SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Undertaking National 
Initiatives to Tackle Epidemic Act of 2020’’ or the 
‘‘UNITE Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The outbreak of the novel coronavirus, 
SARS–CoV–2, which causes COVID–19 (referred to 
in this Act as the ‘‘coronavirus’’), has disrupted the 
lives of all individuals in the United States and re-
quired enormous sacrifice. In following the guidance 
of public health officials, individuals in the United 
States have and can continue to play a key role in 
defeating their common, invisible enemy. 
(2) The Corporation for National and Commu-
nity Service (referred to in this Act as ‘‘CNCS’’), 
through the health, disaster, and poverty services 
administered by the CNCS under the 3 flagship 
AmeriCorps 
programs 
(AmeriCorps 
VISTA, 
AmeriCorps NCCC, and AmeriCorps State and Na-
tional Volunteers), is uniquely positioned to aid 
frontline workers and communities most impacted by 
the coronavirus public health emergency if the Presi-
dent of the United States fully mobilizes those 3 
programs. 
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(3) The Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy (referred to in this section as ‘‘FEMA’’), tasked 
with leading aspects of the whole-of-government re-
sponse to the coronavirus outbreak, is reportedly 
understaffed of those frontline workers that are es-
sential to responding to the public health emergency. 
(4) On March 15, 2020, the Peace Corps invol-
untarily ended the service of approximately 7,300 
volunteers. Many of them acquired public health 
skills in countries abroad, which may also be applied 
to further service in AmeriCorps, service in FEMA, 
or continuing service in the Peace Corps once oper-
ations of the Peace Corps are to resume. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
It is the sense of the House of Representatives that— 
(1) the President should fully utilize the com-
petencies of the Federal Government workforce to 
battle the outbreak of coronavirus, the worst global 
health emergency the United States has faced in a 
century, as well as make available expanded opportu-
nities for individuals in the United States desiring to 
serve their country in its time of need; 
(2) the President should elevate the role of 
CNCS within the whole-of-government response to 
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the coronavirus outbreak, including by urging its 
Chief Executive Officer to— 
(A) in cooperation with the White House 
Coronavirus Task Force, take steps to actively 
encourage volunteerism and specifically encour-
age individuals in the United States to serve as 
a volunteer in an AmeriCorps program; 
(B) prioritize AmeriCorps grants that pro-
vide assistance to those most impacted by the 
coronavirus public health emergency and recruit 
the maximum number of volunteers authorized 
by law, particularly focusing on the recently un-
employed; and 
(C) provide State Commissions, as defined 
in section 101 of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511), with 
the flexibility to award and amend grants and 
to remove undue burdens relating to the 
onboarding of volunteers; 
(3) the United States should expand the Cadre 
of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees (CORE) 
program, administered by the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, to enlist individuals in the 
United States to solve public health and supply-man-
agement challenges related to the coronavirus out-
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break, as well as related to wildfires, hurricanes, and 
other disasters; and 
(4) bolstering the number of full-time positions 
at the Federal Emergency Management Agency will 
also expand national service opportunities for quali-
fied individuals in the United States who have be-
come unemployed or underemployed as a result of 
the coronavirus outbreak, including the approxi-
mately 7,300 Peace Corps volunteers whose service 
ended on March 15, 2020. 
SEC. 4. MOBILIZING PROGRAMS IN THE CORONAVIRUS 
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. 
(a) PRIORITIZING CERTAIN AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any provi-
sion of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 
(42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.) or the National and Com-
munity Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et 
seq.), the Chief Executive Officer of CNCS, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, State gov-
ernments, and State Commissions, as defined in sec-
tion 101 of the National and Community Service Act 
of 1990, shall, for the period described in paragraph 
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(2), prioritize existing agreements, or enter into new 
agreements, with public and private nonprofit orga-
nizations, that will direct volunteers in programs ad-
ministered by CNCS to assignments that assist indi-
viduals most impacted by the coronavirus public 
health emergency, including assignments— 
(A) providing support services to veterans, 
homeless populations, the elderly, and other in-
dividuals who may be most vulnerable during 
the coronavirus public health emergency; 
(B) supporting health care professionals 
and related positions; 
(C) offering before- and after-school tutor-
ing and instruction for children in low-income 
areas, and offering adult basic skills and lit-
eracy 
tutoring 
and 
instruction, 
including 
through remote learning; 
(D) expanding broadband infrastructure 
for underserved and rural communities; 
(E) serving as nonpartisan poll workers for 
an election for public office; 
(F) performing functions consistent with 
implementation of the decennial census; and 
(G) performing other functions consistent 
with addressing the coronavirus public health 
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emergency, including assisting with testing and 
contact tracing. 
