I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6702 
To amend the national service laws to prioritize national service programs 
and projects that are directly related to the response to and recovery 
from the COVID–19 public health emergency, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 5, 2020 
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina (for himself, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mr. 
BERA, Ms. SCHRIER, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. LARSON of 
Connecticut, Ms. DEGETTE, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. CICILLINE, Ms. BLUNT 
ROCHESTER, Mr. PANETTA, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. TONKO, 
Mr. SARBANES, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. KING of New York, and Ms. KUSTER 
of New Hampshire) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the national service laws to prioritize national 
service programs and projects that are directly related 
to the response to and recovery from the COVID–19 
public health emergency, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pandemic Response 
and Opportunity Through National Service Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States has a strong history of 
citizen response to national calls to service in order 
to help the Nation recover in times of crisis. 
(2) More than 80 years ago, the Nation rose to 
the challenge of the Great Depression with the cre-
ation of citizen service programs like the Civilian 
Conservation Corps (referred to in this section as 
the ‘‘CCC’’) and the Works Progress Administration 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘WPA’’). 
(3) Millions of participants benefitted from paid 
employment and opportunities to develop their skills 
while constructing national parks and public lands 
infrastructure and producing cultural works still en-
joyed today. 
(4) Following decades of evolution, incor-
porating policies of both political parties, today’s na-
tional service programs carry on the legacy of the 
CCC and WPA. 
(5) Founded in 1990, the Corporation for Na-
tional and Community Service today coordinates na-
tional service by individuals in the United States 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
across every State and territory, partnering with 
State-level commissions and supporting locally driv-
en services in partnership with nongovernmental or-
ganizations and State governments. 
(6) National service programs provide public 
health, education, employment training, and nutri-
tion services for which the Nation has a critical need 
in the current crisis. 
(7) The signature programs of the Corporation 
for National and Community Service, which are the 
AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps Na-
tional 
Civilian 
Community 
Corps, 
AmeriCorps 
VISTA, and National Senior Service Corps pro-
grams, can and should be expanded to meet current 
needs. 
(8) The novel coronavirus pandemic has in-
fected and killed individuals in every State and terri-
tory, causing more than 1,000,000 cases and 65,000 
deaths so far. 
(9) In response, States, tribal governments, and 
cities across the country have closed down busi-
nesses, schools, and public events, leading to a dra-
matic drop in economic activity and a sharp pro-
jected decline in the United States economy. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(10) More than 30,000,000 applications for un-
employment benefits have been filed in recent weeks, 
with weekly filings repeatedly exceeding historic 
record levels. 
(11) More than 1 in every 10 adults in the 
United States has applied for unemployment insur-
ance since the crisis began. 
(12) Public health leaders agree that to safely 
reopen the Nation and revive its economy, a massive 
effort to test millions of individuals in the United 
States and to trace contacts of those who are or may 
be infected is needed. 
(13) To recover, the Nation also needs mean-
ingful employment opportunities, as well as a signifi-
cant expansion of the human capital working to ad-
dress community needs around public health, behav-
ioral health, hunger, education, and conservation. 
(14) As the Nation works to respond to and re-
cover from the current twin challenges of a public 
health pandemic and an economic crisis, national 
service presents a unique opportunity for flexible, lo-
cally driven responses to meet State and local public 
health, employment, and recovery needs. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(1) to provide for 750,000 participants, over 3 
years, in national service programs, such as the 
Public Land Corps (also known as the 21st Century 
Conservation Service Corps) programs and other 
AmeriCorps programs, that will provide services in 
response to the pandemic and economic crisis, in-
cluding to help satisfy the projected need for as 
many as 300,000 additional public health workers; 
(2) to ensure that participant allowances cover 
the reasonable cost of participation and provide par-
ticipants with economic and educational opportunity; 
(3) to stabilize such national service programs 
during economic crisis; and 
(4) to support opportunities for all individuals 
in the United States to engage in service. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) NCSA.—Section 101 of the National and Com-
munity Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (13) through 
(35) and paragraphs (36) through (49) as para-
graphs (14) through (36) and (38) through (51), re-
spectively; 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (12) the fol-
lowing: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(13) COVID–19 DEFINITIONS.— 
‘‘(A) COVID–19 EMERGENCY
RESPONSE 
AND RECOVERY PERIOD.—The term ‘COVID– 
19 emergency response and recovery period’ 
means the period beginning on the first day of 
the COVID–19 public health emergency and 
ending at the end of fiscal year 2023. 
