the United States grant Congress the authority to enact this bill. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill preVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:47 Oct 24, 2009 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR312P1.XXX HR312P1

smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
12 

pared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule 

XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 

308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not 

contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill, as ordered reported, is to amend the Public Lands 

Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization of the Secretaries of 

Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide service opportunities for young Americans; help restore the nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and scenic resources; 

train a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts; 

and promote the value of public service. 

4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 

section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 1612—Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009 

Summary: H.R. 1612 would amend the Public Lands Corps Act 

of 1993, which governs programs that assist and employ young 

adults to work on lands managed by the Department of the Interior 

(DOI), the Forest Service, and other federal agencies. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $120 million over the 2010–2014 

period. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues or direct spending. 

H.R. 1612 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1612 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2010–2014 

Estimated Authorization Level .......................................................... 30 30 30 30 30 150 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................................ 10 20 30 30 30 120 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 

1612 will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2010 and 

that the amounts estimated to be necessary will be appropriated 

for each year. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending 

patterns for similar programs. 

In addition to changing the name of the Public Lands Corps 

(PLC) to the Public Lands Service Corps (PLSC), the bill would: • Expand the program to include the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); • Require DOI to establish a department-level office to coordinate PLSC programs among its various bureaus; 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
13 

• Emphasize that training for participants should be provided at federal residential centers; • Authorize federal appropriations to be used for transportation subsidies; and • Eliminate the program’s current authorization ceiling of $12 million a year. 

Public Lands Corps under current law 

The Public Lands Corps is a network of young men and women, 

most of whom are recruited by federal land management agencies 

through nonprofit organizations such as the Student Conservation 

Association and over 100 local conservation service corps. 

Several agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, the National 

Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), use members of the 

corps and students from other programs to build trails, perform 

maintenance, and carry out other projects in exchange for benefits 

such as training, living allowances, and medical care. 

Existing corps programs vary by agency and funding source. Currently, only the Forest Service receives specific appropriations for 

some PLC projects, but the funding (less than $3 million in 2009) 

may only be used for hazardous fuels reduction. The NPS also receives funding for PLC projects, but that funding is derived from 

recreation fees that the agency is able to use without appropriations action. (The President’s 2010 budget for the NPS requested 

$5 million of appropriated funds to expand youth activities at 

parks.) Other agencies work with student conservation groups 

using funds from their annual operating budgets. 

Public Lands Service Corps (PLSC) 

H.R. 1612 would significantly expand PLC programs and change 

the corps’ name to the Public Lands Service Corps. Under the bill, 

participants could receive classroom education, more job training, 

transportation subsidies, housing during their time in the program, 

and hiring preferences upon completion of their tenure. The bill 

also would expand the types of activities in which PLSC members 

could participate. 

The effect of H.R. 1612 on discretionary spending is uncertain, 

largely because total costs would depend on how the Administration chooses to implement the legislation and on how much funding 

the Congress would provide in appropriations acts. Based on information provided by the affected agencies, CBO expects that all of 

those agencies, including the newly added NOAA, would take advantage of the authorities provided by the bill. 

For this estimate, CBO assumes that the land management 

agencies and NOAA would, over the next five years, implement 

H.R. 1612 by expanding their use of federal-nonprofit partnerships. 

We expect that the affected agencies would need a total of about 

$30 million annually for this purpose. Such funding would allow 

agencies that have smaller PLSC programs (including the USFWS 

and BLM) to expand their programs, primarily by working with 

nonprofit corps in areas such as wildlife refuges and national monuments. The funding would also enable the Forest Service to expand the scope of its corps programs to encompass more activities 

such as trail construction and facility maintenance. This level of 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
14 

funding also would allow the NPS to expand its existing program— 

the largest of any of the agencies—using discretionary funding as 

requested in the 2010 President’s budget. The estimated annual 

cost of $30 million also includes funds to operate an office at DOI 

to coordinate the department’s activities and to provide participants with extra training, allowances, and transportation subsidies. 

CBO estimates that funding for the PLSC would grow after 2014 

as the Administration uses the enhanced authorities contained in 

the bill to recruit participants directly to agency programs. CBO estimates that implementing the expanded program would require a 

significant increase in funding after 2015. 

This estimate is based on information provided by the NPS, the 

Forest Service, BLM, and nonprofit organizations that operate local 

conservation corps. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1612 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis; Impact on 

State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa Merrell; Impact on 

the Private Sector: Marin Randall. 

Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4 

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

H.R. 1612 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule 

XXI. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

PUBLIC LANDS CORPS ACT OF 1993 

TITLE II—øPUBLIC LANDS CORPS¿ 

PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS 

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘øPublic Lands Corps¿ Public 

Lands Service Corps Act of 1993’’. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
15 

SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 

(1) Conserving or developing natural and cultural resources 

and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important 

lands and waters through the use of the Nation’s young men 

and women in a øPublic Lands Corps¿ Public Lands Service 

Corps can benefit those men and women by providing them 

with education and work opportunities, furthering their understanding and appreciation of øthe natural and cultural¿ natural and cultural resources, and providing a means to pay for 

higher education or to repay indebtedness they have incurred 

to obtain higher education while at the same time benefiting 

the Nation’s economy and its environment. 

(2) Participants in conservation corps receive meaningful 

training and their experience with such corps provides preparation for careers in public service. 

(3) Young men and women who participate in the rehabilitation and restoration of our Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, 

archaeological, recreational, and scenic treasures will gain an 

increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands 

and heritage, and of the value of public service, and are likely 

to become life-long advocates for those values. 

ø(2)¿ (4) Many facilities and natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources located on eligible service lands are in disrepair or degraded and in need of 

labor intensive rehabilitation, restoration, and enhancement 

work which cannot be carried out by Federal agencies at existing personnel levels. 

ø(3)¿ (5) Youth conservation corps have established a good 

record of restoring and maintaining these kinds of facilities 

and resources in a cost effective and efficient manner, especially when they have worked in partnership arrangements 

with government land management agencies. 

(6) The work of conservation corps can benefit communities 

adjacent to public lands and facilities through renewed civic engagement and participation by corps participants and those 

they serve; improved student achievement; and restoration and 

rehabilitation of public assets. 

ø(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this title to— 

ø(1) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate natural 

and cultural resources conservation projects on eligible service 

lands where such projects will not be performed by existing 

employees; 

ø(2) assist governments and Indian tribes in performing research and public education tasks associated with natural and 

cultural resources on eligible service lands; 

ø(3) expose young men and women to public service while 

furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s natural and cultural resources; 

ø(4) expand educational opportunities by rewarding individuals who participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue higher education or job training; and 

ø(5) stimulate interest among the Nation’s young men and 

women in conservation careers by exposing them to conservation professionals in land managing agencies.¿ 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
16 

(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to— 

(1) introduce young men and women to public service while 

furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s 

natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources; 

(2) facilitate training and recruitment opportunities in which 

service is credited as qualifying experience for careers in public 

land management; 

(3) instill in a new generation of young men and women from 

across the Nation, including those from diverse backgrounds, 

the desire to seek careers in natural and cultural resource stewardship and public service by allowing them to work directly 

with professionals in agencies responsible for the management 

of the Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources; 

(4) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate natural 

and cultural resources conservation projects where such projects 

are not being performed by existing employees; 

(5) assist governments and Indian tribes in performing research and public education tasks associated with natural and 

cultural resources; 

(6) expand educational opportunities by rewarding individuals who participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue higher education or job training; and 

(7) promote public understanding and appreciation of the individual missions and natural and cultural resources conservation work of the Federal agencies through training opportunities, community service and outreach, and other appropriate 

means. 

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 

For purposes of this title: 

ø(1) APPROPRIATE CONSERVATION PROJECT.—The term ‘‘appropriate conservation project’’ means any project for the conservation, restoration, construction or rehabilitation of natural, 

cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic resources. 

ø(2) CORPS AND PUBLIC LANDS CORPS.—The terms ‘‘Corps’’ 

and ‘‘Public Lands Corps’’ mean the Public Lands Corps established under section 204. 

ø(3) ELIGIBLE SERVICE LANDS.—The term ‘‘eligible service 

lands’’ means public lands, Indian lands, and Hawaiian home 

lands.¿ 

(1) APPROPRIATE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION PROJECT.—The term ‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project’’ means any project for the 

conservation, restoration, construction, or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic 

resources. 

(2) CORPS AND PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS.—The terms 

‘‘Corps’’ and ‘‘Public Lands Service Corps’’ mean the Public 

Lands Service Corps established under section 204 of this title. 

