IB 
Union Calendar No. 177 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1612 
[Report No. 111–312, Part I] 
To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization 
of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide 
service-learning opportunities on public lands, help restore the Nation’s 
natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic re-
sources, train a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts, 
and promote the value of public service. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 19, 2009 
Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself and Mr. RAHALL) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addi-
tion to the Committees on Agriculture and Education and Labor, 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 com-
mittee concerned 
OCTOBER 23, 2009 
Additional sponsors: Mr. DOGGETT, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. INSLEE, Ms. 
BORDALLO, Mr. HOLT, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. SNYDER, Ms. LEE of 
California, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. WALZ, Mr. MASSA, Mr. ROTHMAN of New 
Jersey, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. FILNER, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. 
HIRONO, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MARKEY of 
Massachusetts, Mr. PIERLUISI, Mr. HONDA, Mr. EHLERS, Ms. KAPTUR, 
Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. FRANK of Massa-
chusetts, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. CUMMINGS, 
Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. BLUMENAUER, 
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. 
KUCINICH, Mr. BACA, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. 
LUJA´N, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. MARKEY of Colorado, Mr. HODES, Mr. 
GONZALEZ, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mr. TONKO, 
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN, Ms. MOORE of Wis-
consin, Mr. KISSELL, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. DICKS, 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Lands Service 
Corps Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. REFERENCE. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of 
an amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section 
or other provision of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.; title II of Public Law 91–378). 
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC LANDS CORPS ACT 
OF 1993. 
(a) NAME AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION CHANGES.— 
The Act is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Public Lands Corps’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘Public Lands Service 
Corps’’; 
(2) in the title heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC 
LANDS CORPS’’ and inserting ‘‘PUBLIC 
LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 
(3) in the section 204— 
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(A) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘PUBLIC
LANDS
CORPS’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; and 
(B) in the heading of subsection (a), by 
striking ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS CORPS’’ and inserting 
‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 
(4) in the heading of paragraph (2) of section 
210(a), by striking ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS CORPS’’ and in-
serting ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 
(5) by striking ‘‘conservation center’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘residential conservation 
center’’; and 
(6) 
by 
striking 
‘‘appropriate 
conservation 
projects’’ each place it appears (except in paragraph 
(1) of section 204(e) as so redesignated) and inserting 
‘‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conserva-
tion projects’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Section 202(a) of the Act is amended 
as follows: 
(1) In paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the natural 
and cultural’’ and inserting ‘‘natural and cultural’’. 
(2) By redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and by inserting 
after paragraph (1) the following: 
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‘‘(2) Participants in conservation corps receive 
meaningful training and their experience with such 
corps provides preparation for careers in public serv-
ice. 
‘‘(3) Young men and women who participate in 
the rehabilitation and restoration of our Nation’s nat-
ural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, 
and scenic treasures will gain an increased apprecia-
tion and understanding of our public lands and herit-
age, and of the value of public service, and are likely 
to become life-long advocates for those values.’’. 
(3) In paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by in-
serting ‘‘, cultural, historic, archaeological, rec-
reational, and scenic’’ after ‘‘Many facilities and nat-
ural’’. 
(4) By adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) The work of conservation corps can benefit 
communities adjacent to public lands and facilities 
through renewed civic engagement and participation 
by corps participants and those they serve; improved 
student achievement; and restoration and rehabilita-
tion of public assets.’’. 
(c) PURPOSE.—Section 202(b) of the Act is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to— 
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‘‘(1) introduce young men and women to public 
service while furthering their understanding and ap-
preciation of the Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, 
archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources; 
‘‘(2) facilitate training and recruitment opportu-
nities in which service is credited as qualifying expe-
rience for careers in public land management; 
‘‘(3) instill in a new generation of young men 
and women from across the Nation, including those 
from diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in 
natural and cultural resource stewardship and public 
service by allowing them to work directly with profes-
sionals in agencies responsible for the management of 
the Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archae-
ological, recreational, and scenic resources; 
‘‘(4) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appro-
priate natural and cultural resources conservation 
projects where such projects are not being performed 
by existing employees; 
‘‘(5) assist governments and Indian tribes in 
performing research and public education tasks asso-
ciated with natural and cultural resources; 
‘‘(6) expand educational opportunities by re-
warding individuals who participate in national 
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service with an increased ability to pursue higher 
education or job training; and 
‘‘(7) promote public understanding and appre-
ciation of the individual missions and natural and 
cultural resources conservation work of the Federal 
agencies through training opportunities, community 
service and outreach, and other appropriate means.’’. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—Section 203 of the Act is amended 
as follows: 
(1) By amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RE-
SOURCES CONSERVATION PROJECT.—The term ‘appro-
priate natural and cultural resources conservation 
project’ means any project for the conservation, res-
toration, construction, or rehabilitation of natural, 
cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or sce-
nic resources. 
‘‘(2) 
CORPS
AND
PUBLIC
LANDS
SERVICE 
CORPS.—The terms ‘Corps’ and ‘Public Lands Service 
Corps’ mean the Public Lands Service Corps estab-
lished under section 204 of this title.’’. 
(2) By striking paragraphs (3) and (8). 
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(3) By redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), 
(7), (9), (10), (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs (3) 
through (11), respectively. 
(4) By amending paragraph (7) (as so redesig-
nated) to read as follows: 
‘‘(7) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘public lands’ 
means any lands or waters (or interest therein) 
owned or administered by the United States, includ-
ing those areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great 
Lakes and their connecting waters, and submerged 
lands over which the United States exercises jurisdic-
tion, except that such term does not include any In-
dian lands.’’. 
(5) In paragraph (8) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) makes available for audit for each fis-
cal year for which the qualified youth or con-
servation corps receives Federal funds under this 
Act, information pertaining to the expenditure of 
the funds, any matching funds, and participant 
demographics.’’. 
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(6) In paragraph (10) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) with respect to the National Marine 
Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other coastal, 
estuarine, and marine habitats, and other lands 
and facilities administered by the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, the Sec-
retary of Commerce.’’. 
(7) By adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(12) RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS.— 
The term ‘residential conservation centers’ means the 
facilities authorized under section 205. 
‘‘(13) CONSULTING
INTERN.—The term ‘con-
sulting intern’ means a consulting intern selected 
under section 206. 
‘‘(14) PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PARTICI-
PANT.—The term ‘Public Lands Service Corps partic-
ipant’, ‘Corps participant’ or ‘participant of the 
Corps’ means an individual who is enrolled in the 
Public Lands Service Corps pursuant to section 
204(b).’’. 
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(e) PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 204 of the Act is amended as follows: 
(1) In subsection (a)— 
(A) in the heading, by adding at the end 
‘‘PROGRAM’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘and the Department of Ag-
riculture a’’ and inserting ‘‘, the Department of 
Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a 
service and training program titled the’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a 
department-level office to coordinate Public 
Lands Service Corps activities within the De-
partment of the Interior. The Secretary of Agri-
culture shall establish within the U.S. Forest 
Service an office to coordinate Public Lands 
Service Corps activities within that agency. The 
Secretary of Commerce shall establish within the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion an office to coordinate Public Lands Service 
Corps activities within that agency. The Sec-
retary of each department shall designate a Pub-
lic Lands Service Corps coordinator for each 
agency within that department that administers 
Public Lands Service Corps activities.’’. 
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(2) By amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary may enroll in the 
Public Lands Service Corps individuals between the ages 
of 16 and 25, inclusive, who are either hired by an agency 
under the Secretary’s jurisdiction to perform work author-
ized under this Act or who are members of a qualified youth 
or conservation corps with which the Secretary has entered 
into a cooperative agreement to perform work authorized 
under this Act. The Secretary may also enroll resource as-
sistants and consulting interns. All enrollees shall be consid-
ered Public Lands Service Corps participants, and may be 
enrolled for a term of up to 24 months of service, which 
may be served over more than two calendar years. The indi-
viduals may be enrolled without regard to the civil service 
and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 
States. The Secretary may establish a preference for the en-
rollment in the Corps of individuals who are economically, 
physically, or educationally disadvantaged.’’. 
(3) In subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘contracts and’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘natural and cultural 
resources’’ after ‘‘appropriate’’; and 
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(iii) by striking ‘‘subsection (d)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (e)’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary shall under-
take, or enter into cooperative agreements to provide, 
a program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by 
publicizing Corps opportunities through high schools, 
colleges, employment centers, electronic media, and 
other appropriate institutions or means.’’; and 
(D) by amending paragraph (3) (as so re-
designated) to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) PREFERENCE.—For purposes of entering 
into cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or 
conservation corps located in a specific area that have 
a substantial portion of members who are economi-
cally, physically, or educationally disadvantaged to 
carry out projects within the area.’’. 
(4) By redesignating subsections (d) through (f) 
as subsections (e) through (g), respectively. 
(5) By inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(d) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall establish a train-
ing program based at appropriate residential conservation 
centers or at other suitable regional Federal or other appro-
priate facilities or sites to provide training for Corps par-
ticipants. The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) ensure that the duration and comprehen-
siveness of the training program shall be commensu-
rate with the projects Corps participants are expected 
to undertake; 
‘‘(2) develop department-wide standards for the 
program that include training in— 
‘‘(A) resource stewardship; 
‘‘(B) ethics for those in public service; 
‘‘(C) principles of national service; 
‘‘(D) health and safety; 
‘‘(E) teamwork and leadership; and 
‘‘(F) interpersonal communications; 
‘‘(3) direct each participating agency to develop 
agency-specific training guidelines to ensure that 
Corps participants enrolled to undertake projects for 
that agency are appropriately informed about matters 
specific to that agency, including— 
‘‘(A) the history and organization of the 
agency; 
‘‘(B) the agency’s core values; and 
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