‘‘(B) COVID–19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMER-
GENCY.—The term ‘COVID–19 public health 
emergency’ means the public health emergency 
declared by the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services under section 319 of the Pub-
lic Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on 
January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID– 
19.’’; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (36), as so re-
designated, the following: 
‘‘(37) PUBLIC LAND CORPS.—The term ‘Public 
Lands Corps’ means the Corps established in section 
204 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 
U.S.C. 1723).’’. 
(b) DVSA.—Section 421 of the Domestic Volunteer 
Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5061) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (19), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(2) in paragraph (20), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(21)(A) the term ‘COVID–19 emergency re-
sponse and recovery period’ means the period begin-
ning on the first day of the COVID–19 public health 
emergency and ending at the end of fiscal year 
2023; and 
‘‘(B) the term ‘COVID–19 public health emer-
gency’ means the public health emergency declared 
by the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect 
to COVID–19; and 
‘‘(22) the term ‘Public Lands Corps’ means the 
Corps established in section 204 of the Public Lands 
Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1723).’’. 
SEC. 5. PRIORITIZING RESPONSE SERVICES. 
(a) AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL.— 
(1) NATIONAL
SERVICE
PRIORITIES.—Section 
122(f) of the National and Community Service Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572(f)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by adding at 
the end the following: ‘‘For fiscal years 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
2020 through 2023, the Corporation shall 
include, in the national service priorities, 
the priorities described in paragraph (5).’’; 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by adding at 
the end the following: ‘‘For fiscal years 
2020 through 2023, each State shall in-
clude, in the State priorities, the priorities 
described in section (5).’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) EMERGENCY PRIORITIES.—For fiscal years 
2020 through 2023, the priorities established under 
paragraph (1) for national service programs shall 
provide that the Corporation and the States, as ap-
propriate, shall give priority to entities submitting 
applications— 
‘‘(A) that propose activities directly related 
to the response to and recovery from the 
COVID–19 public health emergency, such as 
the provision of— 
‘‘(i) public health services, including 
contact tracing and support for isolation 
and quarantine activities; 
‘‘(ii) emergency logistics; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(iii) work that furthers the capacity 
of State (including territorial), tribal, and 
local health departments and the rec-
ommendations of the Director of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention; 
‘‘(iv) workforce investment activities 
and reemployment services; 
‘‘(v) education, including enrichment 
and adult education and literacy activities; 
‘‘(vi) jobs for youth in preserving and 
restoring nature; and 
‘‘(vii) services to address food insecu-
rity; 
‘‘(B) who— 
‘‘(i) are current (as of the date of the 
application submission) or former recipi-
ents of financial assistance under the pro-
gram for which the application is sub-
mitted; and 
‘‘(ii) are able to provide services di-
rectly related to the response and recovery 
described in subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(C) to the maximum extent practicable, if 
the entities are proposing programs that serve, 
or proposing to give priority for positions to ap-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
plicants from, underserved populations, such as 
economically disadvantaged individuals, minor-
ity individuals, individuals who have had con-
tact with the juvenile justice system, Indians, 
veterans, and individuals whose abilities are not 
typical, such as individuals with intellectual or 
developmental disabilities; and 
‘‘(D) that propose to give priority for posi-
tions to applicants who— 
‘‘(i) were serving outside of the 
United States in the Peace Corps, the J. 