ø(4)¿ (3) HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.—The term ‘‘Hawaiian home 

lands’’ means all lands given the status of Hawaiian home 

lands under section 204 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission 

Act, 1920 (42 Stat. 110), or under the corresponding provision 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
17 

of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii adopted under section 4 of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for the admission 

of the State of Hawaii into the Union’’, approved March 18, 

1959 (Public Law 86–3; 73 Stat. 5). 

ø(5)¿ (4) INDIAN.—The term ‘‘Indian’’ means a person who— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(6)¿ (5) INDIAN LANDS.—The term ‘‘Indian lands’’ means— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(7)¿ (6) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ means an 

Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation, as defined in subsection (c), (g), or (j), respectively, of section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 

(43 U.S.C. 1602 (c), (g), or (j)), that is recognized as eligible for 

the special programs and services provided by the United 

States under Federal law to Indians because of their status as 

Indians. 

ø(8) PRIORITY PROJECT.—The term ‘‘priority project’’ means 

an appropriate conservation project conducted on eligible service lands to further 1 or more of the purposes of the Healthy 

Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), as follows: 

ø(A) To reduce wildfire risk to a community, municipal 

water supply, or other at-risk Federal land. 

ø(B) To protect a watershed or address a threat to forest 

and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire. 

ø(C) To address the impact of insect or disease infestations or other damaging agents on forest and rangeland 

health. 

ø(D) To protect, restore, or enhance forest ecosystem 

components to— 

ø(i) promote the recovery of threatened or endangered species; 

ø(ii) improve biological diversity; or 

ø(iii) enhance productivity and carbon sequestration. 

ø(9) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘‘public lands’’ means any 

lands or waters (or interest therein) owned or administered by 

the United States, except that such term does not include any 

Indian lands.¿ 

(7) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘‘public lands’’ means any lands 

or waters (or interest therein) owned or administered by the 

United States, including those areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting waters, and submerged lands over which the United States exercises jurisdiction, except that such term does not include any Indian lands. 

ø(10)¿ (8) QUALIFIED YOUTH OR CONSERVATION CORPS.—The 

term ‘‘qualified youth or conservation corps’’ means any program established by a State or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization 

that— 

(A) * * * 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
18 

(B) gives participants a mix of work experience, basic 

and life skills, education, training, and support services; 

øand¿ 

(C) provides participants with the opportunity to develop 

citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United Statesø.¿; and 

(D) makes available for audit for each fiscal year for 

which the qualified youth or conservation corps receives 

Federal funds under this Act, information pertaining to the 

expenditure of the funds, any matching funds, and participant demographics. 

ø(11)¿ (9) RESOURCE ASSISTANT.—The term ‘‘resource assistant’’ means a resource assistant selected under section 206. 

ø(12)¿ (10) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means— 

(A) with respect to National Forest System land, the 

Secretary of Agriculture; øand¿ 

(B) with respect to Indian lands, Hawaiian home lands, 

or land administered by the Department of the Interior, 

the Secretary of the Interiorø.¿; and 

(C) with respect to the National Marine Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other coastal, estuarine, and marine 

habitats, and other lands and facilities administered by the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 

Secretary of Commerce. 

ø(13)¿ (11) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any State of the 

United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, 

American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands. 

(12) RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS.—The term ‘‘residential conservation centers’’ means the facilities authorized 

under section 205. 

(13) CONSULTING INTERN.—The term ‘‘consulting intern’’ 

means a consulting intern selected under section 206. 

(14) PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PARTICIPANT.—The term 

‘‘Public Lands Service Corps participant’’, ‘‘Corps participant’’ 

or ‘‘participant of the Corps’’ means an individual who is enrolled in the Public Lands Service Corps pursuant to section 

204(b). 

SEC. 204. øPUBLIC LANDS CORPS¿ PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS 

PROGRAM. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF øPUBLIC LANDS CORPS¿ PUBLIC LANDS

SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM.—There is hereby established in the Department of the Interior øand the Department of Agriculture a 

Public Lands Corps¿, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a service and training program titled the 

Public Lands Service Corps. The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a department-level office to coordinate Public Lands Service 

Corps activities within the Department of the Interior. The Secretary 

of Agriculture shall establish within the U.S. Forest Service an office to coordinate Public Lands Service Corps activities within that 

agency. The Secretary of Commerce shall establish within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an office to coordinate Public Lands Service Corps activities within that agency. The 

Secretary of each department shall designate a Public Lands ServVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:47 Oct 24, 2009 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR312P1.XXX HR312P1

smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
19 

ice Corps coordinator for each agency within that department that 

administers Public Lands Service Corps activities. 