(2) PERIOD.—The period described in this 
paragraph— 
(A) shall begin on the date of enactment of 
this Act; and 
(B) shall end— 
(i) not earlier than the date of the 
conclusion of the coronavirus public health 
emergency; and 
(ii) not later than 2 years after the 
conclusion of such emergency. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
FOR ADDITIONAL RECRUIT-
MENT OF AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) INCREASE
IN
NUMBER
OF
POSI-
TIONS.—Section 121(f)(1)(B) of the National 
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12571(f)(1)(B)) is amended— 
(i) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (vii), by adding ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(viii) 500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2022;’’. 
(B) REAUTHORIZATIONS.— 
(i) 
AMERICORPS
VISTA.—Section 
501(a)(1) of the Domestic Volunteer Serv-
ice Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5081(a)(1)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘$100,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 
through 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘such sums 
as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
years 2020 through 2022’’. 
(ii) 
AMERICORPS
NCCC.—Section 
501(a)(1)(A) of the National and Commu-
nity Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12681(a)(1)(A)) is amended— 
(I) by striking clauses (i) and 
(ii); and 
(II) by striking ‘‘title I—’’ and 
inserting ‘‘title I, such sums as may 
be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2022.’’. 
(iii) AMERICORPS
STATE
AND
NA-
TIONAL
VOLUNTEERS.—Section 501(a)(2) 
of the National and Community Service 
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Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(2)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2010 through 2014’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2020 through 2022’’. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—To fulfill the purposes of 
subsection (a), the Chief Executive Officer of CNCS 
shall expedite the recruitment and selection of volun-
teers for an assignment described in subsection (a) 
who are— 
(A) unemployed veterans; 
(B) individuals who become unemployed or 
underemployed as a result of the coronavirus 
public health emergency; and 
(C) AmeriCorps members, Peace Corps 
volunteers and trainees, and United States Ful-
bright scholars, who have had their service 
ended as a result of such emergency. 
(3) ELIGIBILITY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law— 
(i) any individual who is authorized to 
work in the United States shall not be dis-
qualified from being recruited or selected 
for any assignment described in subsection 
(a) based solely on his or her citizenship 
status; and 
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(ii) bankruptcy or poor credit deter-
mined by the Chief Executive Officer of 
CNCS to be arising from the coronavirus 
public health emergency shall not dis-
qualify any individual from being recruited 
or selected for any assignment described in 
subsection (a) based solely on such bank-
ruptcy or credit reporting. 
(B) CLARIFICATION.—No individual de-
scribed in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) 
who is recruited or selected for an assignment 
described in subsection (a) shall become dis-
qualified from continuing to serve in such as-
signment after the expiration of the period de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2) solely on the basis 
of his or her citizenship or immigration status, 
bankruptcy status, or credit score. 
(c) BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 
180 days thereafter, the Chief Executive Officer of CNCS 
shall submit a report, to the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor of the House of Rep-
resentatives, on the operating plan of the CNCS to carry 
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out subsections (a) and (b), including the amendments 
under subsection (b). 
(d) ENHANCED STIPEND.—Section 105(b)(2)(A) of 
the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 
4955(b)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) beginning for fiscal year 2020, the min-
imum allowance is not less than an amount equal to 
200 percent of the income official poverty line (as 
defined by the Office of Management and Budget, 
and revised annually in accordance with section 
673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) applicable to a family of 1; 
and’’. 
(e) CEILING ON STIPEND FOR GRANTEES.—Section 
189 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 12645c) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘$18,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$25,000’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘$19,500’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$30,000’’. 
(f) WAIVER
OF
MATCHING
FUNDS
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 189A of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645d) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘; 
MATCHING FUNDS DURING CORONAVIRUS PUB-
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LIC
HEALTH
EMERGENCY’’ after ‘‘COMMU-
NITIES’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) COVID–19 RESPONSE.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, an entity that receives newly award-
ed assistance, or previously awarded assistance still within 
the period of performance for such assistance, from the 
Corporation for any program under the national service 
laws (including a State Commission and an entity receiv-
ing subgrant funds) during the coronavirus public health 
emergency, as defined in section 4(g) of the Undertaking 
National Initiatives to Tackle Epidemic Act of 2020, shall 
not be subject to any requirements to provide matching 
funds for any such program, and the Federal share of 
such assistance for a recipient (including for a State Com-
mission and a subgrant recipient) shall be 100 percent.’’. 
(g) CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘coronavirus public 
health emergency’’ means the public health emergency de-
clared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
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U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to 
COVID–19. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION FOR SURGE CAPACITY FOR FED-
ERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For fiscal years 2020 through 
2022 and subject to the appropriation of funds, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy shall appoint, administer, and expedite the training of 
an additional 62,000 Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery 
Employees, under the Response and Recover Directorate 
(referred to in this section as ‘‘CORE employees’’) under 
the Office of Response and Recovery, above the level of 
such employees in fiscal year 2019, to address the 
coronavirus public health emergency and other disasters 
and public emergencies. 
(b) DETAIL OF CORE EMPLOYEES.—A CORE em-
ployee may be detailed, through mutual agreement and on 
a nonreimbursable basis, to any Federal agency or to a 
State, local, or Tribal government to fulfill an assignment 
consistent with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), in-
cluding— 
(1) providing logistical support for the supply 
chain of medical equipment and other goods involved 
in COVID–19 response efforts; 
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(2) facilitating COVID–19 testing and surveil-
lance activities; 
(3) tracing contacts of infected individuals and 
the status of the individuals while being quar-
antined; 
(4) providing nutritional assistance to vulner-
able populations; and 
(5) carrying out other disaster preparedness 
and response functions for other emergencies and 
natural disasters. 
(c) REQUIREMENT.—As soon as practicable, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy shall make public job announcements to fill the CORE 
employee positions authorized under subsection (a), which 
shall prioritize hiring from among the following groups of 
individuals: 
(1) Unemployed veterans. 
(2) Individuals who have become unemployed or 
underemployed as a result of the coronavirus public 
health emergency. 
(3) AmeriCorps members, Peace Corps volun-
teers and trainees, and United States Fulbright 
Scholars who have had their service terms ended as 
a result of the coronavirus public health emergency. 
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(4) Recent graduates of public health, medical, 
nursing, social work, or related health-services pro-
grams. 
(d) HIRING.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall— 
(1) hire the employees authorized under this 
section in accordance with section 306(b)(1) of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5149(b)(1)); and 
(2) use relevant statutory authority in effect on 
the day before the date of enactment of this Act to 
allow regional offices and site managers to advertise 
for and hire employees under this section. 
(e) TRAINING.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency may make appropriate 
adjustments to the standard training course curriculum 
for employees under this section to include on-site 
trainings at regional offices of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, virtual trainings, or trainings con-
ducted by other Federal, State, local, or Tribal agencies 
to fulfill functions described in subsection (b). 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of 
the 
Federal 
Emergency 
Management 
Agency 
$6,500,000,000, for each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 
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2022, of which not less than $1,500,000,000 may be used 
each fiscal year for the administrative costs associated 
with carrying out this section. 
(g) ELIGIBILITY FOR HIRING.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, for the purposes of hiring employ-
ees under this section— 
(1) any individual who is authorized to work in 
the United States shall not be disqualified for ap-
pointment to a position under this section based 
solely on his or her citizenship status; and 
(2) bankruptcy or poor credit determined by the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency to be arising from the coronavirus pub-
lic health emergency shall not disqualify any indi-
vidual for appointment to a position under this sec-
tion. 
(h) ELECTIONS.—Section 403 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3)(D) by striking the sub-
paragraph and inserting the following: 
‘‘(D) provision of temporary or supple-
mentary facilities for schools, official govern-
ment polling places, and other essential commu-
nity services;’’; and 
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(2) in subsection (d)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) stipends for temporary workers of the 
State, tribal, or local government conducting 
nonpartisan official election poll worker serv-
ices.’’. 
(i) COORDINATION.—The Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency shall implement this Act and the amend-
ments made by this Act in coordination with the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services, the Director of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention, and other Fed-
eral agencies as determined appropriate. 
(j) CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘coronavirus public 
health emergency’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 4(g). 
Æ 
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