William Fulbright Educational Exchange 
Program referenced in section 112 of the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Ex-
change Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2460), or 
the program under this subtitle, subtitle E, 
or part A of title I of the Domestic Volun-
teer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 
et seq.); but 
‘‘(ii) ended their terms of service 
early, or returned to the United States be-
fore the end of their terms of service, due 
to the COVID–19 public health emer-
gency.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(b) AMERICORPS NCCC.—Section 157 of the Na-
tional and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12617) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(C) SURGE
CAPACITY
AND
PRIORITY 
PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(i) SURGE
CAPACITY
PROJECTS.— 
The Corporation and the Director of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion shall develop, and the Corporation 
shall approve, a proposal for public health 
surge capacity projects. In carrying out the 
projects, the Corporation and the Director 
shall develop and deploy public health 
surge capacity teams. 
‘‘(ii) PRIORITY PROJECTS.—For fiscal 
years 2020 through 2023, the Corporation 
shall give priority to entities submitting 
applications for projects under this subtitle 
in the same manner as the Corporation 
gives priority to entities submitting appli-
cations for national service programs 
under section 122(f)(5).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The 
campus’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in 
paragraph (3), the campus’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) 
SURGE
CAPACITY
AND
PRIORITY 
PROJECTS.—The 
Corporation 
shall 
assign 
the 
projects described in clauses (i) and (ii) of sub-
section (b)(1)(C) to specified Corps campuses.’’. 
(c) AMERICORPS VISTA.—Section 109 of the Do-
mestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4960) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘For fiscal 
years 2020 through 2023, the Corporation shall give pri-
ority to entities submitting applications for projects or 
programs under this part in the same manner as the Cor-
poration gives priority to entities submitting applications 
for national service programs under section 122(f)(5) of 
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12572(f)(5)).’’. 
SEC. 6. STRENGTHENING OPPORTUNITY. 
(a) ALLOWANCES.— 
(1) DOMESTIC
VOLUNTEER
SERVICE
ACT
OF 
1973.—Section 105(b) of the Domestic Volunteer 
Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955(b)) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘95 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘175 percent’’; 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘105 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘185 per-
cent’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4)(A) A stipend or allowance under this sec-
tion or an allowance under section 140 of the Na-
tional and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12594) shall not be increased as a result of 
amendments made by the Pandemic Response and 
Opportunity Through National Service Act, or any 
other amendment made to this section or that sec-
tion 140, respectively, unless the funds appropriated 
for carrying out this part or subtitle C of the Na-
tional and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12571 et seq.), respectively, are sufficient to 
maintain for the fiscal year involved a number of 
participants to serve under this part or that subtitle 
C, respectively, that is at least equal to the number 
of such participants so serving during the preceding 
fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) In the event that sufficient appropriations 
for any fiscal year (consistent with subparagraph 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(A)) are not available to increase any stipend or al-
lowance under this section or allowance under sec-
tion 140 of the National and Community Service Act 
of 1990 to the minimum amount specified in this 
section or under that section 140, respectively, the 
Director shall increase the stipend or allowance in-
volved to such amount as appropriations for such 
year permit consistent with subparagraph (A).’’. 
(2) NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT 
OF 1990.—Section 158(b) of the National and Com-
munity Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12618(b)) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Director’’ the first 
place it appears and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘100 percent’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘175 percent’’. 
(b) NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.— 
Section 147(a) of the National and Community Service 
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12603(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Except as provided’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘shall receive a national service 
educational award’’ and all that follows through ‘‘ap-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
propriations)’’ and inserting ‘‘shall be entitled to a 
national service educational award equal to the 
award amount specified in paragraph (2)’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) AWARD AMOUNT.—The award referred to 
in paragraph (1), payable to an individual described 
in such paragraph, shall be in an amount that is 
equal to twice the amount of the national average of 
the cost for in-State tuition and fees at public, 4- 
year institutions of higher education, for the award 
year for which the national service position is ap-
proved by the Corporation. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 148(h).’’. 