ø(b) PARTICIPANTS.—The Corps shall consist of individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who are enrolled as participants in the Corps by the Secretary. To be eligible for enrollment 

in the Corps, an individual shall satisfy the criteria specified in 

section 137(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. 

The Secretary may enroll such individuals in the Corps without regard to the civil service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United States. The Secretary may establish a preference for the enrollment in the Corps of individuals who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.¿ 

(b) PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary may enroll in the Public Lands 

Service Corps individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, 

who are either hired by an agency under the Secretary’s jurisdiction 

to perform work authorized under this Act or who are members of 

a qualified youth or conservation corps with which the Secretary 

has entered into a cooperative agreement to perform work authorized under this Act. The Secretary may also enroll resource assistants and consulting interns. All enrollees shall be considered Public 

Lands Service Corps participants, and may be enrolled for a term 

of up to 24 months of service, which may be served over more than 

two calendar years. The individuals may be enrolled without regard 

to the civil service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of 

the United States. The Secretary may establish a preference for the 

enrollment in the Corps of individuals who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged. 

(c) QUALIFIED YOUTH OR CONSERVATION CORPS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to enter into 

øcontracts and¿ cooperative agreements with any qualified 

youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate natural 

and cultural resources conservation projects referred to in 

øsubsection (d)¿ subsection (e). (2) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary shall undertake, or enter 

into cooperative agreements to provide, a program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing Corps opportunities 

through high schools, colleges, employment centers, electronic 

media, and other appropriate institutions or means. 

ø(2) PREFERENCE.— ø(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of entering into contracts and cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), 

the Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or 

conservation corps located in a specific area that have a 

substantial portion of members who are economically, 

physically, or educationally disadvantaged to carry out 

projects within the area. 

ø(B) PRIORITY PROJECTS.—In carrying out projects in a 

specific area, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 

practicable, give preference to qualified youth or conservation corps located in that specific area that have a substantial portion of members who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.¿ 

(3) PREFERENCE.—For purposes of entering into cooperative 

agreements under paragraph (1), the Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or conservation corps located in a speVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:47 Oct 24, 2009 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\HR312P1.XXX HR312P1

smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
20 

cific area that have a substantial portion of members who are 

economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged to 

carry out projects within the area. 

(d) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall establish a training program 

based at appropriate residential conservation centers or at other 

suitable regional Federal or other appropriate facilities or sites to 

provide training for Corps participants. The Secretary shall— 

(1) ensure that the duration and comprehensiveness of the 

training program shall be commensurate with the projects 

Corps participants are expected to undertake; 

(2) develop department-wide standards for the program that 

include training in— 

(A) resource stewardship; 

(B) ethics for those in public service; 

(C) principles of national service; 

(D) health and safety; 

(E) teamwork and leadership; and 

(F) interpersonal communications; 

(3) direct each participating agency to develop agency-specific 

training guidelines to ensure that Corps participants enrolled to 

undertake projects for that agency are appropriately informed 

about matters specific to that agency, including— 

(A) the history and organization of the agency; 

(B) the agency’s core values; and 

(C) any agency-specific standards for the management of 

natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 

scenic resources; and 

(4) take into account training already received by Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth or conservation corps, 

including in the matters outlined in paragraph (2). 

ø(d)¿ (e) PROJECTS TO BE CARRIED OUT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—øThe Secretary may utilize the Corps or 

any qualified youth or conservation corps to carry out appropriate¿ The Secretary may use Corps participants to carry out, 

under appropriate supervision and training, appropriate natural and cultural resource conservation projects which the Secretary is authorized to carry out under other authority of ølaw 

on public lands.¿ law. Such projects may include, but are not 

limited to— 

(A) protection, restoration, or enhancement of ecosystem 

components to promote species recovery, improve biological 

diversity, enhance productivity and carbon sequestration, 

and enhance adaptability and resilience of public lands 

and resources in the face of climate change and other natural and human disturbances; 

(B) promoting the health of forests and public lands, refuges, and coastal and marine areas, including— 

(i) protection and restoration of watersheds and forest, riparian, estuarine, grassland, coral reef, 

intertidal, or other habitat; 

(ii) reduction of wildfire risk and mitigation of damage from insects, disease, and disasters; 

