29–010 

Calendar No. 179 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 113–101 

PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. WYDEN, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 360] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 360) 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, archaecological, recreational and scenic resources; train a 

new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts; and promote the value of public service, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that 

the bill, as amended, do pass. 

The amendments are as follows: 

1. On page 13, strike lines 10 and 11, and insert the following: 

‘‘(A)(i) be between the ages of 15 and 25, inclusive; or 

‘‘(ii) in the case of a military veteran, be not 

older than 35; and 

2. On page 14, strike line 2 and insert the following: 

‘‘or educationally disadvantaged. 

‘‘(7) LOCAL PREFERENCE.—The Secretary may establish a preference for enrollment of Corps participants 

individuals who live in that State or region.’’; 

3. Beginning on page 15, strike line 1 and all that follows 

through page 16, line 17, and insert the following: 

(5) by inserting after subsection (d) (as redesignated 

by paragraph (1)) the following: 


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‘‘(e) TRAINING.—For purposes of training, the Secretary 

shall take into account training already received by Corps 

participants enrolled from qualified youth or conservation 

corps.’’; 

4. Beginning on page 22, strike line 7 and all that follows 

through page 23, line 22, and insert the following: 

(1) in subsection (b)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(2) TEMPORARY HOUSING.—The Secretary may make 

arrangements with another Federal agency, State, 

local government, or private organization to provide 

temporary housing for Corps participants as needed 

and available. 

‘‘(3) TRANSPORTATION.—In project areas where Corps 

participants reside at their own homes, the Secretary 

may provide transportation to and from project sites.’’; 

5. On page 23, line 23, strike ‘‘(4)’’ and insert ‘‘(2)’’. 

6. On page 23, line 24, strike ‘‘(f)’’ and insert ‘‘(e)’’. 

7. On page 24, line 1, strike ‘‘(5)’’ and insert ‘‘(3)’’ 

8. On page 24, strike lines 3 through 7. 

9. On page 24, line 8, strike ‘‘(e)’’ and insert ‘‘(d)’’. 

10. On page 24, line 14, strike ‘‘(6) in subsection (f)’’ and insert 

‘‘(4) in subsection (e)’’. 

11. On page 24, line 15, strike ‘‘(4)’’ and insert ‘‘(2)’’. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 360 is to improve and expand the activities 

carried out under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The Public Lands Corps was established by the Public Lands 

Corps Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–82; hereinafter ‘‘the 1993 Act’’) 

to encourage young adults to carry out a wide range of service 

projects on public lands. The National Park Service has supported 

a wide range of Public Lands Corps projects since 1997, but the authority was not used by other agencies. In 2005, the 1993 Act was 

amended to expand the use of the Corps and the opportunities it 

promised for young people around the country. While youth conservation corps have a strong record of restoring, maintaining, and 

improving public lands in a cost-effective and efficient manner 

working in partnership with Federal land management agencies, 

the 2005 amendments nevertheless had a limited effect on expanding the use of the program. 

Corps programs benefit young men and women by providing 

them with public service, service-learning, job training, and work 

opportunities. They also introduce a diversity of young people to careers in natural and cultural resource stewardship and public service by working directly with conservation professionals in land 

management agencies. This work also promotes the understanding 

of and appreciation for the agencies’ missions, and provides potenVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:46 Sep 14, 2013 Jkt 029010 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR101.XXX SR101

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tial pathways to Federal careers in the public land management 

agencies, which are in need of a new generation of employees. 

S. 360 would expand and strengthen the 1993 Act by creating a 

‘‘consulting intern’’ program for graduate students who help agencies carry out management analysis activities, facilitating career 

placement for corps participants, emphasizing partnerships and 

learning opportunities, authorizing additional financial and administrative support for corps participants, and establishing an Indian 

Youth Service Corps to be managed by tribally authorized organizations. S. 360 also diversifies the types of projects and activities 

that may be carried out by the corps, including such activities as 

historical and cultural research, museum curatorial work, oral history projects, documentary photography, public and web information and services, and visitor safety projects. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 360 was introduced by Senators Udall of New Mexico, Heinrich, Boxer, Begich, and Coons on March 14, 2013. A hearing was 

held on the bill by the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and 

Mining on April 25, 2013. At its business meeting on June 18, 

2013, the Committee ordered S. 360 favorably reported with 

amendments. 

A similar bill was introduced by Senator Bingaman in the 112th 

Congress, S. 896. The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests 

held a hearing on S. 896 on May 18, 2011 (S. Hrg. 112–39). At its 

business meeting on November 10, 2011, the Committee on Energy 

and Natural Resources ordered S. 896 favorably reported with 

amendments (S. Rpt. 112–120). 

Similar bills, S. 1442 and H.R. 1612, were introduced by Senators Bingaman and Representative Grijalva, respectively, in the 

111th Congress. The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests 

held a hearing on the bills on October 29, 2009 (S. Hrg. 111–223), 

and H.R. 1612 was ordered reported on a voice vote with an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute at the Committee’s business meeting on July 21, 2010 (S. Rept. 111–323). 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

At its business meeting on June 18, 2013, the Committee adopted 11 amendments. The first amendment expands the eligibility for 

enrollment as a Corps participant to military veterans no older 

than 35. The second amendment establishes a preference for participants who live in that state or region. The third amendment 

strikes language establishing a training program for the Public 

Service Corps and inserts language instructing the Secretary to 

take into account training already received by participants enrolled 

from qualified youth or conservation groups. The fourth and eight 

amendments strike certain provisions in the bill as introduced related to residential conservation centers. The fifth, sixth, seventh, 

ninth, tenth, and eleventh amendments make technical and conforming changes. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in 

open business session on June 18, 2013, by a voice vote of a 


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quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 360, if 

amended as described herein. Senators Barrasso, Risch, Lee, Flake, 

Scott, and Portman asked to be recorded as voting no. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 provides the short title for the Act. 

Section 2 changes the short title of the Public Land Corps Act of 

1993 to the ‘‘Public Land Service Corps Act of 1993’’ and provides 

that references to the original short title shall be considered references to the amended short title. 

Section 3 provides that ‘‘the Act’’ in the Public Lands Service 

Corps Act of 2013 refers to the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 

1993. 

Section 4 amends the substantive provisions of the Public Lands 

Service Corps Act of 1993. 

Subsection (a) changes references to the Public Lands Service 

Corps and conservation centers and projects in the 1993 Act. 

Subsection (b), (c), and (d) amend the findings, purposes, and 

definitions, respectively in the 1993 Act. 

Subsection (e)(1) redesignates subsections in section 204 of the 

1993 Act. Paragraph (2) amends section 204(a) of the 1993 Act to 

add a Public Lands Service Corps program in the Department of 

Commerce, and it adds a new section 204(b), which establishes offices and coordinators for Corps activities within the Departments 

of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, and establishes an Indian Youth Service Corps liaison in the Department of the Interior. 

Paragraph (3) amends redesignated section 204(c) of the 1993 Act 

to lower the minimum age of Corps participants from 16 to 15, to 

raise the maximum age from 25 to 35 for military veterans, and 

limit the number of years in which a participant may be enrolled 

in the Corps to 2 years, and to authorize the Secretary to establish 

a hiring preference for local residents. 

Paragraph (4) amends redesignated section 204(d) of the 1993 

Act to eliminate the Secretary’s authority to enter into contracts, 

emphasizing the use of cooperative agreements with qualified 

youth or conservation corps as the primary mechanism for carrying 

out the program, and to add new provisions for the recruitment of 

eligible youths and for giving preferences in areas where a substantial portion of members are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged. 

Paragraph (5) adds a new section 204(e) to the 1993 Act directing 

the Secretary to take into account previous training. 

Paragraph (6) amends redesignated section 204(f) of the 1993 Act 

to describe and expand the type of projects that may be carried out 

through the Corps. 

Paragraph (7) makes clarifying amendments to redesignated section 204(g) of the 1993 Act. 

Paragraph (8) adds new subsections (i) and (j) to section 204 of 

the 1993 Act. New subsection (i) clarifies that volunteers from 

other programs, such as the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, 

may participate in Corps projects. New subsection (j)(1) requires 

that applicants seeking to become Corps participants, receive funds 

under the Corps program, or supervise Corps participants submit 

to a criminal history check in accordance with section 189D(b) of 

the National and Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12645g(b)). 


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Paragraph (2) precludes any individual subject to the required 

background check under paragraph (1) who refuses to consent to 

the check, makes a false statement in connection with the check, 

is a registered sex offender, or has been convicted of murder from 

becoming a Corps participant, receiving funds under the 1993 Act, 

or supervising Corps participants unless the Secretary provides an 

exemption for good cause. 

Subsection (f) amends section 205 of the 1993 Act to clarify that 

the Secretaries may provide temporary housing and transportation 

for Corps participants, and may recruit mentors, supervisors, and 

others to help train and lead the Corps. 

Subsection (g) amends section 206 of the 1993 Act to add a ‘‘consulting intern’’ program to the Corps to carry out management 

analysis for agencies in the three participating Departments. This 

provision builds on the National Park Service’s successful use of 

consulting interns from business and public management graduate 

schools to help develop business plans for units of the National 

Park System. 

Subsection (h) renumbers sections of the 1993 Act. 

Subsections (i) adds a new section 207 to the 1993 Act to authorize the Secretaries to enter into cooperative agreements and make 

competitive grants to Indian tribes to establish an Indian Youth 

Service Corps to focus on carrying out appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects on Indian lands. 

Subsection (j) adds a new section 208 to the 1993 Act to require 

the Secretaries to issue guidelines for the management of the 

Corps programs under their jurisdiction. 

Subsection (k) clarifies that the Secretaries may reimburse Corps 

participants for the cost of travel to and from the Corps program 

and modifies the Federal hiring provisions of the 1993 Act. 

Subsections (l) and (m) make conforming changes to the National 

Service Educational Awards and non-displacement provisions of the 

1993 Act, respectively. 

Subsection (n) amends the funding provisions of the 1993 Act to 

permit qualified youth and conservation corps to use other Federal 

funds, such as those from the Corporation for National and Community Service, to meet their cost-sharing requirements, and to 

permit the Secretaries to reduce the cost-sharing requirements 

from 25 percent to not less than 10 percent under certain circumstances. 

Subsection (o) simplifies the existing authorization for appropriations for the Corps. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 360—Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013 

S. 360 would amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, which 

governs programs that employ young adults to work on lands managed by the Department of the Interior (DOT), the Forest Service, 

and other federal agencies. Under current law, those programs are 

permanently authorized to receive appropriations totaling $12 million a year. Although S. 360 authorizes a number of new activities 

under the Public Lands Corps Act, the bill would not increase the 


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amounts authorized to be appropriated under that act. Thus, CBO 

estimates that implementing the bill would have no impact on the 

federal budget over the 2014–2018 period. Enacting the bill would 

not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

Existing Public Lands Corps (PLC) programs vary by agency and 

funding source. Currently, only some agencies receive specific appropriations for this program. For example, in 2013, the Forest 

Service received an appropriation of $2.5 million to fund certain 

PLC projects. The National Park Service also receives funding for 

PLC projects, but usually that funding is derived from recreation 

fees that the agency is able to use without further appropriation 

action. In 2013, the agency spent $3 million for youth activities at 

parks. 

In addition to changing the name of the Public Lands Corps to 

the Public Lands Service Corps (PLSC), S. 360 would: 

• Expand the program to include the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration; 

• Assist Indian tribes and related youth groups with operation of an Indian Youth Service Corps; 

• Mandate that agencies involved in the program develop a 

recruiting program for the corps; 

• Require DOI to establish a department-level office to coordinate PLSC programs among its various bureaus; and 

• Authorize agencies to use appropriated funds to provide 

transportation subsidies to program participants. 

S. 360 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates 

as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeff LaFave. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 360. 

The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing 

Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 360, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

S. 360, as reported, does not contain any congressionally directed 

spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. 


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EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The testimony provided by the Forest Service at the April 25, 

2013, Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining hearing 

on S. 360 follows: 

STATEMENT OF JAMES M. PEN ̃ A, ASSOCIATE DEPUTY CHIEF, 

NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM, FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Barrasso, and members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me here 

today to testify regarding S. 360, the Public Lands Service 

Corps Act of 2013. 

S. 360 is a welcome amendment to the Public Lands 

Corps Act of 1993. The Nation’s forests and grasslands are 

unique and special ecosystems that the Forest Service 

manages to meet the needs of present and future generations. These lands yield abundant sustainable goods and 

ecosystem services for the American people. The National 

Forest System lands are perfect places for the Public 

Lands Service Corps participants to learn and practice an 

array of conservation, restoration, preservation, interpretation and cultural resource activities, and take advantage of 

outstanding and unique educational opportunities. In 

states in every region, the Forest Service has benefited 

greatly from the services of Conservation Corps on National Forest System lands. 

The Department strongly supports S. 360. This bill 

would strengthen and facilitate the use of the Public Land 

Service Corps (PLSC) program, helping to fulfill the vision 

that Secretary Vilsack has for engaging young people 

across America to serve their community and their country. It is also consistent with and will help the Administration to meet the goals of the President’s America’s Great 

Outdoors Initiative, which called for catalyzing the establishment of a 21st century Conservation Service Corps 

(21CSC) to engage young people in public lands service 

work. 

In January 2013, leaders of eight federal departments 

and agencies signed an agreement setting up a national 

council to guide implementation of the Administration’s 

21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), a national collaborative effort between federal and non-federal 

partners to put America’s youth and returning veterans to 

work protecting, restoring and enhancing America’s great 

outdoors. By signing the Memorandum of Understanding, 

the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Commerce, and 

Labor, as well as the EPA Administrator, Chair of the 

President’s Council on Environmental Quality, CEO of the 

Corporation for National and Community Service and Assistant Secretary for the Army (Civil Works) established 

the National Council for the 21CSC, implementing the 

first recommendation of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative introduced by President Obama in 2010. 


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Building on the legacy of President Roosevelt’s Civilian 

Conservation Corps during the Great Depression in the 

1930s, the 21CSC will bring agencies and partners together to help build and train a workforce that fully represents the diversity of America while creating the next 

generation of environmental stewards and improving the 

condition of our public lands. 

The 21CSC focuses on helping young people—including 

diverse low-income, underserved and at-risk youth, as well 

as returning veterans—gain valuable training and work 

experience while accomplishing needed conservation and 

restoration work on public lands, waterways and cultural 

heritage sites. The National Council works across the federal government to support the 21CSC by enhancing partnerships with existing youth corps programs that utilize 

PLC around the nation; stimulating existing and new public-private partnerships; and aligning the investment of 

current federal government resources. 

S. 360 would help both the Forest Service and our sister 

agencies in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce offer expanded opportunities for our 

youth to engage in the care of America’s Great Outdoors. 

Additionally, the PLC program helps the Department implement critical cost-effective conservation projects that 

have direct positive impacts for the agency and the public. 

In recent years, the Forest Service has greatly expanded 

partnerships with local, state, and urban based conservation Corps programs and our Job Corps Center portfolio. 

Under S. 360, we will be able to increase partnerships 

with Corps programs and expand opportunities for Job 

Corps graduates in the Green Careers program. 

In 2012, our partnerships with the Students Conservation Association, The Corps Network, and multiple youth, 

conservation and veterans Corps in every region resulted 

in nearly 9,500 youth and young adults serving on public 

lands. The expanded authority provided by S. 360 will improve the Act by providing increased flexibility to use interns and Conservation Corps teams. It will also help ensure that underserved populations are able to participate 

by defining minimum match requirements while also providing flexibility with the match requirement. 

The emphasis on experiential training and education 

will help promote the value of public service in addition to 

contributing to the accomplishment of much needed work. 

S. 360 will expand our usage of the PLSC in a variety of 

program areas by providing additional resources and 

mechanisms to engage young people in a range of developmental opportunities. This authority will further assist in 

providing even more outdoor opportunities that will nurture the next generation of public land stewards. 

The broader definition of natural, cultural and historic 

resource work under the amendment benefits the Nation’s 

forests and grasslands by authorizing a wider variety of 

different types of youth engagement. The expanded authority to engage Native Americans through the Indian 


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Youth Service Corps and resources assistants and consulting interns will contribute to our goals of creating a 

more diverse workforce as we seek to fill positions in an 

aging workforce. These new and expanded authorities will 

ultimately promote public understanding and appreciation 

of the mission and work of the federal land, coastal and 

ocean management agencies. 

We appreciate the flexibility of the expanded authority 

in section 205, which would authorize the use of residential facilities. Our history of program delivery through Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers has 

allowed us to reach more than six million youth since the 

program was established in 1964. The U.S. Forest Service 

operates residential Civilian Conservation Centers through 

an interagency agreement with the Department of Labor 

Job Corps program. The 2009 Omnibus appropriations Act 

authorized the Forest Service to operate six additional Job 

Corps Centers formerly run by the Bureau of Reclamation. 

The now 28 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers have 

the capacity to house, educate and train 6,200 enrollees between the ages of 16 and 24. Our extensive experience operating residential facilities successfully has resulted in 

the establishment of many best practices and in-depth 

operational knowledge about residential conservation centers. 

The Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers not only 

help cultivate and develop emerging leaders within the 

Forest Service, but also provide a pipeline of entry-level 

workers. Each year the Forest Service hires dozens of Job 

Corps graduates that have participated in forestry and 

conservation programs. Through Job Corps, the Forest 

Service is building a skilled and diverse workforce capable 

of advancing the agency’s mission. 

With our partners, we can confidently leverage resources 

and expand our ability to develop a well-trained and responsible workforce in natural and cultural resources. 

Youth will participate in community service, restoration 

and stewardship projects; leadership and civic engagement 

programs; recreation; and team building and independent 

living skills training. 

The Forest Service is uniquely positioned to manage residential conservation centers on the National Forests and 

Grasslands. This initiative could become an important 

component of the emerging youth outdoors initiative. It 

will also provide us with a unique opportunity to develop 

and implement innovative programming that will engage 

more urban youth and people that have been previously 

underserved. 

There are a number of implementation issues that 

should be considered in establishing new residential conservation centers. These include the costs of operating and 

maintaining the facilities, potential liability issues, and 

questions about the impact on contract and labor laws. We 

would like to work with the Committee on addressing 

these types of issues. The Department of Labor also is reVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:46 Sep 14, 2013 Jkt 029010 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6969 E:\HR\OC\SR101.XXX SR101

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viewing S. 360 to ensure child labor protections apply for 

participating youth, and will address any concerns it has 

directly with the Subcommittee. 

S. 360 would increase the opportunity for Public Lands 

Service Corps members to leverage their education and 

work experience in obtaining permanent full-time employment with Federal agencies. While we strongly support S. 

360, we offer a few amendments to the bill that are outlined below: 

(1) Hiring preference 

The Administration recommends changing eligibility for 

former PLSC for noncompetitive hiring status from two 

years to one year. This change would make eligibility status consistent with other Government-wide, non-competitive appointment authorities based on service outside of 

the Federal government. 

(2) Cost sharing for nonprofit organizations contributing to 

expenses of resource assistants and consulting interns 

Under current law in the case of resource assistants, 

and under S. 360 in the case of consulting interns, sponsoring organizations are required to cost-share 25 percent 

of the expenses of providing and supporting these individuals from ‘‘private sources of funding.’’ The Administration 

recommends giving agencies the ability to reduce the nonFederal contribution to no less than 10 percent, if the Secretary determines it is necessary to enable a greater range 

of organizations, such as smaller, community-based organizations that draw from low-income and rural populations, 

to participate in the PLSC program. This would make the 

cost-share provisions for resource assistants and consulting 

interns parallel to the provisions under the bill for other 

PLSC participants. 

(3) Department-wide authorities 

The Administration recommends technical amendments 

to clarify that PLSC activities will be carried out on public 

lands as enumerated in the law. ‘‘Eligible service lands’’ 

may be interpreted to include non-Federal lands. 

(4) Agreements with partners on training and employing 

corps members 

The Administration recommends striking the provision 

in S. 360 that would allow PLSC members to receive federally funded stipends and other PLSC benefits while working directly for non-Federal third parties. The need for this 

language is unclear, since agencies already have flexibility 

in how they coordinate work with cooperating associations, 

educational institutes, friends groups, or similar nonprofit 

partnership organizations. Yet, the language could raise 

unanticipated concerns over accountability, liability, and 

conflicts of interest. For example, this language could 

allow an individual to receive a federally funded stipend 

under a PLSC agreement, and then perform work for a difVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:46 Sep 14, 2013 Jkt 029010 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6969 E:\HR\OC\SR101.XXX SR101

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ferent non-federal group (such as a cooperating association) that is subject to agency oversight under different 

agreements. This language could blur the lines of responsibility that have been established in response to IG concerns over the management of cooperating associations 

and friends groups. 

(5) Participants/terms 

The Administration recommends striking the provision 

in S. 360 that would limit the terms of service of Corps 

participants. This would retain the authority provided for 

in current law which provides for administrative flexibility 

in determining the appropriate length of service for Corps 

participants. 

(6) Authorization of appropriations 

The Administration recommends amending S. 360 to eliminate the $12 million authorization ceiling for the program under existing law. This would allow for an increased funding for the program in the future, as the three 

Departments increase their use of the Public Lands Service Corps. 

The Forest Service has offices already in place to help 

coordinate the Public Lands Service Corps through its National Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers program 

and the Office of Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources Volunteers (RHVR) and Service program. The Forest Service RHVR Volunteers and Service program could 

likely be the coordinating office for Public Lands Service 

Corps in the Forest Service. 

The Forest Service is fully committed to the advancement of young people through a variety of conservation 

projects, training, and service learning and conservation 

education. Along with the Bureau of Land Management, 

we can provide participants with an understanding of the 

agency’s history and training on multiple-use and sustained-yield management of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and scenic resources. Our mission, ‘‘To sustain the health, diversity and productivity of 

the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of 

present and future generations,’’ can only be achieved by 

educating future generations and training the future public and private land managers. In turn, they will promote 

the value of public service and continue the conservation 

legacy of natural resource management for the United 

States. 

The America’s Great Outdoors initiative has generated a 

national dialogue on how to reconnect Americans with the 

outdoors. The AGO report released February 2011 includes 

a major emphasis on youth and career pathways. The very 

first goal in the report is ‘‘develop quality conservation jobs 

and service opportunities that protect and restore America’s natural and cultural resources’’. 

The Department and the Forest Service, together with 

our sister Departments and agencies, are working together 


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to: establish a 21CSC; improve federal capacity for recruiting, training and managing volunteers and volunteer programs to create a new generation of citizen stewards; and 

improve career pathways and to review barriers to jobs in 

natural resource conservation and historic and cultural 

preservation. The proposed amendments to the Public 

Lands Service Corps Act will support these efforts to fully 

implement the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative. We look forward to working with the committee on 

this bill. 

This concludes my testimony and I would be happy to 

answer any questions that you may have. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill S. 

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

printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is 

shown in roman): 

PUBLIC LANDS CORPS ACT OF 1993 

(TITLE II OF THE YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS ACT OF 

1970) 

(PUBLIC LAW 91–378, AS AMENDED BY PUBLIC LAW 103–82) 

(16 U.S.C. 1721–1729) 

TITLE II—øPUBLIC LANDS CORPS¿ PUBLIC 

LANDS SERVICE CORPS 

øSEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.¿ 

øThis title may be cited as the ‘‘Public Lands Corps Act of 

1993’’.¿ 

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCE. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This title may be cited as the ‘‘Public Lands 

Service Corps Act of 1993’’. 

(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference contained in any law, regulation, 

document, paper, or other record of the United States to the ‘Public 

Lands Corps Act of 1993’ shall be considered to be a reference to the 

‘Public Lands Service Corps Act of 1993’. 

SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 

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

(1) Conserving or developing natural and cultural resources 

and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important 

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

and women in a øPublic Lands Corps can benefit¿ conservation 

corps can benefit those men and women by providing them 

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

higher education or to repay indebtedness they have incurred 


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to obtain higher education while at the same time benefiting 

the Nation’s economy and its environment. 

(2) Participants in conservation corps receive meaningful education and training, and their experience with conservation 

corps provides preparation for careers in public service. 

(3) Young men and women who participate in the rehabilitation and restoration of the natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic treasures of the United States 

will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of the 

public lands and heritage of the United States, and of the value 

of public service, and are likely to become life-long advocates for 

those values. 

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 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.¿ 

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

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

furthering their understanding and appreciation of the natural, 

cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of the United States; 

(2) to facilitate training and recruitment opportunities in 

which service is credited as qualifying experience for careers in 

the management of such resources; 

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

from across the United States, including young men and 

women from diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in 


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14 

resource stewardship and public service by allowing them to 

work directly with professionals in agencies responsible for the 

management of the natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, 

recreational, and scenic resources of the United States; 

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

and cultural resources conservation projects where such projects 

are not being performed by existing employees; 

(5) to assist State and local governments and Indian tribes in 

performing research and public education tasks associated with 

the conservation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, 

recreational, and scenic resources; 

(6) to expand educational opportunities on public lands and 

by rewarding individuals who participate in conservation corps 

with an increased ability to pursue higher education and job 

training; 

(7) to promote public understanding and appreciation of the 

missions and the natural and cultural resources conservation 

work of the participating Federal agencies through training opportunities, community service and outreach, and other appropriate means; and 

(8) to create a grant program for Indian tribes to establish 

the Indian Youth Service Corps so that Indian youth can benefit from carrying out projects on Indian lands that the Indian 

tribes and communities determine to be priorities. 

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 

For purposes of this title: 

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.¿ 

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

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

resources. 

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

means a consulting intern selected under section 206(a)(2). 

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

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

Lands Service Corps established under section 204(a). 

(4) CORPS PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘‘corps participant’’ means 

an individual enrolled— 

(A) in the Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps; or 

(B) as a resource assistant or consulting intern. 

ø(3)¿(5) ELIGIBLE SERVICE LANDS.—The term ‘‘eligible service 

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

lands. 

ø(4)¿(6) HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.—The term ‘‘Hawaiian home 

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

lands under section 204 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission 


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

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

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

1959 (Public Law 86–3; 73 Stat. 5). 

ø(5)¿(7) INDIAN.—The term ‘‘Indian’’ means a person who— 

(A) is a member of an Indian tribe; or 

(B) is a ‘‘Native’’, as defined in section 3(b) of the Alaska 

Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)). 

ø(6)¿(8) INDIAN LANDS.—The term ‘‘Indian lands’’ means— 

(A) any Indian reservation; 

(B) any public domain Indian allotments; 

(C) any former Indian reservation in the State of Oklahoma; 

(D) any land held by incorporated Native groups, regional corporations, and village corporations under the 

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 

seq.); and 

(E) any land held by dependent Indian communities 

within the borders of the United States whether within the 

original or subsequently acquired territory thereof, and 

whether within or without the limits of a State. 

ø(7)¿(9) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ means an 

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

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

the special programs and services provided by the United 

States under Federal law to Indians because of their status as 

Indians. 

(10) INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.—The term ‘‘Indian Youth 

Service Corps’’ means a qualified youth or conservation corps 

established under section 207 that— 

(A) enrolls individuals between the ages of 15 and 25, inclusive, a majority of whom are Indians; and 

(B) is established pursuant to a tribal resolution that describes the agreement between the Indian tribe and the 

qualified youth or conservation corps to operate an Indian 

Youth Service Corps program for the benefit of the members 

of the Indian tribe. 

ø(8)¿(11) PRIORITY PROJECT.—The term ‘‘priority project’’ 

means an øappropriate conservation project¿ appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project conducted on 

eligible service lands to further 1 or more of the purposes of 

the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6501 

et seq.), as follows: 

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

water supply, or other at-risk Federal land. 

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

and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire. 

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

health. 


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(D) To protect, restore, or enhance forest ecosystem components to— 

(i) promote the recovery of threatened or endangered 

species; 

(ii) improve biological diversity; or 

(iii) enhance productivity and carbon sequestration. 

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.¿ 

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

land or water (or interest therein) owned or administered by the 

United States, including those areas of coastal and ocean 

waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting waters, and submerged lands over which the United States exercises jurisdiction, except that such term does not include Indian lands. 

ø(10)¿(13) QUALIFIED YOUTH OR CONSERVATION CORPS.—The 

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

that— 

(A) is capable of offering meaningful, øfull-time,¿ productive work for individuals between the ages of ø16¿ 15 and 

25, inclusive, in a natural or cultural resource setting on 

eligible service lands; 

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

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

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, all information pertaining to 

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

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

under section 205. 

ø(11)¿(15) RESOURCE ASSISTANT.—The term ‘‘resource assistant’’ means a resource assistant selected under section 

ø206¿206(a)(1). 

ø(12)¿(16) 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)¿(17) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any State of the 

United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 


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

American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands. 

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

PROGRAM. 

ø(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS CORPS.—There is hereby 

established in the Department of the Interior and the Department 

of Agriculture a Public Lands Corps.¿ 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS.—There is 

established in the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a Public Lands Service 

Corps. 

(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPS OFFICE; COORDINATORS; LIAISON.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICES.— 

(A) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.—The Secretary of the 

Interior shall establish a department-level office to coordinate the Corps activities within the Department of the Interior. 

(B) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish within the Forest Service an office 

to coordinate the Corps activities within that agency. 

(C) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.—The Secretary of Commerce shall establish within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an office to coordinate the Corps 

activities within that agency. 

(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF COORDINATORS.—The Secretary shall 

designate a Public Lands Service Corps coordinator for each 

agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that administers 

Corps activities. 

(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF LIAISON.—The Secretary of the Interior shall establish an Indian Youth Service Corps liaison that 

will— 

(A) provide outreach to Indian tribes about opportunities 

for establishing Corps and Indian Youth Service Corps programs; and 

(B) coordinate with the Tribal Liaison of the Corporation 

for National Service to identify and establish Corps and Indian Youth Service Corps opportunities for Indian youth. 

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 of the Interior or the Secretary 

of Agriculture. To be eligible for enrollment in the Corps, an individual shall satisfy the criteria specified in section 137(b) of the 

National and Community Service Act of 1990. The Secretaries may 

enroll such individuals in the Corps without regard to the civil 

service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 

States. The Secretaries may establish a preference for the enrollment in the Corps of individuals who are economically, physically, 

or educationally disadvantaged.¿ 

(c) PARTICIPANTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enroll in the Corps individuals who are— 

(A) hired by an agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to perform work authorized under this Act; or 


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(B) members of a qualified youth or conservation corps 

with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative 

agreement to perform work authorized under this Act. 

(2) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS.—The 

Secretary may also enroll in the Corps resource assistants and 

consulting interns in accordance with section 206(a). 

(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligible for enrollment 

as a Corps participant, an individual shall— 

(A)(i) be between the ages of 15 and 25, inclusive; and 

(ii) in the case of a military veteran, be not older than 35; 

and 

(B) satisfy the requirements of section 137(a)(5) of the 

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

12591(a)(5)). 

(4) TERMS.—Each Corps participant may be enrolled in the 

Corps for a term of up to 2 years of service, which may be 

served over a period that exceeds 2 calendar years. 

(5) CIVIL SERVICE.—An individual may be enrolled as a 

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

(6) PREFERENCE.—The Secretary may establish a preference 

for the enrollment as Corps participants individuals who are 

economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged. 

(7) LOCAL PREFERENCE.—The Secretary may establish a preference for enrollment of Corps participants individuals who live 

in that State or region. 

ø(c)¿(d) 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 øappropriate conservation projects¿ appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects referred to in øsubsection (d)¿ subsection (f) 

of this section. 

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 priority 

projects in a specific area, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give preference to qualified youth 

or conservation corps located in that specific area that 

have a substantial portion of members who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.¿ 

(2) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary shall carry out, or enter 

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

through high schools, colleges, employment centers, electronic 

media, and other appropriate institutions and means. 

(3) PREFERENCE.—In entering into cooperative agreements 

under paragraph (1) or awarding competitive grants to Indian 

tribes or tribally authorized organizations under section 207, 


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the Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or conservation corps that are located in specific areas where a substantial portion of members are economically, physically, or 

educationally disadvantaged. 

(e) TRAINING.—For purposes of training, the Secretary shall take 

into account training already received by Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth or conservation corps. 

ø(d)¿(f) PROJECTS TO BE CARRIED OUT.— (1) øIN GENERAL.—¿ USE OF CORPS; PROJECTS.—øThe Secretary may utilize the Corps or any qualified youth or conservation corps to carry out¿ 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may use the Corps to 

carry out, with appropriate supervision and training, øappropriate conservation projects¿ appropriate natural and 

cultural resources conservation projects which the Secretary is authorized to carry out under other authority of 

law øon public lands¿ on eligible service lands. 

(B) PROJECTS.—Appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects carried out under this section 

may include— 

(i) protecting, restoring, or enhancing ecosystem components to promote species recovery, improve biological 

diversity, enhance productivity and carbon sequestration, and enhance adaptability and resilience of eligible 

service lands and resources to climate change and 

other natural and human disturbances; 

(ii) promoting the health of eligible service lands, including— 

(I) protecting and restoring watersheds and forest, grassland, riparian, estuarine, marine, or 

other habitat; 

(II) reducing the risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire and mitigating damage from insects, 

disease, and disasters; 

(III) controlling erosion; 

(IV) controlling and removing invasive, noxious, 

or nonnative species; and 

(V) restoring native species; 

(iii) collecting biological, archaeological, and other 

scientific data, including climatological information, 

species populations and movement, habitat status, and 

other information; 

(iv) assisting in historical and cultural research, museum curatorial work, oral history projects, documentary photography, and activities that support the creation of public works of art related to eligible service 

lands; and 

(v) constructing, repairing, rehabilitating, and maintaining roads, trails, campgrounds and other visitor 

facilities, employee housing, cultural and historic sites 

and structures, and other facilities that further the 

purposes of this Act. 

(2) VISITOR SERVICES.—The Secretary may— 

(A) enter into or amend an existing cooperative agreement 

with a cooperating association, educational institution, 


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friends group, or similar nonprofit partner organization for 

the purpose of providing training and work experience to 

Corps participants in areas such as sales, office work, accounting, and management, provided that the work experience directly relates to the conservation and management of 

eligible service lands; and 

(B) allow Corps participants to help promote visitor safety and enjoyment of eligible service lands, and assist in the 

gathering of visitor use data. 

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

public under the direct and immediate supervision of an agency 

employee— 

(A) to provide orientation and information services to 

visitors; 

(B) to assist agency employees in the delivery of interpretive or educational programs where audience size, environmental conditions, safety, or other factors make such assistance desirable; 

(C) to present programs that relate the personal experience of the Corps participants for the purpose of promoting 

public awareness of the Corps, the role of the Corps in public land management agencies, and the availability of the 

Corps to potential participants; and 

(D) to create nonpersonal interpretive products, such as 

website content, Junior Ranger program books, printed 

handouts, and audiovisual programs. 

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 PROJECT.—The Secretary may authorize øappropriate conservation projects¿ appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects 

and other appropriate projects to be carried out on Federal, 

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

ø(e)¿(g) 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 øthose projects which¿ priority 

projects and other projects that— 

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

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

sense of public service;¿ 

(2) will instill in Corps participants a work ethic and a sense 

of public service; 

(3) will be labor intensive; 

(4) can be planned and initiated promptly; and 

(5) will provide academic, experiential, or environmental 

education opportunities. 

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

appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project carVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:46 Sep 14, 2013 Jkt 029010 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR101.XXX SR101

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ried out under this title on eligible service lands shall be consistent 

with the provisions of law and policies relating to the management 

and administration of such lands, with all other applicable provisions of law, and with all management, operational, and other 

plans and documents which govern the administration of the area. 

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

from other programs administered or designated by the Secretary to 

participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this section. 

(j) CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The requirements of section 189D(b) of the 

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

12645g(b)) shall apply to each individual age 18 or older seeking— 

(A) to become a Corps participant; 

(B) to receive funds authorized under this Act; or 

(C) to supervise or otherwise have regular contact with 

Corps participants in activities authorized under this Act. 

(2) ELIGIBILITY PROHIBITION.—If any of paragraphs (1) 

through (4) of section 189D(c) of the National and Community 

Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645g(c)(1)–(4)) apply to an individual described in paragraph (1), that individual shall not 

be eligible for the position or activity described in paragraph 

(1), unless the Secretary provides an exemption for good cause. 

SEC. 205. øCONSERVATION CENTERS¿ RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION 

CENTERS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND USE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish and use øconservation centers¿ residential conservation centers owned and 

operated by the Secretary for— 

(A) use by the øPublic Lands¿ Corps; and 

(B) the conduct of øappropriate conservation projects¿ 

appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 

project under this title. 

(2) ASSISTANCE FOR øCONSERVATION CENTERS¿ RESIDENTIAL

CONSERVATION CENTERS.—The Secretary may provide to a 

øconservation center¿ residential conservation center established under paragraph (1) any services, facilities, equipment, 

and supplies that the Secretary determines to be necessary for 

the øconservation center¿ residential conservation center. 

(3) STANDARDS FOR øCONSERVATION CENTERS¿ RESIDENTIAL

CONSERVATION CENTERS.—The Secretary shall— 

(A) establish basic standards for health, nutrition, sanitation, and safety for all øconservation centers¿ residential 

conservation centers established under paragraph (1); and 

(B) ensure that the standards established under subparagraph (A) are enforced. 

(4) MANAGEMENT.—As the Secretary determines to be appropriate, the Secretary may enter into a contract or other appropriate arrangement with a State or local government agency or 

private organization to provide for the management of a øconservation center¿ residential conservation center. 

(b) LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.—øThe Secretary¿ 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make arrangements 

with the Secretary of Defense to have logistical support provided by the Armed Forces to the Corps and any øconservation 


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center¿ residential conservation center established under this 

section, where feasible. Logistical support may include the provision of temporary tent shelters where needed, transportation, 

and residential supervision. 

(2) TEMPORARY HOUSING.—The Secretary may make arrangements with another Federal agency, State, local government, or 

private organization to provide temporary housing for Corps 

participants as needed and available. 

(3) TRANSPORTATION.—In project areas where Corps participants can reasonably be expected to reside at their own homes, 

the Secretary may fund or provide transportation to and from 

project sites. 

(c) USE OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.—The Secretary may make 

arrangements with the Secretary of Defense to identify military installations and other facilities of the Department of Defense and, 

in consultation with the adjutant generals of the State National 

Guards, National Guard facilities that may be used, in whole or in 

part, by the Corps for training or housing Corps participants. 

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

Federal volunteer and encore service programs, and from veterans 

groups, military retirees, and active duty personnel, such adults as 

may be suitable and qualified to provide training, mentoring, and 

crew-leading services to Corps participants; and 

ø(f)¿(e) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide any services, facilities, equipment, supplies, technical assistance, oversight, monitoring, or evaluations øthat are appropriate to carry out this title.¿ 

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

SEC. 206. RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS. 

ø(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary is authorized to provide, individual placements of resource assistants with any Federal land 

managing agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary resource 

assistants to carry out research or resource protection activities on 

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

service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 

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

are recent graduates from an institution of higher education, with 

particular attention given to ensure full representation of women 

and participants from historically black, Hispanic, and Native 

American schools. 

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

one or more existing nonprofit organizations can provide, in the 

judgment of the Secretary, appropriate recruitment and placement 

services to fulfill the requirements of this section, the Secretary 

may implement this section through such existing organizations. 

Participating nonprofit organizations shall contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting the resource assistants, through 

private sources of funding, at a level equal to 25 percent of the 

total costs of each participant in the Resource Assistant program 

who has been recruited and placed through that organization. Any 

such participating nonprofit conservation service organization shall 

be required, by the respective land managing agency, to submit an 


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annual report evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the program, including the value of work contributed by the Resource Assistants, to the mission of the agency.¿ 

(a) AUTHORIZATION.— (1) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide individual 

placements of resource assistants with any agency under 

the jurisdiction of the Secretary that carries out appropriate 

natural and cultural resources conservation projects to 

carry out research or resource protection activities on behalf 

of the agency. 

(B) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for selection as a resource 

assistant, an individual shall be at least 17 years of age. 

(C) PREFERENCE.—In selecting resource assistants for 

placement under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give a 

preference to individuals who are enrolled in an institution 

of higher education or are recent graduates from an institution of higher education, with particular attention given to 

ensuring full representation of women and participants 

from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. 

(2) CONSULTING INTERNS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide individual 

placements of consulting interns with any agency under the 

jurisdiction of the Secretary that carries out appropriate 

natural and cultural resources conservation projects to 

carry out management analysis activities on behalf of the 

agency. 

(B) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for selection as a consulting intern, an individual shall be enrolled in, and have 

completed at least 1 full year at, a graduate or professional 

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

(b) USE OF EXISTING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever 1 or more nonprofit organizations 

can provide appropriate recruitment and placement services to 

fulfill the requirements of this section, the Secretary may implement this section through such organizations. 

(2) EXPENSES.—Participating organizations shall contribute 

to the expenses of providing and supporting the resource assistants or consulting interns from sources of funding other than 

the Secretary, at a level of not less than 25 percent of the total 

costs (15 percent of which may be from in-kind sources) of each 

participant in the resource assistant or consulting intern program who has been recruited and placed through that organization. 

(3) REPORTING.—Each participating organization shall be required to submit an annual report evaluating the scope, size, 

and quality of the program, including the value of work contributed by the resource assistants and consulting interns, to 

the mission of the agency. 

SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS. 

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND COMPETITIVE GRANTS.—The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative 


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agreements with, or make competitive grants to, Indian tribes and 

qualified youth or conservation corps for the establishment and administration of Indian Youth Service Corps programs to carry out 

appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects on 

Indian lands. 

(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive assistance under this 

section, an Indian tribe or a qualified youth or conservation corps 

shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner and 

containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— 

(1) a description of the methods by which Indian youth will 

be recruited for and retained in the Indian Youth Service 

Corps; 

(2) a description of the projects to be carried out by the Indian Youth Service Corps; 

(3) a description of how the projects were identified; and 

(4) an explanation of the impact of, and the direct community 

benefits provided by, the proposed projects. 

SEC. 208. GUIDANCE. 

Not later than 18 months after funds are made available to the 

Secretary to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidelines 

for the management of programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that are authorized under this Act. 

SEC. ø207¿ 209. LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERVICE. 

ø(a) LIVING ALLOWANCES.—The Secretary shall provide each participant in the Public Lands Corps and each resource assistant 

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

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

resource assistant shall agree to participate in the Corps or serve 

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

as may be established by the Secretary enrolling or selecting the 

individual. 

ø(c) HIRING.—The Secretary may— 

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

time served with the Public Lands Corps, which may be used 

toward future Federal hiring; and 

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

noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than 120 

days after the date on which the member’s service with the 

Public Lands Corps is complete.¿ 

(a) LIVING ALLOWANCES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide each Corps participant with a living allowance in an amount established by 

the Secretary. 

(2) TRAVEL COSTS.—The Secretary may reimburse Corps participants for travel costs at the beginning and end of the term 

of service of the Corps participants. 

(b) TERMS OF SERVICE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Corps participant shall agree to participate for such term of service as may be established by the 

Secretary. 

(2) CONSULTATIONS.—With respect to the Indian Youth Service Corps, the term of service shall be established in consultaVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:46 Sep 14, 2013 Jkt 029010 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\SR101.XXX SR101

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tion with the affected Indian tribe or tribally authorized organization. 

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

(1) grant to a Corps participant credit for time served as a 

Corps participant, which may be used toward future Federal 

hiring; 

(2) provide to a former participant of the Corps or the Indian 

Youth Service Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period 

of not more than 2 years after the date on which the service of 

the candidate in the Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps 

was complete, if the candidate— 

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

that included at least 120 hours through the Corps or the 

Indian Youth Service Corps; and 

(B) meets Office of Personnel Management qualification 

standards for the position for which the candidate is applying; 

(3) provide to a former resource assistant or consulting intern 

noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than 2 

years after the date on which the individual has completed an 

undergraduate or graduate degree, respectively, from an accredited institution, if the candidate— 

(A) successfully fulfilled the resource assistant or consulting intern program requirements; and 

(B) meets Office of Personnel Management qualification 

standards for the position for which the candidate is applying; and 

(4) provide, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 

with qualified employment agencies to provide, alumni services 

such as job and education counseling, referrals, verification of 

service, communications, and other appropriate services to 

Corps participants who have completed the term of service. 

SEC. ø208¿210. NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS. 

(a) EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS AND AWARDS.—If a øparticipant in 

the Public Lands Corps or a resource assistant¿ Corps participant 

also serves in an approved national service position designated 

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

Act of 1990, the øparticipant or resource assistant¿ Corps participant shall be eligible for a national service educational award in 

the manner prescribed in subtitle D of such title upon successfully 

complying with the requirements for the award. The period during 

which the national service educational award may be used, the 

purposes for which the award may be used, and the amount of the 

award shall be determined as provided under such subtitle. 

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

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

case of borrowers who are øeither participants in the Corps or resource assistants¿ Corps participants, upon written request, a lender shall grant a borrower forbearance on such terms as are otherwise consistent with the regulations of the Secretary of Education, 

during periods in which the borrower is serving as such a participant øor a resource assistant¿. 


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SEC. ø209¿211. NONDISPLACEMENT. 

The nondisplacement requirements of section 177 of the National 

and Community Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable to all øactivities carried out by the Public Lands Corps, to all activities carried out under this title by a qualified youth or conservation corps, 

and to the selection and service of resource assistants.¿ Corps participants. 

SEC. ø210¿212. FUNDING. 

(a) COST SHARING.— 

(1) PROJECTS BY QUALIFIED YOUTH OR CONSERVATION

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

percent of the costs of any 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 ønonfederal 

sources¿ sources other than the Secretary in the form of funds, 

services, facilities, materials, equipment, or any combination of 

the foregoing. The Secretary may pay up to 90 percent of the 

costs of a project if the Secretary determines that the reduction 

is necessary to enable participation from a greater range of organizations or individuals. No cost sharing shall be required in 

the case of any øappropriate conservation project¿ appropriate 

natural and cultural resources conservation project carried out 

on Indian lands or Hawaiian home lands under this title. 

(2) øPUBLIC LANDS¿ 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¿ Corps or Indian Youth Service Corps and carrying out øappropriate conservation projects¿ appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects by the Corps 

or Indian Youth Service Corps. However, nothing in this title 

shall be construed to require any cost sharing for any project 

carried out directly by the Corps or Indian Youth Service 

Corps. 

ø(b) FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT.—In order to carry out the Public Lands Corps or to support resource assistants and qualified youth or conservation corps 

under this title, the Secretary shall be eligible to apply for and receive assistance under section 121(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990.¿ 

(b) FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

ACT.—To carry out this Act, the Secretary shall be eligible to apply 

for and receive assistance under section 121(b) of the National and 

Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)). 

(c) OTHER FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under øsection 211¿ section 213 are in 

addition to amounts allocated to the øPublic Lands Corps¿ Corps 

or Indian Youth Service Corps through other Federal programs or 

projects. 

SEC. ø211¿213. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

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

out this title $12,000,000 for each fiscal øyear, of which $8,000,000 

is authorized to carry out priority projects and $4,000,000 of which 


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is authorized to carry out other appropriate conservation projects.¿ 

year. 

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. 

Æ 


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