(c) TAX PROVISIONS.— 
(1) INCOME TAX EXCLUSION FOR LIVING AL-
LOWANCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Part III of subchapter 
B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by inserting after section 
139H the following new section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 139I. LIVING ALLOWANCE FOR NATIONAL SERVICE 
PARTICIPANTS. 
‘‘Gross income does not include the amount of any 
living allowance provided under section 105(b) of the Do-
mestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955(b)) 
or section 140(a) or 158(b) of the National and Commu-
nity Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12594(a), 
12618(b)).’’. 
(B) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections for part III of subchapter B of chapter 
1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 139H the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 139I. Living allowance for national service participants.’’. 
(C) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments 
made by this paragraph shall apply to taxable 
years beginning after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(2) EXCLUSION FROM GROSS INCOME OF NA-
TIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 117 of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to quali-
fied scholarships) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.— 
Gross income shall not include any payments from the Na-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
tional Service Trust established under section 145 of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12601), including the national service educational award 
described in subtitle D of title I of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
12601 et seq.).’’. 
(B) EXCLUSION OF DISCHARGE OF STU-
DENT LOAN DEBT.—Subsection (f) of section 
108 of such Code is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) PAYMENTS
UNDER
NATIONAL
SERVICE 
EDUCATIONAL AWARD PROGRAMS.—In the case of 
an individual, gross income shall not include any 
amount received as a national service educational 
award under subtitle D of title I of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 
et seq.).’’. 
(C) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments 
made by this paragraph shall apply to taxable 
years ending after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 7. INVITING PARTICIPATION. 
(a) COORDINATION
WITH
OTHER
YOUTH
PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 193A of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12651d) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(j) COORDINATION WITH OTHER YOUTH PRO-
GRAMS.— 
‘‘(1) COVERED PROGRAMS.—The term ‘covered 
program’ means— 
‘‘(A) the YouthBuild program carried out 
by the Secretary of Labor under section 171 of 
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3226); 
‘‘(B) the program of the Indian Youth 
Service Corps under section 210 of the Public 
Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1727b); 
‘‘(C) a youth conservation corps program 
under title I of the Act entitled ‘An Act to es-
tablish a pilot program in the Departments of 
the Interior and Agriculture designated as the 
Youth Conservation Corps, and for other pur-
poses’, approved August 13, 1970 (commonly 
known as the ‘Youth Conservation Corps Act of 
1970’; 16 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and 
‘‘(D) the National Guard Youth Challenge 
Program under section 509 of title 32, United 
States Code. 
‘‘(2) COORDINATION.—The Chief Executive Of-
ficer, in coordination with the Federal agency rep-
resentatives for covered programs, shall develop a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
plan and make recommendations in the plan to im-
prove coordination between covered programs and 
programs of the Corporation to meet the needs of 
underserved youth, such as economically disadvan-
taged youth, minority youth, youth who left school 
without a secondary school diploma, formerly incar-
cerated or court-involved youth, youth who are chil-
dren of an incarcerated parent, youth in foster care 
(including youth aging out of foster care), migrant 
youth, and other youth who are neither enrolled in 
secondary or postsecondary school or participating in 
the labor market.’’. 
(b) PLATFORM
FOR NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE 
CORPS.—Title IV of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act 
of 1973 is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 421 (42 U.S.C. 
5061), amended by section 4(b), as section 401; 
(2) by moving that section 401 so as to follow 
the title heading for title IV; and 
(3) by inserting after section 420 (42 U.S.C. 
5059) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 421. ONLINE SERVICE PLATFORM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Chief Executive Officer 
of the Corporation shall establish an online service plat-
form with a gateway to connect volunteers in the National 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
Senior Service Corps with service projects and enable the 
volunteers to carry out distance volunteer services. The 
platform shall be linked to and placed prominently on the 
website of the Corporation. The Corporation may enter 
into a contract with a public entity to create the platform. 