(iii) erosion control; 

(iv) control or removal of invasive, noxious, or nonnative species; and 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
21 

(v) restoration of native species; 

(C) collection of biological, archaeological, and other scientific data, including monitoring of climatological information, species populations and movement, habitat status, 

and other factors; 

(D) assisting in historical and cultural research, archival 

and curatorial work, oral history projects, documentary 

photography, and activities that support the creation of 

public works of art related to public lands; and 

(E) construction, repair, rehabilitation, green building 

retrofitting, and maintenance of roads, trails, campgrounds, and other facilities, employee housing, cultural 

and historic sites and structures, and facilities that further 

the purposes of the Public Lands Service Corps. 

(2) VISITOR SERVICES.—The Secretary may— 

(A) enter into or amend an existing cooperative agreement 

with a cooperating association, educational institute, 

friends group, or similar nonprofit partner organization for 

the purpose of providing training and work experience to 

Corps participants in areas including, but not limited to, 

sales, office work, accounting, and management provided 

that the work experience directly relates to the protection 

and management of the public lands; and 

(B) allow Corps participants to help promote visitor safety and enjoyment of public lands, and assist in the gathering of visitor use data. 

(3) INTERPRETATION.—The Secretary may assign Corps participants to provide interpretation or education services for the 

public under the appropriate direction and supervision of agency personnel, including— 

(A) providing orientation and information services to visitors, including services for non-English speaking visitors 

and visitors who use American Sign Language; 

(B) assisting agency personnel in the delivery of interpretive or educational programs, including outdoor learning 

and classroom learning; 

(C) presenting programs on Federal lands or at schools, 

after-school programs, and youth-serving community programs that relate the personal experience of the Corps participant for the purpose of promoting public awareness of 

the Corps, its role in public land management agencies, 

and its availability to potential participants; and 

(D) creating nonpersonal interpretive products, such as 

Web site content, Junior Ranger program books, printed 

handouts, and audiovisual programs. 

ø(2)¿ (4) PROJECTS ON INDIAN LANDS.—øAppropriate conservation projects¿ Appropriate natural and cultural resources 

conservation projects may also be carried out under this title 

on Indian lands with the approval of the Indian tribe involved 

and on Hawaiian home lands with the approval of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands of the State of Hawaii. 

ø(3)¿ (5) DISASTER PREVENTION OR RELIEF PROJECTS.—The 

Secretary may authorize øappropriate conservation projects¿ 

appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 

projects and other appropriate projects to be carried out on 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
22 

Federal, State, local, or private land as part of a Federal disaster prevention or relief effort. 

ø(e)¿ (f) PREFERENCE FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS.—In selecting øappropriate conservation projects¿ appropriate natural and cultural 

resources conservation projects to be carried out under this title, the 

Secretary shall give preference to those projects which— 

(1) will provide long-term benefits to the public; 

(2) øwill instill in the enrollee involved a work ethic and a 

sense of public service;¿ will instill in Corps participants a 

work ethic and a sense of public service; 

* * * * * * * 

ø(f)¿ (g) CONSISTENCY.—Each øappropriate conservation project¿ 

appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project carried out under this title øon eligible service lands¿ shall be consistent with the provisions of law and policies relating to the management and administration of such lands, with all other applicable 

provisions of law, and with all management, operational, and other 

plans and documents which govern the administration of the area. 

(h) OTHER PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary may allow volunteers 

from other programs administered or designated by the Secretary to 

participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this section 

on such terms as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

SEC. 205. øCONSERVATION¿ RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS 

AND PROGRAM SUPPORT. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND USE.— ø(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish and use conservation centers owned and operated by the Secretary for— 

ø(A) use by the Public Lands Service Corps; and 

ø(B) the conduct of appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects under this title. 

ø(2) ASSISTANCE FOR CONSERVATION CENTERS.—The Secretary may provide to a residential conservation center established under paragraph (1) any services, facilities, equipment, 

and supplies that the Secretary determines to be necessary for 

the residential conservation center.¿ 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish residential 

conservation centers for— 

(A) such housing, food service, medical care, transportation, and other services as the Secretary deems necessary 

for the Public Lands Service Corps; and 

(B) the conduct of appropriate residential conservation 

projects under this Act. 

ø(3)¿ (2) STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CEN- TERS.—The Secretary shall— 

(A) establish basic standards of health, nutrition, sanitation, and safety for all residential conservation centers established under paragraph (1); and 

* * * * * * * 

ø(4)¿ (3) MANAGEMENT.—As the Secretary determines to be 

appropriate, the Secretary may enter into a contract or other 

appropriate arrangement øwith a State or¿ a cooperative agreement with another Federal, State, or local government agency 

or private organization to provide for the management of a 

øconservation center¿ residential conservation center. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
23 

(b) LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.—øThe Secretary¿ 

(1) The Secretary may make arrangements with the Secretary of Defense to have logistical support provided by the 

Armed Forces to the Corps and any øconservation center¿ residential conservation center established under this section, 

where feasible. Logistical support may include the provision of 

temporary tent shelters where needed, transportation, and residential supervision. 

(2) The Secretary may make arrangements with other Federal 

agencies, States, local governments, or private organizations to 

provide temporary housing as needed and available. 

(3) In project areas where Corps participants can reasonably 

be expected to reside at their own homes, the Secretary may 

fund or provide transportation to and from project sites. 

* * * * * * * 

(d) FACILITIES.—The Secretary may, as an appropriate natural 

and cultural resources conservation project, direct Corps participants to aid in the rehabilitation or construction of residential conservation center facilities, including housing. 

(e) GREEN BUILDINGS.—The Secretary may seek the assistance of 

the Secretary of Energy in identifying and using solar and other 

green building technologies and modular housing designs that may 

be adapted for residential conservation center facilities, including— 

(1) designs from the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 

competition; and 

(2) logistical support, assistance, and training from Solar Decathlon participants. 

(f) MENTORS.—The Secretary may recruit from programs, such as 

agency volunteer programs, and from agency retirees, veterans 

groups, military retirees, active duty personnel, and from appropriate youth-serving organizations, such adults as may be suitable 

and qualified to provide training, mentoring, and crew-leading services to Corps participants. 

ø(d)¿ (g) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide any services, 

facilities, equipment, supplies, technical assistance, oversight, monitoring, or evaluations that øare appropriate to carry out this title¿ 

the Secretary determines to be necessary for the residential conservation center. 

SEC. 206. RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS. 

(a) AUTHORIZATION.—øThe Secretary is authorized to provide individual placements of resource¿ The Secretary is authorized, to 

provide individual placements of the following: 

(1) Resource assistants with any Federal land managing 

agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to carry out research or resource protection activities on behalf of the agency. 

To be eligible for selection as a resource assistant, an individual must be at least 17 years of age. The Secretary may select resource assistants without regard to the civil service and 

classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United States. 

The Secretary shall give a preference to the selection of individuals who are enrolled in an institution of higher education 

or are recent graduates from an institution of higher education, 

with particular attention given to ensure full representation of 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
24 

women and participants from historically black, Hispanic, and 

Native American schools. 

(2) Consulting interns with any Federal land, coastal, or 

ocean management agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to carry out management analysis activities on behalf of 

the agency. To be eligible for selection as a consulting intern, 

an individual must be a current enrollee and have completed 

at least one full year at a graduate or professional school that 

has been accredited by an accrediting body that has been recognized by the Secretary of Education. The Secretary may select 

consulting interns without regard to the civil service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United States. 

(b) USE OF EXISTING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.—Whenever one 

or more existing nonprofit organizations can provide, in the judgment of the the Secretary, appropriate recruitment and placement 

services to fulfill the requirements of this section, the Secretary 

may implement this section through such existing organizations. 

Participating nonprofit organizations shall contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting the resource assistants, or consulting interns through private sources of funding, at a level equal 

to 25 percent of the total costs of each participant in the Resource 

Assistant program who has been recruited and placed through that 

organization; up to 15 percent may be in-kind. Any such participating nonprofit conservation service organization shall be required, by the respective land managing agency, to submit an annual report evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the program, 

including the value of work contributed by the øResource Assistants¿ resource assistants or consulting interns, to the mission of the 

agency. 

(c) COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS.—At the Secretary’s discretion, 

the requirements for cost sharing applicable to participating nonprofit organizations for the expenses of resource assistants and consulting interns under subsection (b) may be reduced to not less than 

10 percent. 

SEC. 207. GUIDANCE. 

Not later than 18 months after funds are made available for this 

purpose, the Secretaries shall issue guidelines for the management 

of the Public Lands Service Corps programs for use by regional and 

State directors, and the supervisors of individual parks, forests, districts, sanctuaries, reserves, hatcheries, and refuges. 

SEC. ø207.¿ 208. LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERVICE. 

ø(a) LIVING ALLOWANCES.—The Secretary shall provide each participant in the Public Lands Service Corps and each resource assistant with a living allowance in an amount established by the 

Secretary.¿ 

(a) LIVING ALLOWANCES.—The Secretary shall provide each Corps 

participant with a living allowance in an amount established by the 

Secretary. The Secretary may— 

(1) apply a cost-of-living differential to such allowances; and 

(2) reimburse Corps participants for travel costs at the beginning and end of their term of service if the Secretary deems appropriate. 

(b) TERMS OF SERVICE.—øEach participant in the Corps and each 

resource assistant shall agree to participate in the Corps or serve 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
25 

as a resource assistant, as the case may be, for such term of service 

as may be established by the Secretary enrolling or selecting the 

individual.¿ Each Corp participant shall agree to participate in the 

Corps for such term of service as may be established by the Secretary enrolling or selecting the individual. 

(c) HIRING PREFERENCE AND FUTURE EMPLOYMENT.—The Secretary may— 

ø(1) grant to a member of the Public Lands Service Corps 

credit for time served with the Public Lands Service Corps, 

which may be used toward future Federal hiring; and 

ø(2) provide to a former member of the Public Lands Service 

Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more 

than 120 days after the date on which the member’s service 

with the Public Lands Service Corps is complete.¿ 

(1) grant to a participant of the Public Lands Service Corps 

credit for service time in the Corps to be used as qualifying experience toward future Federal hiring; 

(2) provide to a former participant of the Public Lands Service Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more 

than two years after the date on which the participant’s service 

with the Public Lands Service Corps is complete (not counting 

any time spent enrolled in an academic institution or trade 

school), if the candidate— 

(A) has served a minimum of 960 hours on an appropriate natural or cultural resource conservation project that 

included at least 120 hours through the Public Lands Service Corps; and 

(B) meets Office of Personnel Management qualification 

standards for the position to which the candidate is applying; 

(3) develop a system to provide consideration for participants 

who cannot meet the requirements of paragraph (2); 

(4) provide to an individual who has successfully fulfilled the 

resource assistant program noncompetitive hiring status for a 

period of not more than two years after the date on which the 

individual has completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution; 

(5) provide to an individual who has successfully fulfilled the 

consulting internship program noncompetitive hiring status for 

a period of not more than two years after the date on which the 

individual has completed a graduate degree from an accredited 

institution; and 

(6) provide, or enter into cooperative agreements with qualified employment agencies to provide, alumni services such as 

job and education counseling, referrals, verification of service, 

communications, and other appropriate services to participants 

who have completed their Corps service. 

SEC. ø208.¿ 209. NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS. 

(a) EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS AND AWARDS.—øIf a participant in 

the Public Lands Corps or a resource assistant also serves in an 

approved national service position designated under subtitle C of 

title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, the participant or resource assistant shall be eligible¿ If a Corps participant also serves in an approved national service position designated 

under subtitle C of title I of the National and Community Service 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
26 

Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.), the Corps participant shall 

be eligible for a national service educational award in the manner 

prescribed in subtitle D of such title upon successfully complying 

with the requirements for the award. The period during which the 

national service educational award may be used, the purposes for 

which the award may be used, and the amount of the award shall 

be determined as provided under such subtitle. 

(b) FORBEARANCE IN THE COLLECTION OF STAFFORD LOANS.—For 

purposes of section 428 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, in the 

case of borrowers who are øeither participants in the Corps or resource assistants¿ participants in the Corps, upon written request, 

a lender shall grant a borrower forbearance on such terms as are 

otherwise consistent with the regulations of the Secretary of Education, during periods in which the borrower is serving as such a 

participant øor a resource assistant¿. 

øSEC. 209. NONDISPLACEMENT. 

øThe nondisplacement requirements of section 177 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable to all 

activities carried out by the Public Lands Service Corps, to all activities carried out under this title by a qualified youth or conservation corps, and to the selection and service of resource assistants.¿ 

SEC. 210. NONDISPLACEMENT. 

The nondisplacement requirements of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable to all activities carried 

out by the Public Lands Service Corps participants. 

SEC. ø210.¿ 211. FUNDING. 

(a) COST SHARING.— 

(1) PROJECTS BY QUALIFIED YOUTH OR CONSERVATION

CORPS.—The Secretary is authorized to pay not more than 75 

percent of the costs of any øappropriate conservation project¿ 

appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project 

carried out pursuant to this title on public lands by a qualified 

youth or conservation corps. The remaining 25 percent of the 

costs of such a project may be provided from nonfederal 

sources in the form of funds, services, facilities, materials, 

equipment, or any combination of the foregoing. No cost sharing shall be required in the case of any øappropriate conservation project¿ appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project carried out on Indian lands or Hawaiian home 

lands under this title. The Secretary may reduce to no less than 

10 percent the non-Federal costs of a project when the Secretary 

determines that it is necessary to enable participation in the 

Public Lands Service Corps from a greater range of organizations. 

(2) øPUBLIC LANDS CORPS¿ PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS

PROJECTS.—The Secretary is authorized to accept donations of 

funds, services, facilities, materials, or equipment for the purposes of operating the øPublic Lands Corps¿ Public Lands 

Service Corps and carrying out øappropriate conservation 

projects¿ appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects by the Corps. However, nothing in this title shall 

be construed to require any cost sharing for any project carried 

out directly by the Corps. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
27 

(b) FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

ACT.—In order to carry out the øPublic Lands Corps¿ Public Lands 

Service Corps program or to support resource assistants, consulting 

interns and qualified youth or conservation corps under this title, 

the Secretary shall be eligible to apply for and receive assistance 

under section 121(b) of the National and Community Service Act 

of 1990. 

(c) OTHER FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under section 211 are in addition to 

amounts allocated to the øPublic Lands Corps¿ Public Lands Service Corps through other Federal programs or projects. 

SEC. ø211.¿ 212. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated øto 

carry out this title $12,000,000 for each fiscal year, of which 

$8,000,000 is authorized to carry out priority projects and 

$4,000,000 of which is authorized to carry out other appropriate 

conservation projects.¿ to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this title. 

ø(b) DISASTER RELIEF OR PREVENTION PROJECTS.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), any amounts made available under that 

subsection shall be available for disaster prevention or relief 

projects.¿ 

ø(c)¿ (b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Notwithstanding any other 

provision of law, amounts appropriated for any fiscal year to carry 

out this title shall remain available for obligation and expenditure 

until the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which 

the amounts are appropriated. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
(28) 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS 

H.R. 1612 expands the ability of the Secretary of the Interior to 

recruit young people and improve living conditions for the participants in the program. We support the goals of this program and 

want to encourage public participation in the care of America’s vast 

expanse of public lands. Many facilities on our public lands are in 

need of improvement and a job corps program, if wisely managed, 

can be a cost-effective way of restoring public lands for the use and 

enjoyment of all Americans. 

However, despite efforts made at full committee markup and 

agreements on several points of conflict with the Majority, we remain concerned that this legislation backtracks on previous commitments in this program to address deteriorating conditions in our 

forests by committing at least half of the funds to projects under 

the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (HRFA). 

As this Public Lands Job Corps program is currently devised, it 

places the highest priority on helping to create a new generation 

of land managers who would have the training and proper understanding of how to prevent catastrophic wildfires. It was understood that the best way of doing this was using this program to 

help implement the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. HFRA was 

passed with bipartisan support, including support from Democrats 

who are sitting on this Committee today, and five current Chairmen. Unfortunately, this legislation strips out any reference to 

HFRA in this Act. This is harmful to forest health, unfair to the 

timber dependent communities that have been hurt by unwise federal policies and dangerous to our federal land neighbors now exposed to increased fire danger. 

We are also deeply concerned that the recent CBO scoring of this bill estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $120 

million over the 2010–2014 period—a huge increase over current 

spending levels and the President’s requested amount. 

Mr. Bishop offered an amendment that would have made wildfire 

prevention a priority by putting back in a reference to HFRA and 

set at a minimum of 50% of the funding to go to promotion of the 

health of our public lands. This is a step, admittedly a small one, 

in the right direction when it comes to fighting catastrophic wildfires. Unfortunately, this thoughtful amendment was defeated by 

the Majority, and the legislation moves to the House of Representatives without appropriate requirements to steer funds to where 

they are critically needed. 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
29 

We hope that with a thorough debate, under an open rule on the 

Floor, we will be able to remedy this flaw and send an improved 

bill to the Senate. 

DOC HASTINGS. ROB BISHOP. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS