89–010 

Calendar No. 609 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 111–323 

PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. BINGAMAN, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1612] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the Act (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 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, and for other purposes, 

having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 

amendment and recommends that the Act, as amended, do pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof 

the following: 

SECTION I. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2010’’. 

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO SHORT TITLE. 

(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 201 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 

1701 note; 107 Stat. 848) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘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. 3. REFERENCE. 

A reference in this Act to ‘‘the Act’’ is a reference to the Public Lands Service 

Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.; title II of Public Law 91–378). 


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SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT OF 1993. 

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

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

‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 

(2) in section 204 (16 U.S.C. 1723), in the heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC 

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

(3) in section 210(a)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1729(a)(2)), in the heading, by striking 

‘‘PUBLIC LANDS’’; 

(4) by striking ‘‘Public Lands Corps’’ each place it appears and inserting 

‘‘Corps’’; 

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

(6) by striking ‘‘conservation centers’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘residential conservation centers’’; 

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

inserting ‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project’’; and 

(8) by striking ‘‘appropriate conservation projects’’ each place it appears and 

inserting ‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects’’. 

(b) FINDINGS.—Section 202(a) (16 U.S.C. 1721(a)) of the Act, as amended by subsection (a), is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘Corps can benefit’’ and inserting ‘‘conservation corps can 

benefit’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘the natural and cultural’’ and inserting ‘‘natural and cultural’’; 

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; 

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

‘‘(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 lifelong advocates for those values.’’; 

(4) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by paragraph (2)), by inserting ‘‘, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic’’ after ‘‘Many facilities 

and natural’’; and 

(5) 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) (16 U.S.C. 1721(b)) of the Act is amended to read 

as follows: 

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

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

their understanding and appreciation of the natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of the United States; 

‘‘(2) to facilitate training and recruitment opportunities in which service is 

credited as qualifying experience for careers in the management of such resources; 

‘‘(3) to instill in a new generation of young men and women from across the 

United States, including young men and women from diverse backgrounds, the 

desire to seek careers in resource stewardship and public service by allowing 

them to work directly with professionals in agencies responsible for the management of the natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic 

resources of the United States; 

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

resources conservation projects where such projects are not being performed by 

existing employees; 

‘‘(5) to assist State and local governments and Indian tribes in performing research and public education tasks associated with the conservation of natural, 

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

‘‘(6) to expand educational opportunities on public lands and by rewarding individuals who participate in conservation corps with an increased ability to pursue higher education and job training; 


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‘‘(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.’’. 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—Section 203 (16 U.S.C. 1722) of the Act is amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7), (8) through (10), and (11) 

through (13) as paragraphs (5) through (9), (11) through (13), and (15) through 

(17), respectively; 

(2) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION

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

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

resources. ‘‘(2) CONSULTING INTERN.—The term ‘consulting intern’ means a consulting intern selected under section 206(a)(2). 

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

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

section 204(a). 

‘‘(4) CORPS PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘Corps participant’ means an individual 

enrolled— 

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

‘‘(B) as a resource assistant or consulting intern.’’; 

(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following: 

‘‘(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.’’; 

(4) by amending paragraph (12) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) to read as 

follows: 

‘‘(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.’’; 

(5) by amending paragraph (13) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) as follows: 

(A) in subparagraph (A)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘full-time,’’; 

(ii) by inserting ‘‘on eligible service lands’’ after ‘‘resource setting’’; 

and 

(iii) by striking ‘‘16’’ and inserting ‘‘15’’; 

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

(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting 

‘‘; and’’; and 

(D) 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, all information pertaining to the expenditure of the funds, any matching funds, and 

participant demographics.’’; 

(6) by inserting after paragraph 13 (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following: 

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

(7) in paragraph (15) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by striking ‘‘206’’ 

and inserting ‘‘206(a)(1)’’; and 

(8) in paragraph (16) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))— 

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

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting 

‘‘; and’’; and 


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(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.’’. 

(e) PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM.—Section 204 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 

1723), as amended by subsection (a), is amended— 

(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) and subsections (d) through (f) as 

subsections (c) and (d) and subsections (f) through (h), respectively; 

(2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(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.’’; 

(3) by amending subsection (c) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) to read as 

follows: 

‘‘(c) PARTICIPANTS.— 

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

are— 

‘‘(A) hired by an agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to perform 

work authorized under this Act; or 

‘‘(B) members of a qualified youth or conservation corps with which the 

Secretary has entered into a cooperative agreement to perform work authorized under this Act. 

‘‘(2) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS.—The Secretary may 

also enroll in the Corps resource assistants and consulting interns in accordance 

with section 206(a). 

‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligible for enrollment as a Corps participant, an individual shall— 

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

‘‘(B) satisfy the requirements of section 137(a)(5) of the National and 

Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12591(a)(5)). 

‘‘(4) TERMS.—Each Corps participant may be enrolled in the Corps for a term 

of up to 2 years of service, which may be served over a period that exceeds 2 

calendar years. 

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

without regard to the civil service and classification laws, rules, or regulations 

of the United States. 

‘‘(6) PREFERENCE.—The Secretary may establish a preference for the enrollment as Corps participants individuals who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.’’; 

(4) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘contracts and’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (f)’’; 

(B) by striking paragraph (2); and 

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

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

agreements to provide, a program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publiVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Oct 05, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\SR323.XXX SR323

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cizing Corps opportunities through high schools, colleges, employment centers, 

electronic media, and other appropriate institutions and means. 

‘‘(3) PREFERENCE.—In entering into cooperative agreements under paragraph 

(1) or awarding competitive grants to Indian tribes or tribally authorized organizations under section 207, the Secretary may give preference to qualified 

youth or conservation corps that are located in specific areas where a substantial portion of members are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.’’; 

(5) by inserting after subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following: 

‘‘(e) TRAINING— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a training program based at 

appropriate residential conservation centers or at other suitable regional Federal or other appropriate facilities or sites to provide training for Corps participants. 

‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In establishing a training program under paragraph (1), 

the Secretary shall— 

‘‘(A) ensure that the duration and comprehensiveness of the training program shall be commensurate with the projects Corps participants are expected to undertake; 

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

training in— 

‘‘(i) resource stewardship; 

‘‘(ii) health and safety; 

‘‘(iii) ethics for individuals in public service; 

‘‘(iv) teamwork and leadership; and 

‘‘(v) interpersonal communications; 

‘‘(C) direct the participating agencies within the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service in the case of the Department of Agriculture, and 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the case of the 

Department of Commerce, to develop agency-specific training guidelines to 

ensure that Corps participants are appropriately informed about matters 

specific to that agency, including— 

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

‘‘(ii) the mission of the agency; and 

‘‘(iii) any agency-specific standards for the management of natural, 

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

‘‘(D) take into account training already received by Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth or conservation corps.’’; 

(6) in subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘IN GENERAL.—’’ and inserting ‘‘USE OF

CORPS; PROJECTS.—’’; 

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

youth or conservation corps to carry out’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may use the Corps to carry out, with 

appropriate supervision and training,’’; 

(iii) by striking ‘‘on public lands’’ and inserting ‘‘on eligible service 

lands’’; and 

(iv) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(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; 


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‘‘(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.’’; 

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 

(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 institution, friends group, or similar nonprofit 

partner organization for the purpose of providing training and work experience to Corps participants in areas such as sales, office work, accounting, 

and management, provided that the work experience directly relates to the 

conservation and management of eligible service lands; and 

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

data. 

‘‘(3) INTERPRETATION.—The Secretary may permit Corps participants to provide interpretation or education services for the public under the direct and immediate supervision of an agency employee— 

‘‘(A) to provide orientation and information services to visitors; 

‘‘(B) to assist agency employees in the delivery of interpretive or educational programs where audience size, environmental conditions, safety, or 

other factors make such assistance desirable; 

‘‘(C) to present programs that relate the personal experience of the Corps 

participants for the purpose of promoting public awareness of the Corps, 

the role of the Corps in public land management agencies, and the availability of the Corps to potential participants; and 

‘‘(D) to create nonpersonal interpretive products, such as website content, 

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

(7) in subsection (g) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))— 

(A) in the matter preceding the first paragraph, by striking ‘‘those 

projects which’’ and inserting ‘‘priority projects and other projects that’’; and 

(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(2) will instill in Corps participants a work ethic and a sense of public service;’’; and 

(8) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(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.’’. 

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

(16 U.S.C. 1724) of the Act is amended— 

(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 Corps participants; and 


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‘‘(B) the conduct of appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects under this Act.’’; 

(B) by striking paragraph (2); 

(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; 

(D) in paragraph (2) (as redesignated by subparagraph (C)), in the heading, by striking ‘‘FOR CONSERVATION CENTERS’’; and 

(E) in paragraph (3) (as redesignated by subparagraph (C)), by striking 

‘‘a State or local government agency’’ and inserting ‘‘another Federal agency, State, local government,’’; 

(3) 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 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 (f); 

(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 construction or 

rehabilitation of residential conservation center facilities, including housing. 

‘‘(e) MENTORS.—The Secretary may recruit from programs, such as Federal volunteer and encore service programs, and from veterans groups, military retirees, and 

active duty personnel, such adults as may be suitable and qualified to provide training, mentoring, and crew-leading services to Corps participants.’’; and 

(6) in subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (4)), by striking ‘‘that are 

appropriate’’ and all that follows through the period and inserting ‘‘that the Secretary determines to be necessary for a residential conservation center.’’. 

(g) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS.—Section 206 of the Act (16 

U.S.C. 1725) is amended— 

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

(2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(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 non-profit organizations can provide 

appropriate recruitment and placement services to fulfill the requirements of 

this section, the Secretary may implement this section through such organizations. 


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‘‘(2) EXPENSES.—Participating organizations shall contribute to the expenses 

of providing and supporting the resource assistants or consulting in- terns 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.’’. 

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

through 211 (16 U.S.C. 1726 through 1730) as sections 209 through 213, respectively. 

(i) INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.—The Act is amended by inserting after section 

206 (16 U.S.C. 1725) the following: 

‘‘SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS. 

‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND COMPETITIVE GRANTS.— 

The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with, or make competitive grants to, Indian tribes and qualified youth or conservation corps for the 

establishment and administration of Indian Youth Service Corps programs to carry 

out appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects on Indian 

lands. 

‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive assistance under this section, an Indian tribe or a qualified youth or conservation corps shall submit to the Secretary 

an application in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary 

may require, including— 

‘‘(1) a description of the methods by which Indian youth will be recruited for 

and retained in the Indian Youth Service Corps; 

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

Corps; 

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

‘‘(4) explanation of the impact of, and the direct community benefits provided 

by, the proposed projects.’’. 

(j) GUIDANCE.—The Act is amended by inserting after section 207 (as amended by 

subsection (i)) the following: 

‘‘SEC. 208. GUIDANCE. 

‘‘Not later than 18 months after funds arc 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.’’. 

(k) LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERVICE.—Section 209 of the Act (16 

U.S.C. 1726) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended by striking subsections 

(a), (b), and (c) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(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) COST-OF-LIVING DIFFERENTIAL TRAVEL COSTS.—The Secretary may— 

‘‘(A) apply a cost-of-living differential to the living allowances established 

under paragraph (1); and 

‘‘(B) if the Secretary determines reimbursement to be appropriate, reimburse Corps participants for travel costs at the beginning and end of the 

term of service of the Corps participants. 

‘‘(b) TERMS OF SERVICE.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Corps participant shall agree to participate for such 

term of service as may be established by the Secretary. 

‘‘(2) CONSULTATIONS.—With respect to the Indian Youth Service Corps, the 

term of service shall be established in consultation with the affected Indian 

tribe or tribally authorized organization. 

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

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

which may be used toward future Federal hiring; 

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

Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than 2 years after 

the date on which the service of the candidate in the Corps or the Indian Youth 

Service Corps was complete, if the candidate— 

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

cultural resources conservation project that included at least 120 hours 

through the Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps; and 


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‘‘(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.’’. 

(l) NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.—Section 210 (16 U.S.C. 1727) of the 

Act (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a) (as amended by subsection (a)(4)), in the first sentence— 

(A) by striking ‘‘participant in the Corps or a resource assistant’’ and inserting ‘‘Corps participant’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘participant or resource assistant’’ and inserting‘‘Corps 

participant’’; and 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) by striking, ‘‘either participants in the Corps or resource assistants’’ 

and inserting ‘‘Corps participants’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘or a resource assistant’’. 

(m) NONDISPLACEMENT.—Section 211 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1728) (as redesignated 

by subsection (h)) is amended by striking ‘‘activities carried out’’ and all that follows 

through the period and inserting ‘‘Corps participants.’’. 

(n) FUNDING.—Section 212 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1729) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘non-federal sources’’ and inserting ‘‘sources other than the Secretary’’; and 

(ii) by inserting after the second sentence the following: ‘‘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.’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or Indian Youth Service Corps’’ after 

‘‘Corps’’ each place it appears; 

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

‘‘(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)).’’; 

and 

(3) in subsection (c)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘section 211’’ and inserting ‘‘section 213’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘or Indian Youth Service Corps’’ after ‘‘Corps’’. 

(o) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 213 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1730) 

(as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended— 

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

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 

necessary to carry out this Act.’’; 

(2) by striking subsection (b); and 

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

PURPOSE

The purpose of H.R. 1612 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 (Pub. L. 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 


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

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

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

improving public lands in a cost-effective and efficient manner 

working in partnership with Federal land management agencies, 

the 2005 amendments nevertheless had a limited effect on expanding the use of the program. However, interest in the program has 

continued to grow. 

Corps programs benefit young men and women by providing 

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

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

management agencies. This work also promotes the understanding 

of and appreciation for the agencies’ missions, and provides potential pathways to Federal careers in the public land management 

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

H.R. 1612 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. H.R. 1612 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

H.R. 1612 was introduced by Representative Grijalva on March 

19, 2009, and was passed by the House of Representatives, as 

amended, on March 20, 2010, by a vote of 288 to 116. Senator 

Bingaman introduced a similar bill (S. 1442) on July 10, 2009. The 

Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a hearing on the 

bills on October 29, 2009 (S. Hrg. 111–223). 

At its business meeting on July 21, 2010, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered H.R. 1612 favorably reported 

with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on July 21, 2010, by a voice vote of a quorum present, 

recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 1612, if amended as described herein. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During its consideration of H.R. 1612, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment makes 

a number of technical and conforming amendments to H.R. 1612. 

The amendment also includes new provisions that authorize a proVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Oct 05, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR323.XXX SR323

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gram to establish an Indian Youth Service Corps and reduce the 

minimum age for participants to 15 years, eliminates provisions regarding green building standards, and modifies provisions regarding criminal history checks, cost-sharing, and appropriations. The 

amendment is explained in detail in the section-by-section analysis 

below. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 provides the short title for the Act. 

Section 2 amends the short title of the 1993 Act and provides for 

references to the original short title to be considered references to 

the amended short title. 

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

Corps Act of 2010 refers to the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 

1993. 

Section 4(a) of the Act makes several conforming amendments to 

the 1993 Act. 

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

definitions, respectively, in the 1993 Act. 

Subsection (e) amends section 204 of the 1993 Act to add a Public 

Lands Service Corps program in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Department of Commerce to create 

Federal offices and coordinators for Corps activities, to establish an 

Indian Youth Service Corps liaison in the Department of the Interior, and to provide that individuals may enroll in the Corps for no 

more than a total of 2 years. It also eliminates explicit contracting 

authority for the Corps, emphasizing the use of cooperative agreements with qualified youth or conservation corps as the primary 

mechanism for carrying out the program; adds provisions for recruitment and training programs for Corps members; describes and 

expands the types of projects that may be carried out through the 

Corps; and clarifies that volunteers from other programs, such as 

the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, may participate in Corps 

projects. Finally, it adds a requirement for certain Corps participants, recipients of Corps program funding, and supervisors to submit to a criminal history check in accordance with section 189D(b) 

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

and precludes any individual under the jurisdiction of the Secretary or that is formally connected to the Corps from enrolling, receiving funds, or having regular contact with Corps participants 

during their program activities if that individual refuses to submit 

to—or makes a false statement in connection with—a criminal history check, is registered—or is required to be registered—on a 

State sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry, 

or has been convicted of murder (as described in 18 U.S.C. 1111). 

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

the Secretaries may provide temporary housing and transportation 

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

others to help train and lead the Corps. 

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

analysis for agencies in the three participating Departments. This 

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

consulting interns from business and public management graduate 


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schools to help develop business plans for units of the National 

Park System. 

Subsection (h) is a technical amendment, which renumbers sections of the 1993 Act. 

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

competitive grants to Indian tribes to establish an Indian Youth 

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

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

the Secretaries to issue guidelines for the management of the 

Corps programs under their jurisdiction. 

Subsection (k) clarifies that the Secretaries may reimburse Corps 

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

and modifies the Federal hiring provisions of the 1993 Act. 

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

Service Educational Awards and non-displacement provisions of the 

1993 Act, respectively. 

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

permit qualified youth and conservation corps to use other Federal 

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

permit the Secretaries to reduce the cost-sharing requirements 

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

Subsection (o) amends the authorization of appropriations for the 

Corps. Originally, the 1993 Act implicitly authorized the appropriation of such sums as were necessary to carry out the Act. However, 

no funds were appropriated, and the 1993 Act subsequently was 

amended to explicitly authorize $12,000,000. Only a fraction of that 

amount has ever been appropriated, and H.R. 1612 would further 

amend the Act to return to a more simple authorization of such 

sums as are necessary to carry out the Act. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 1612—Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2010 

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 $136 million over the 2011–2015 

period. Enacting H.R. 1612 would not affect revenues or direct 

spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

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). 


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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011-2015 

Estimated Authorization Level ...................................... 35 35 35 35 35 175 

Estimated Outlays ........................................................ 12 22 32 35 35 136 

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

1612 will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2011 and 

that the amounts estimated to be necessary will be appropriated 

for each year. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending 

patterns for the Public Lands Corps. 

In addition to changing the name of the Public Lands Corps 

(PLC) to the Public Lands Service Corps (PLSC), H.R. 1612 would: 

• Expand the program to include the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); 

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

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

• Emphasize that training for participants should be provided at federal residential centers; 

• Authorize federal appropriations to be used for transportation subsidies; and 

• Eliminate the PLC 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 more than 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 some agencies receive specific appropriations. For example, the Forest Service receives appropriations for some PLC 

projects, but the funding (less than $3 million in 2010) may only 

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

recreation fees that the agency is able to use without appropriation 

action. In addition, for the first time in 2010, the agency received 

$5 million to expand youth activities at parks. Other agencies work 

with student conservation groups using funds from their annual 

operating budgets. 

Public Lands Service Corps under H.R. 1612 

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

the corps’ name to the Public Lands Service Corps. Under H.R. 

1612, participants could receive classroom education, job training, 

transportation subsidies, housing during their time in the program, 

and hiring preferences upon completion of their tenure. The legislaVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Oct 05, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR323.XXX SR323

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tion also would expand the types of activities in which PLSC members could participate. 

In addition, H.R. 1612 would authorize DOI to provide grants 

and other assistance to Indian tribes and related youth organizations for a new Indian Youth Service Corps. Finally, the act would 

require criminal history checks for program applicants aged 18 or 

older. 

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 appropriation 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 legislation. 

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 

$35 million annually for this purpose. Such funding would allow 

agencies that have smaller 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 funding 

also would allow the NPS to expand its existing program—the largest of any of the agencies. Finally, this funding would allow DOI 

to provide grants to Indian tribes and other organizations for youth 

projects on tribal lands. The estimated annual cost of $35 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, Finally, the estimate includes costs to 

provide criminal background checks on participants as required by 

the legislation. Some of the affected agencies already obtain such 

checks on participants that they hire directly, but most do not for 

participants hired through local youth groups. Amounts paid to 

those groups for public lands projects would probably have to increase by the amount needed for the background checks. The cost 

of preparing those checks is about $125 a person. 

CBO estimates that funding for the PLSC would grow after the 

first five years as agencies use the enhanced authorities contained 

in the legislation to recruit participants directly to their 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. 

Previous CBO estimate: On October 6, 2009, CBO transmitted a 

cost estimate for H.R. 1612 as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on June 10, 2009. The two versions 


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of the legislation are similar, but as reflected in the estimate, implementing the Senate version would cost more because it would 

require an Indian grant program and security checks on participants for all programs. 

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. 

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 

H.R. 1612. 

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

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

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

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

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of H.R. 1612, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

H.R. 1612, as ordered reported, does not contain any congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 

benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The views of the Department of Agriculture and the Department 

of the Interior were included in testimony received by the Committee at the October 29, 2009, subcommittee hearing on S. 1442 

and H.R. 1612, which is printed below: 

STATEMENT OF ROBERT G. STANTON, DEPUTY ASSISTANT

SECRETARY FOR POLICY AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear 

before your committee to present the views of the Department of the Interior on S. 1442, a bill that would amend 

the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization of the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture and 

Commerce 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. 

The Department strongly supports S. 1442. This bill 

would strengthen and facilitate the use of the Public Land 

Corps (PLC) program, helping to fulfill the vision that Secretary Salazar has for promoting ways to engage young 

people across America to serve their community and their 


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country. On April 2, 2009, the Department testified in support of the House companion bill, H.R. 1612. While we are 

strongly supportive of S. 1442, there are a few areas where 

we would like to suggest some changes. We commit to 

working with the committee to address these recommendations. 

ENGAGING AMERICA’S YOUTH THROUGH SERVICE

While there are other Federal programs that promote 

service, expanding the use of the Public Land Corps could 

be a particularly important part of our overall strategy for 

increasing opportunities and incentives for young people to 

become involved because this program serves other highpriority goals as well. Through it, we could reconnect 

young people with their natural environment and cultural 

heritage; make progress on energy conservation and the 

use of alternative sources of energy; and provide education, 

training, and career-building experiences—and a pathway 

to careers in Federal land management agencies, which 

are in serious need of new, younger employees. 

Secretary Salazar created the Youth in Natural Resources program during his tenure at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources as a way to educate thousands 

of young people about Colorado’s natural resources, and he 

saw firsthand what a difference it made in their lives. 

From the day he was nominated as Secretary of the Interior, he has emphasized that it would be one of his top priorities to find more ways to introduce young Americans 

from all backgrounds to the beauty of our national parks, 

refuges, and public lands and to promote an ethic of volunteerism and conservation in the younger generation. Enactment of this legislation could pave the way to meeting 

one of the Secretary’s top priority goals—to develop a 21st 

Century Youth Civilian Conservation Corps. 

BACKGROUND ON PUBLIC LAND CORPS PROGRAM

The Department regards the Public Land Corps program 

as an important and successful example of civic engagement and conservation. Authorized by the National and 

Community Service Trust Act in 1993, the program uses 

non-profit organizations such as the Student Conservation 

Association (SCA) and other service and conservation corps 

organizations affiliated with the Corps Network as the primary partners in administering the Public Land Corps 

program. In addition, other non-profit youth organizations 

such as the YMCA also participate, as do local high schools 

and job-training youth organizations. The youth organizations assist the National Park Service (NPS) in its efforts 

to attract diverse participants to the parks by recruiting 

youth 16–25 years of age from all socioeconomic, cultural 

and ethnic backgrounds. 

The National Park Service makes extensive use of the 

PLC program. Projects are funded through recreational fee 

revenue, with the typical project receiving $25,000 from 

NPS plus a 25 percent match from a partner organization. 


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NPS spent $4.1 million on the program in FY 2008, which 

funded about 1,500 young men and women working on 178 

projects at 99 park units. Most PLC projects at parks are 

designed to address maintenance and ecological restoration 

needs. The NPS also conducts other youth service and conservation projects at larger parks which are funded out of 

the parks’ own budgets. NPS also spent more than $3 million on the Youth Conservation Corps program which is a summer employment 

program for 15–18 year old youth. NPS in fiscal year 2008 

employed 833 youth to work on conservation projects 

across the country. The YCC program has been administered by the National Park Service since 1974. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have a long history of employing youth service and conservation corps participants 

from the SCA, Youth Conservation Corps and other organizations for a wide array of projects related to public 

lands resource enhancement and facility maintenance. 

Though most corps are affiliated with the nationwide 

Corps Network, they are often administered at the state, 

rather than national level. For example, the FWS and SCA 

have partnered for over 20 years to offer work and learning opportunities to students. In FY 2007, 122 Conservation Interns served at 45 FWS sites in 24 states, contributing more than 80,000 hours of work. 

The BLM has engaged the services of SCA interns for 

many years under a longstanding national assistance 

agreement, then under individual state agreements. In 

2006, the last year of BLM’s national agreement, a total of 

116 SCA members served at 16 BLM sites in eight states. 

The interns participated in a variety of conservation service activities such as recreation and river management, 

historic building restoration and maintenance, seed collection, and invasive species control. BLM’s Salem Oregon 

District, for example, hires a mixture of Northwest Youth 

Corps, Clackamas County, and Columbia River Youth 

Corps members each year to perform a variety of activities 

such as trail maintenance and construction. 

The FWS manages 587 units of the National Wildlife 

Refuge System that cover over 150 million acres, as well 

as 70 National Fish Hatcheries, which would directly benefit from programs authorized under S. 1442. National 

Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries enjoy 

strong relationships with the local communities in which 

they are located, and are involved in many communitybased projects that help maintain sustainable landscapes. 

The FWS’s work is also supported by over 200 non-profit 

Friends organizations that assist in offering quality education programs, mentoring, and work experience for 

youth. 

In 2007, the FWS employed 496 Youth Conservation 

Corps enrollees and 177 individuals through the Student 

Conservation Association program. Last year, over 39,000 

volunteers contributed their time and talents to a variety 


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of programs including support for youth education projects. 

Over the past two years the FWS has provided funding for 

a YCC program involving the Mescalero Apache youth at 

the Mescalero Tribal Hatchery in New Mexico. The FWS 

has working relationships with numerous colleges and universities for students interested in pursuing careers in fish 

and wildlife management. 

THE PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT OF 2009

S. 1442 would make several administrative and programmatic changes that, in our view, would strengthen 

and improve the Public Land Corps Act. These changes 

would encourage broader agency use of the program, make 

more varied opportunities available for young men and 

women, and provide more support for participants during 

and after their service. Appropriately, S. 1442 would 

change the program’s name to Public Lands Service Corps, 

reflecting the emphasis on ‘‘service’’ that is the hallmark 

of the program. President Obama is committed to providing young people with greater opportunities and incentives to serve their community and country. Through an 

enhanced Public Lands Service Corps, we would be taking 

a critical first step that direction. 

Key changes that the legislation would make to existing 

law include: 

• Adding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which administers national marine sanctuaries, as an agency authorized to use the program; 

• Establishing an Indian Youth Corps so Indian 

Youth can benefit from Corps programs based on Indian lands, carrying out projects that their tribes and 

communities determine to be priorities; 

• Authorizing a departmental-level office at the Department of the Interior to coordinate Corps activities 

within the three land management bureaus; 

• Requiring each of the three relevant departments 

to undertake or contract for a recruiting program for 

the Corps; 

• Requiring each of the three relevant departments 

to establish a training program for Corps members, 

and identifying specific components the training must 

include; 

• Identifying more specific types of projects that 

could be conducted under this authority; 

• Allowing participants in other volunteer programs 

to participate in PLC projects; 

• Allowing agencies to make arrangements with 

other Federal, state, or local agencies, or private organizations, to provide temporary housing for Corps 

members; 

• Providing explicit authority for the establishment 

of residential conservation centers, and authorizing 

the Secretary to seek the assistance of the Secretary 

of Energy in identifying and using solar and other 


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green building technologies that may be adapted for 

these facilities; • Authorizing agencies to recruit experienced volunteers from other programs to serve as mentors to 

Corps members; • Adding ‘‘consulting intern’’ as a new category of 

service employment under the PLC program; • Allowing agencies to apply a cost-of-living differential in the provision of living allowances and to 

reimburse travel expenses; • Allowing agencies to provide noncompetitive hiring status for Corps members for two years after completing service, rather than only 120 days, if certain 

terms are met; • Allowing agencies to provide job and education 

counseling, referrals, and other appropriate services to 

Corps members who have completed their service; and • Eliminating the $12 million authorization ceiling 

for the program. 

We believe that the Department’s program would benefit 

from enactment of this legislation. As noted above, most 

PLC projects at national parks are designed to address 

maintenance and ecological restoration needs, and those 

types of projects would continue to be done under S. 1442. 

However, this legislation specifies a broader range of potential projects, making it likely that Corps members could 

become involved in such varied activities as historical and 

cultural research, museum curatorial work, oral history 

projects and programs, documentary photography, public 

information and orientation services that promote visitor 

safety, and activities that support the creation of public 

works of art. Participants might assist employees in the 

delivery of interpretive or educational programs and create 

interpretive products such as website content, Junior 

Ranger program books, printed handouts, and audiovisual 

programs. 

PLC participants would also be able to work for a park 

partner organization where the work might involve sales, 

office work, accounting, and management, so long as the 

work experience is directly related to the protection and 

management of public lands. The NPS and the FWS have 

a large number of partner organizations that would be potential sponsors of young people interested in the type of 

work they might offer. 

An important change for the Department is the addition 

of specific authority for agencies to pay transportation expenses for non-residential Corps members. Transportation 

costs may be a limiting factor in program participation of 

economically disadvantaged young people. 

Another important change is the addition of ‘‘consulting 

intern’’ as a new category of service employment under the 

PLC program, expanding on the use of mostly college-student ‘‘resource assistants,’’ provided for under existing law. 

The consulting interns would be graduate students who 

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ties. NPS has successfully used business and public management graduate student interns to write business plans 

for parks for several years, and this addition would bring 

these interns under the PLC umbrella. 

The Public Lands Service Corps would also offer agencies the ability to hire successful corps members non-competitively at the end of their appointment, which would 

provide the agency with an influx of knowledgeable employees as well as career opportunities for those interested 

in the agencies’ mission. Refuges and hatcheries, for example, are uniquely qualified to connect with local communities since the Service has so many refuges across the 

country that are located near smaller communities and can 

directly engage urban, inner city, and rural youth. For example, partnering academic institutions could offer educational programs to enhance the students’ work experience, thereby providing orientation and exposure to a 

broad range of career options. 

The legislation would also give the Department’s other 

bureaus that would utilize this program the authority to 

expand the scope of existing corps programs to reflect modern day challenges, such as climate change and add incentives to attract new participants, especially from underrepresented populations. 

An expanded Public Lands Service Corps program would 

provide more opportunities for thousands of young Americans to participate in public service while we address the 

critical maintenance, restoration, repair and rehabilitation 

needs on our public lands and gain a better understanding 

of the impacts of climate change on these treasured landscapes. 

RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO S. 1442

While we are very supportive of S. 1442, there are a few 

areas we would like to suggest some changes. We would be 

happy to work with the committee to develop technical 

amendments and changes in the following areas: 

• 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. 1442 in the case of consulting interns, sponsoring 

organizations are required to cost-share the expenses of 

providing and supporting these individuals from ‘‘private 

sources of funding’’—25 percent for resource assistants and 

10 percent for consulting interns. The administration recommends leveling this cost-requirement to 25 percent for 

both categories of participants with an additional provision 

to give agencies the ability to reduce the non-Federal contribution to no less than 10 percent, but only when 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. 

• Benefits for consulting interns: The Department recommends clarifying amendments to include consulting inVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Oct 05, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6969 E:\HR\OC\SR323.XXX SR323

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terns as the third type of corps member who are eligible 

for living allowances; national service educational awards 

and forbearance in the collection of Stafford loans. This 

change would allow all three types of corps members— 

PLSC participants, resource assistants, and consulting interns—to be treated equally for purposes of eligibility for 

living allowances and education benefits. We also suggest 

clarifying language to ensure that members of qualifying 

conservation and youth corps are treated as Corps participants. Existing law and the bill as introduced differentiate 

between Corps participants, who are hired directly by the 

agencies, and youth who are sponsored by other organizations. • Hiring Preference: It is unclear whether resource assistance would qualify for the provision of credit for time 

served with the Public Lands Service Corps for future federal hiring. We recommend that this language be clarified 

to ensure resource assistants are made eligible for these 

benefits. 

Second, S. 1442 provides that former PLSC members 

would be eligible for noncompetitive hiring status for up to 

two years. The Administration opposes eligibility for up to 

two years because the service requirements for this program are minimal. Therefore, we recommend making eligibility status one year, which is consistent with other Government-wide, non-competitive appointment authorities 

based on service outside of the Federal government. 

The Department further suggests including language to 

ensure that time these former Corps members (both types) 

spent as full-time students does not accrue against the 

time period they have to use their noncompetitive hiring 

status. That way, college students who served in the Corps 

during the summer, for example, would be able to use 

their time period of noncompetitive status after they graduate from college. 

While we support the noncompetitive hiring authority 

for all the different types of PLSC participants, we recommend including language to ensure that the participants have documented work experience within a legitimate program in order to be eligible for this authority. In 

the case of youth serving on PLSC projects though outside 

organizations, this could be achieved by specifying that the 

participants need to achieve the requisite hours of work 

within qualified youth or conservation corps programs as 

defined in Section 203 of the Act. 

• Agreements with Partners on Training and Employing 

Corps Members: Finally, we recommend striking the provision in S. 1442 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 non-profit partnership organizations. Yet, the language could raise unanticipated concerns over accountabilVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Oct 05, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6969 E:\HR\OC\SR323.XXX SR323

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1 Youth aged 15 to 18 e.g. YCC 

2Domestic and international 

3 Conservation partnerships with non-governmental organizations 

ity, liability, and conflicts of interest. For example, this 

language could allow an individual to receive a federally 

funded stipend under a PLSC agreement, and then perform work for a different nonfederal 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. 

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my remarks. I would be 

happy to answer any questions you or the other members 

of the subcommittee have. 

STATEMENT OF JOEL HOLTROP, DEPUTY CHIEF, NATIONAL

FOREST SYSTEM, FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRI- CULTURE

Good afternoon Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member 

Barrasso and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for 

the opportunity to testify before you today on S. 1442, the 

Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009. 

INTRODUCTION

On April 2, 2009, the Department testified in strong 

support of H.R. 1612 at a hearing on the House of Representatives version of the current bill. The Department 

strongly supports S. 1442. This bill would strengthen and 

facilitate the use of the Public Lands Corps program, helping to fulfill the vision that Secretary Vilsack has for reconnecting people to the land by promoting ways to engage 

youth across America to serve their community and their 

country. We have much work to do in restoring our forests, 

some of which can be achieved through the robust partnerships that this bill creates. 

PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT OF 2009

S. 1442 would strengthen and improve the Public Land 

Corps Act by making several administrative and programmatic changes that would encourage broader agency 

use of the program, as well as foster opportunities that are 

more varied for young men and women. The amendment 

would also enhance participant support for Corps enrollees 

during and after their service. Appropriately, S. 1442 

would change the program’s name to Public Lands Service 

Corps, reflecting an emphasis on ‘‘service.’’ 

Most projects implemented by the Forest Service’s Volunteer,1 Youth 2 and Hosted Programs 3 in the national 

forests and grasslands are designed to address needs for 

maintenance and ecological restoration, while providing a 

service-learning opportunity for the enrolled youth. We 

fully expect those types of projects would continue to be 


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4 Under the authority of Title 1–C of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which generally 

authorizes the Job Corps program, the Department of Labor transfers funds to the Forest Service to operate its Job Corps Centers. 

completed under S. 1442. However, this amendment specifies a broader range of potential projects, making it likely 

that Corps members would become involved with the varied activities of the Forest Service mission including the 

Deputy Areas for Forestry Research and Development, National Forest Systems, State and Private Forestry and 

Business Operations. 

FOREST SERVICE HISTORY AND INVOLVEMENT WITH CORPS

AND YOUTH

Beginning in 1933 with Camp Roosevelt, the first Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp located on the George 

Washington National Forest, the Forest Service has had a 

long and robust association with youth and young adult 

conservation corps. Indeed, the Forest Service Job Corps 

Program, authorized by Congress in 1964, is modeled after 

the CCC of the 1930(s). The Forest Service operates this 

program pursuant to an agreement with the Secretary of 

Labor.4 Since enactment of the Youth Conservation Corps 

Act of 1970 (Public Law 91–378), the Forest Service has 

sponsored the Youth Conservation Corps for young men 

and women age 16 through 18, who complete service-learning projects on National Forest System lands. Many current agency employees, inspired by their service-learning 

and association with the Forest Service, initiated their career aspirations through involvement with the Youth Conservation Corps. 

The Department regards the Public Land Corps program 

as an important and successful example of civic engagement and conservation service for the Nation’s youth. National Forest System lands are a place for Public Lands 

Service Corps participants to learn and practice an array 

of conservation, preservation, interpretation and cultural 

resource skills. Indeed, in forty-two states and Puerto Rico 

the Forest Service has already benefited greatly over the 

years from the service and volunteer work on National 

Forest System lands. 

One example, the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC), 

headquartered in Taos, NM, annually enrolls nearly 150 

at-risk youth and has a long-standing partnership with the 

Carson National Forest. Through the Collaborative Forest 

Restoration Program (CFRP), authorized by Public Law 

106–393, and designed to involve citizens and youth in the 

management and care of national forests and grasslands, 

30 RMYC Corps members recently completed a three-year 

thinning project on the Carson National Forest. The purpose of the project was to reduce the risk of catastrophic 

wildfire, thereby making the area safer for homes and people. Throughout the project, Corps members received tangible training and experience. Many of the enrollees could 

go on to careers in forestry, wildlife and natural resource 

management. 


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Our second example is from the summer of 2009. The 

Wyoming Conservation Corps (WCC), housed within the 

University of Wyoming’s School of Environment and Natural Resources, engaged more than 40 young people to 

clear dead trees from trails and campgrounds on the Medicine Bow National Forest. The service work was performed 

to make trails and campgrounds safer for visitor use and 

enjoyment. Following their experience with WCC, many of 

these young people expressed an interest in pursuing careers in land and natural resource management. 

A third example is the Northwest Youth Corps. For over 

20 years, the non-profit, community-based organization in 

Eugene, OR, has been a partner with the Forest Service, 

Bureau of Land Management, and other natural resource 

and land management agencies. This collaboration has 

provided service-learning opportunities for over 10,000 

youth. 

IMPLEMENTATION AND EXPERTISE

S. 1442 would grant the Secretary the discretion to establish residential conservation centers to include housing, 

food service, medical care, transportation, and other services associated with residential living arrangements. The 

Forest Service is uniquely situated to play a key role in 

the coordination and management of the residential conservation centers for the Public Lands Service Corps 

through its Job Corps Program. The Forest Service Job 

Corps Program would likely be the coordinating office for 

Public Lands Service Corps residential conservation centers in the Forest Service. 

The Forest Service Job Corps Program has the institutional capacity to operate residential facilities successfully. 

However, there are a number of implementation issues 

that need to 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 

and the need for a structured behavior management program to ensure the health and safety of students and staff. 

In implementing the residential living centers authorized 

by the act, we intend to work closely with the Department 

of Labor to ensure that any new responsibilities and activities undertaken by the Forest Service Job Corps Program 

will neither divert Job Corps resources nor detract from 

carrying out the existing Job Corps program mission. In 

addition, we would appreciate the opportunity to work 

with the sponsors and the Subcommittee to address these 

implementation issues in the bill. 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the Department of Agriculture welcomes 

S. 1442, which would increase the opportunity for Public 

Lands Service Corps members to leverage their education 

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learning projects in the Public Lands Corps, a skilled cadre 

of young and diverse natural resource professionals would 

be available to meet some of the staffing needs of agencies. 

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee this concludes my prepared statement. I am happy to answer any 

questions that you or Members of the Committee may 

have. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the Act H.R. 

1612 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 

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. 


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(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 

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; 


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(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 CONSERVATION PROJECT.—The term ‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project’’ means any project for the 

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

resources. 

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

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

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

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

Lands Service Corps established under section 204(a). 

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

an individual enrolled— 

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

(B) as a resource assistant or consulting intern. 

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 

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 


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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 projects conducted on 

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

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

et seq.), as follows: 

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

water supply, or other at-risk Federal land. 

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

and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire. 

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

health. 

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

(i) promote the recovery of threatened or endangered 

species; 


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(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 

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

American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands. 


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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 

(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. 


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(2) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS.—The 

Secretary may also enroll in the Corps resource assistants and 

consulting interns in accordance with section 206(a). 

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

as a Corps participant, an individual shall— 

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

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

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

12591(a)(5)). 

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

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

served over a period that exceeds 2 calendar years. 

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

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

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

for the enrollment as Corps participants individuals who are 

economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged. 

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, 

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

educationally disadvantaged. 

(e) TRAINING.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a training 

program based at appropriate residential conservation centers 


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or at other suitable regional Federal or other appropriate facilities or sites to provide training for Corps participants. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In establishing a training program 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 

(A) ensure that the duration and comprehensiveness of 

the training program shall be commensurate with the 

projects Corps participants are expected to undertake; 

(B) develop department-wide standards for the program 

that include training in— 

(i) resource stewardship; 

(ii) health and safety; 

(iii) ethics for individuals in public service; 

(iv) teamwork and leadership; and 

(v) interpersonal communications; 

(C) direct the participating agencies within the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service in the case of the 

Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration in the case of the Department 

of Commerce, to develop agency-specific training guidelines 

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

(i) the history and organization of the agency; 

(ii) the mission of the agency; and 

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

(D) take into account training already received by Corps 

participants enrolled from qualified youth or conservation 

corps. 

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; 


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

disease, and disasters; 

(III) controlling erosion; 

(IV) controlling and removing invasive, noxious, 

or nonnative species; and 

(V) restoring native species; 

(iii) collecting biological, archaeological, and other 

scientific data, including climatological information, 

species populations and movement, habitat status, and 

other information; 

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

lands; and 

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

facilities, employee housing, cultural and historic sites 

and structures, and other facilities that further the 

purposes of this Act. 

(2) VISITOR SERVICES.—The Secretary may— 

(A) enter into or amend an existing cooperative agreement 

with a cooperating association, educational institution, 

friends group, or similar nonprofit partner organization for 

the purpose of providing training and work experience to 

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

eligible service lands; and 

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

gathering of visitor use data. 

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

public under the direct and immediate supervision of an agency 

employee— 

(A) to provide orientation and information services to 

visitors; 

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

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

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

Corps to potential participants; and 

(D) to create nonpersonal interpretive products, such as 

website content, Junior Ranger program books, printed 

handouts, and audiovisual programs. 

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 


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

with the provisions of law and policies relating to the management 

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

plans and documents which govern the administration of the area. 

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

from other programs administered or designated by the Secretary to 

participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this section. 

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

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

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

(A) to become a Corps participant; 

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

(C) to supervise or otherwise have regular contact with 

Corps participants in activities authorized under this Act. 

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

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

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

be eligible for the position or activity described in paragraph 

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

SEC. 205. 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 Corps; and 

ø(B) the conduct of appropriate conservation projects 

under this title.¿ 


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

conservation centers for— 

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

for Corps participants; and 

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

ø(2) ASSISTANCE FOR CONSERVATION CENTERS.—The Secretary may provide to a conservation center established under 

paragraph (1) any services, facilities, equipment, and supplies 

that the Secretary determines to be necessary for the conservation center.¿ 

ø(3)¿(2) STANDARDSø FOR CONSERVATION CENTERS¿.—The 

Secretary shall— 

(A) establish basic standards of 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. 

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

appropriate, the Secretary may enter into a contract or other 

appropriate arrangement with øa State or local government 

agency¿ another Federal agency, State, local government, 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 

center¿ residential conservation center established under this 

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

and residential supervision. 

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

private organization to provide temporary housing for Corps 

participants as needed and available. 

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

the Secretary may fund or provide transportation to and from 

project sites. 

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

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

in consultation with the adjutant generals of the State National 

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

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

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

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

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

Federal volunteer and encore service programs, and from veterans 

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


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

crew-leading services to Corps participants. 

ø(d)¿(f) 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 

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, HisVerDate Mar 15 2010 04:10 Oct 05, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\SR323.XXX SR323

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panic-serving institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. 

(2) CONSULTING INTERNS.— 

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

placements of consulting interns with any agency under the 

jurisdiction of the Secretary that carries out appropriate 

natural and cultural resources conservation projects to 

carry out management analysis activities on behalf of the 

agency. 

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

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

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

(b) USE OF EXISTING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever 1 or more nonprofit organizations 

can provide appropriate recruitment and placement services to 

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

(2) EXPENSES.—Participating organizations shall contribute 

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

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

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

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

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

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

the mission of the agency. 

SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS. 

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

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

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

appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects on 

Indian lands. 

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

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

shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner and 

containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— 

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

be recruited for and retained in the Indian Youth Service 

Corps; 

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

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


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(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) COST-OF-LIVING DIFFERENTIAL; TRAVEL COSTS.—The Secretary may— 

(A) apply a cost-of-living differential to the living allowances established under paragraph (1); and 

(B) if the Secretary determines reimbursement to be appropriate, reimburse Corps participants for travel costs at 

the beginning and end of the term of service of the Corps 

participants. 

(b) TERMS OF SERVICE.— 

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

Secretary. 

(2) CONSULTATIONS.—With respect to the Indian Youth Service Corps, the term of service shall be established in consultation with the affected Indian tribe or tribally authorized organization. 

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

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

Corps participant, which may be used toward future Federal 

hiring; 

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

Youth Service Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period 

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

the candidate in the Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps 

was complete, if the candidate— 


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(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 

participantø or a resource assistant¿. 

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¿ 


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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. 

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

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

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

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

conservation projects.¿ 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated such 

sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. 

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 


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

the amounts are appropriated. 

Æ 


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