‘‘(b) TRAINING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Corporation shall pro-
vide training resources, information, and guidance 
for the volunteers on the platform. 
‘‘(2) INFORMATION.—The Corporation shall 
provide information to regional offices of the Cor-
poration about how to get volunteers in the National 
Senior Service Corps connected to the platform 
through the gateway. 
‘‘(3) GUIDANCE.—The Corporation shall issue 
guidance for the regional offices about how to trans-
fer the programs of the National Senior Service 
Corps to the platform. 
‘‘(4) OUTREACH.—The Corporation shall pro-
vide outreach services to promote the platform in-
cluding outreach to institutions of higher education, 
the Department of Veterans Affairs for mentorship 
projects, and State and local governments for com-
munity engagement projects.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(c) OUTREACH AND PROMOTION CAMPAIGN.—Sec-
tion 193A(g) of such Act is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(4) OUTREACH AND PROMOTION CAMPAIGN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out public 
awareness functions under this subsection, the 
Corporation shall carry out an outreach and 
promotion campaign to promote programs 
under the national service laws with opportuni-
ties to respond to the COVID–19 public health 
emergency, with the goal of maximizing aware-
ness of those programs among individuals ages 
17 through 30. 
‘‘(B) REPORT.—The Corporation shall pre-
pare and submit to Congress a report that— 
‘‘(i) evaluates the outreach and pro-
motion campaign; and 
‘‘(ii) contains— 
‘‘(I) an analysis of the measures 
and resources that would be required 
for the Corporation effectively to no-
tify individuals who are ages 17 
through 30 every 2 years of opportu-
nities under the national service laws 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
and steps to take to apply for those 
opportunities; 
‘‘(II) a description of how the 
Corporation would ensure those meas-
ures would enable the Corporation to 
provide that notification to targeted 
individuals from diverse geographic 
areas, including individuals who are 
ages 17 through 30 living in rural 
areas and on Indian lands (as defined 
in section 3 of the Native American 
Business Development, Trade Pro-
motion, and Tourism Act of 2000 (25 
U.S.C. 4302)); and 
‘‘(III) a recommendation regard-
ing whether the Corporation should 
make the notifications described in 
subclause (I).’’. 
(d) 
VOLUNTEER
GENERATION
FUND.—Section 
198P(d)(2) of the National and Community Service Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653p(d)(2)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: ‘‘With respect to grants made 
with funds appropriated as an additional amount under 
section 501(a)(4)(F), the minimum grant amount shall be 
not less than $250,000.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 8. ENSURING AGILITY. 
(a) 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
COVID–19
RE-
SPONSE AND RECOVERY PERIOD’’ after ‘‘COM-
MUNITIES’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) COVID–19 RESPONSE.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, an entity that receives assistance 
from the Corporation for any program under the national 
service laws (including a State Commission and an entity 
receiving subgrant funds) during the COVID–19 emer-
gency response and recovery period 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 Commission and a 
subgrant recipient) may be 100 percent.’’. 
(b) PILOT PROGRAM.—Section 126 of the National 
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12576) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) DIRECT PLACEMENTS DURING THE COVID–19 
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PERIOD.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 
178(h), during the COVID–19 emergency response 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
and recovery period, the Corporation shall imple-
ment a pilot program allowing State Commissions to 
directly place a portion of individuals who have ap-
proved national service positions in State national 
service programs in a manner to be determined by 
the Corporation. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—The Corporation shall prepare 
and submit a report to Congress at the end of the 
pilot program described in paragraph (1), containing 
recommendations about whether and how to con-
tinue such a program of direct placements.’’. 
(c) NO SUMMER LIMITATION DURING COVID–19 
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PERIOD.—Section 104 of the 
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4954) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
part, during the COVID–19 emergency response and re-
covery period, the Director may enroll full-time VISTA as-
sociates in a program, during any months of the year, 
under such terms and conditions as the Director shall de-
termine to be appropriate. Such individuals shall be as-
signed to projects that address the needs of underserved 
communities as a result of the COVID–19 public health 
emergency. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) In preparing reports relating to programs under 
this Act, the Director shall report on participants, costs, 
and accomplishments under the program under this sub-
section separately. 
‘‘(3) The limitation on funds appropriated for grants 
and contracts, as contained in section 108, shall not apply 
to the program under this subsection.’’. 
(d) VISTA LIMITATION APPLICABILITY.—Section 
108 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 
U.S.C. 4958) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Of funds ap-
propriated’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to subsection (c), 
of funds appropriated’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) RULE FOR COVID–19 RESPONSE AND RECOV-
ERY PERIOD.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), during the 
COVID–19 emergency response and recovery period, in 
order to address the needs of underserved communities re-
lated to the COVID–19 pandemic, of funds appropriated 
for the purpose of this part under section 501, not more 
than 75 percent may be obligated for the direct cost of 
supporting volunteers in programs and projects (including 
new programs and projects that begin after the date of 
enactment of the Pandemic Response and Opportunity 
Through National Service Act) carried out pursuant to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
this part, and such funds may be obligated regardless of 
when grant recipients commenced such programs and 
projects.’’. 
(e) AUGMENTATION
AND EXPANSION GRANTS.— 
Title VI of the National and Community Service Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 603. COVID–19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RECOV-
ERY PERIOD AUGMENTATION AND EXPAN-
SION GRANTS. 
‘‘During the COVID–19 emergency response and re-
covery period, the Corporation may award noncompetitive 
augmentation and expansion grants, at such time and in 
such manner as the Corporation determines appropriate.’’. 
(f) TERM OF SERVICE DURING COVID–19 EMER-
GENCY RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PERIOD.—Section 146 
of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12602) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) TERM OF SERVICE DURING COVID–19 EMER-
GENCY RESPONSE
AND RECOVERY PERIOD.—Notwith-
standing the aggregate limit under subsection (c), during 
the COVID–19 emergency response and recovery period, 
a participant may be eligible for 2 terms of service and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
may receive a national service educational award for each 
of those 2 terms of service.’’. 
(g) 
INCREASE
IN
LIMITATION
ON
GRANT 
AMOUNTS.— 
(1) INCREASE IN LIMITATION ON TOTAL GRANT 
AMOUNT.—Section 189(a) of the National and Com-
munity Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645c(a)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘$18,000 per full-time equiv-
alent position.’’ and inserting ‘‘for each full-time 
equivalent position, an amount equal to the sum 
of— 
‘‘(1) $7,500; and 
‘‘(2) the living allowance established under sec-
tion 140(b).’’. 
(2) WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR INCREASED LIMI-
TATION.—Section 189(e)(1) of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12645c(e)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘$19,500’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an amount equal to the sum of 
$10,000 plus the living allowance established under 
section 140(b)’’. 
(h) INCREASE
IN LIMITATION
ON TOTAL GRANT 
AMOUNT FOR EDUCATIONAL AWARD ONLY PROGRAM.— 
Section 129A(b) of the National and Community Service 
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12581a(b)) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
enter into an agreement with the Director to participate 
in the Corps for a period of not less than 3 months and 
not more than 6 months, as specified by the Director.’’. 
(j) NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS.—Part D of 
title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 
U.S.C. 5021 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 229. COVID–19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RECOV-
ERY PERIOD. 
‘‘(a) AGE REQUIREMENTS.—Notwithstanding section 
201(a), during the COVID–19 emergency response and 
recovery period, in order to address the critical needs of 
local communities across the country as a result of the 
COVID–19 pandemic, individuals who are 45 years of age 
or older may be enrolled as volunteers to provide services 
under part A. 
‘‘(b) 
INCOME
REQUIREMENTS.—Notwithstanding 
section 211(d), during the COVID–19 emergency response 
and recovery period, the terms ‘low-income person’ and 
‘person of low income’ under such section shall mean any 
person whose income is not more than 400 percent of the 
poverty line defined in section 673(2) of the Community 
Services Block Grant (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) and adjusted 
by the Director in the manner described in such section.’’. 
(k) FLEXIBILITY.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(1) POLICY OF MAXIMIZING FLEXIBILITY.—It is 
the sense of the Senate that, in carrying out activi-
ties under this Act, the Corporation for National 
and Community Service should, consistent with the 
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 
4950 et seq.) and the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501), maximize 
the flexibility of State Commissions (as defined in 
section 101 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12511)) to 
award and amend grants, consistent with the pur-
poses of this Act, and to rapidly enroll new individ-
uals to serve in programs under th national service 
laws. 
(2) REPORT
ON
ACTIVITIES
TO
MAXIMIZE 
FLEXIBILITY.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and in consultation 
with such State Commissions, the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Corporation for National and Commu-
nity Service shall prepare and submit to the Com-
mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
of the Senate and the Committee on Education and 
Labor of the House of Representatives a report con-
taining recommendations on what additional actions 
to maximize flexibility for such State Commissions 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
would strengthen the work of State Commissions 
and their grantees. 
(l) FURTHER EXPEDITING RAPID ENROLLMENT.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for 
National and Community Service shall review the Cor-
poration’s capacity and shall prepare and submit a report 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and 
Labor of the House of Representatives containing infor-
mation about whether a new unit within the Corporation 
for National and Community Service should be established 
to provide additional assistance or manage the enrollment 
process to ensure compliance with sections 189D and 199I 
of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12645g; 12655i) for incoming participants in na-
tional service programs, particularly new national service 
programs receiving program assistance for the first time. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) AMERICORPS
STATE
AND
NATIONAL; EDU-
CATIONAL AWARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 501(a)(2) of the Na-
tional and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12681(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal 
years 2010 through 2014’’ and all that follows and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2020, in addition to any 
amount appropriated before the date of enactment of 
the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through 
National Service Act, additional amounts of— 
‘‘(A) $14,000,000,000, to provide financial 
assistance under subtitle C of title I; and 
‘‘(B) $7,525,000,000, to provide national 
service educational awards under subtitle D of 
title I for the total of the number of partici-
pants described in section 121(f)(1) for fiscal 
years 2020 through 2023.’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
121(f)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12571(f)(1)) of 
such Act is amended by striking subparagraphs (A), 
(B) and (C) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) increase the number of the approved 
positions to 750,000 over the period of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2023; and 
‘‘(B) ensure that the increase described in 
subparagraph (A) is achieved through an appro-
priate balance of full- and part-time service po-
sitions;’’. 
(b) AMERICORPS NCCC.—Section 501(a)(3)(A) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(3)(A)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
years 2010 through 2014.’’ and inserting ‘‘in addition to 
any amount appropriated before the date of enactment of 
the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through Na-
tional 
Service 
Act, 
an 
additional 
amount 
of 
$1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.’’. 
(c) 
VOLUNTEER
GENERATION
FUND.—Section 
501(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(4)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘for each 
of fiscal years 2010 through 2014’’ and inserting 
‘‘for fiscal year 2020’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘section 
198P—’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘in addi-
tion to any amount appropriated before the date of 
enactment of the Pandemic Response and Oppor-
tunity Through National Service Act, an additional 
amount of $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.’’. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION
BY
THE CORPORATION
AND 
STATE COMMISSIONS.—Section 501(a)(5) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 12681(a)(5)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘such 
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2010 through 2014.’’ and inserting ‘‘in addition to 
any amount appropriated before the date of enact-
ment of the Pandemic Response and Opportunity 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:36 May 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6702.IH
H6702
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS