National Climate Service Corps and Careers Network Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4220 | Sponsor: Rep. Chu, Judy (D-CA)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
National Climate Service Corps and Careers Network Act of  2021
This bill establishes the Climate Resiliency Service Corps as a national service program to assist communities in mitigating the effects climate change and establishes the Climate Careers Network to connect individuals with jobs in green industries.

To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish a 
   National Climate Service Corps to help communities withstand and 
   respond to changes in the Earth's climate with respect to natural 
                   disasters, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Climate Service Corps and 
Careers Network Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Every region of the United States is confronting the 
        effects of climate change and related natural disasters, 
        including extreme heat and droughts, heavy rains and flooding, 
        hurricanes and tornadoes, acidification of the oceans and sea 
        level rise, wildfires, and mudslides, among other effects.
            (2) These changes affect the health, agriculture, food 
        supply, infrastructure, energy supply, water quality and water 
        supply, and have the potential to reduce the standard of living 
        and quality of life in the United States.
            (3) The Fourth National Climate Assessment estimates that 
        low-income communities will be disproportionately impacted by 
        climate change through higher rates of adverse health 
        conditions, greater exposure to environmental hazards, and more 
        severe impacts and longer recovery from natural disasters.
            (4) The Fourth National Climate Assessment estimates that--
                    (A) climate change will shrink the American economy 
                by up to 10 percent by the year 2100 and will result in 
                losses up to $141,000,000,000 from heat-related deaths, 
                $118,000,000,000 from sea level rise, and 
                $32,000,000,000 from infrastructure damage; and
                    (B) proactive adaptation initiatives yield benefits 
                in excess of their costs in both the near term and long 
                term.
            (5) The frequency and severity of natural disasters taking 
        place each year is steadily and significantly increasing. In 
        1970, there were 78 registered natural disasters. In 2017, 
        there were 335 natural disasters, impacting approximately 
        96,000,000 people and costing the United States more than 
        $306,000,000,000.
            (6) Service and Conservation Corps, which are descended 
        from the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, are trained 
        for and have experience with the four stages of disaster: 
        mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
            (7) During the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change did not 
        stop. The existing network of 137 Service and Conservation 
        Corps continued to respond to the needs of their communities. 
        This included fighting wildfires to controlling erosion.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL CLIMATE SERVICE CORPS.

    (a) In General.--Section 122(a) of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572(a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs 
        (5) and (6), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(4) National climate service corps.--
                    ``(A) Purpose.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The recipient may carry 
                        out national service projects through a Climate 
                        Service Corps that improves community 
                        adaptation, mitigation, preparedness, response, 
                        and recovery from natural disaster and other 
                        trends related to climate change through 
                        activities such as those described in 
                        subparagraph (B) and improves performance on 
                        the indicators described in subparagraph (C).
                            ``(ii) Selection priority.--In selecting 
                        national service projects to carry out under 
                        this paragraph, the recipient shall, to the 
                        extent practicable, carry out projects in 
                        communities that are disproportionately 
                        impacted by climate and severe weather events, 
                        including from communities of color, low-income 
                        communities, and tribal communities.
                    ``(B) Activities.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A Climate Service Corps 
                        described in this paragraph may carry out 
                        activities, including--
                                    ``(I) assessing community 
                                resilience to the effects of climate 
                                change;
                                    ``(II) supporting climate 
                                adaptation and mitigation of the 
                                negative effects of climate change;
                                    ``(III) environmental 
                                sustainability and resiliency;
                                    ``(IV) emergency preparedness;
                                    ``(V) promoting sustainable and 
                                resilient communities;
                                    ``(VI) assisting with recovery from 
                                disasters to rebuild in a manner that 
                                provides improved resilience or 
                                adaptation for future climate impacts;
                                    ``(VII) assisting with prevention, 
                                recovery, or restoration of wildland, 
                                rangeland, and wildland-urban interface 
                                areas from the effects of wildfire and 
                                associated impacts due to the effects 
                                of climate change; or
                                    ``(VIII) other relevant activities, 
                                as determined by the Corporation.
                            ``(ii) Participation.--In addition to the 
                        requirements for participants under section 
                        137, in carrying out national service projects 
                        under this paragraph, the recipient shall, to 
                        the extent practicable--
                                    ``(I) select as participants 
                                individuals who are at least 16 but not 
                                more than 30 years of age (including 
                                out of-school youth and other 
                                disadvantaged youth (such as 
                                individuals who are aging out of foster 
                                care, individuals who have limited 
                                English proficiency, homeless 
                                individuals, and individuals with 
                                disabilities)), and veterans who have 
                                not reached the age of 36, at the time 
                                of beginning the term of service; and
                                    ``(II) provide each participant 
                                with team-based, highly structured, and 
                                adult-supervised work experience, 
                                education, career guidance, and 
                                counseling, and employment training, 
                                support services, and mentoring.
                    ``(C) National climate service corps indicators.--
                The indicators for a Climate Resiliency Service Corps 
                program described in this paragraph are--
                            ``(i) the number of acres, miles, homes, 
                        buildings or infrastructure projects built, 
                        improved, or treated for improved resilience 
                        and adaptation;
                            ``(ii) the number of individuals educated 
                        about and prepared for disasters and other 
                        trends related to climate change;
                            ``(iii) the number of individuals assisted, 
                        including those rescued, evacuated, or provided 
                        shelter;
                            ``(iv) the number of tons of debris 
                        collected;
                            ``(v) the number of homes or buildings 
                        treated, including those boarded up, tarped, 
                        mucked, or gutted during disaster response;
                            ``(vi) the number of acres, homes, or 
                        buildings restored during disaster recovery;
                            ``(vii) the number of trees and plants 
                        planted;
                            ``(viii) the number of infrastructure 
                        projects undertaken to improve resilience 
                        against future natural disasters;
                            ``(ix) the number of economically 
                        disadvantaged individuals with access to job 
                        training and other skill enhancement;
                            ``(x) the number of economically 
                        disadvantaged individuals with access to 
                        information about job placement services;
                            ``(xi) the number of individuals receiving 
                        education or training in environmentally 
                        conscious practices;
                            ``(xii) any additional indicator relating 
                        to natural disaster and other trends that the 
                        Corporation establishes, in consultation (as 
                        appropriate), with the Secretaries of the 
                        Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, 
                        Commerce, and Defense, the Director of the 
                        Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the 
                        Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
                        Agency; and
                            ``(xiii) any additional local indicator 
                        applicable to a particular recipient and on 
                        which an improvement in performance is needed 
                        related to climate change.
                    ``(D) Living allowance.--Notwithstanding section 
                140(a), no participant shall receive a living allowance 
                that is less than the equivalent of $15 per hour.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 122 of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572), as amended by 
subsection (a), is further amended--
            (1) in paragraph (b)(3), by striking ``or (5)'' and 
        inserting ``(5), or (6)''; and
            (2) in paragraph (c)(1), by striking ``(5)'' and inserting 
        ``(6)''.

SEC. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE.

    (a) In General.--Each recipient of a subgrant under section 122(a) 
of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572(a)) 
that receives such subgrant for the purpose of establishing a National 
Climate Service Corps in a subdivision of a State shall ensure that 
such Corps forms an Environmental Justice Task Force (in this section 
referred to as the ``Task Force'') to advise and consult on community-
based projects and recruitment.
    (b) Duties.--Each Task Force shall have an advisory role in agenda-
setting and shall prioritize projects that address environmental 
justice and benefit communities that have suffered systemic racial, 
social, and economic injustices, and face a disproportionate burden of 
adverse human health or environmental effects.
    (c) Composition.--Each Task force shall include--
            (1) local elected officials;
            (2) local educators;
            (3) faith-based leaders;
            (4) veterans advocates;
            (5) State and local service corps leadership; and
            (6) community leaders.

SEC. 5. COOPERATION AMONG STATES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

    (a) Agreements Between States.--States that provide subgrants to 
State or nonprofit entities that engage in National Climate Service 
Corps activities under section 122(a)(4) of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990, added by section 3(2), or States that have 
nonprofit organizations receiving funding under the national service 
laws (as defined in section 101 of the National and Community Service 
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511)) and that are engaging in similar 
activities (referred to as ``participating States'') may enter into a 
compact with other participating States to provide for mutual 
cooperation to manage any emergency or disaster that is duly declared 
by the affected State.
    (b) Participating State Responsibilities.--
            (1) Requests for assistance.--The authorized representative 
        of a participating State may request assistance of the National 
        Climate Service Corps or of such nonprofit organizations of 
        another participating State by contacting the authorized 
        representative of that State. The provisions of the compact 
        described in subsection (a) shall only apply to requests for 
        assistance made by and to such authorized representatives.
            (2) Consultation.--The State officials of participating 
        States shall ensure--
                    (A) that there is frequent consultation between 
                State officials who are assigned emergency management 
                responsibilities, and other appropriate representatives 
                of the participating States, with the relevant 
                officials of affected jurisdictions and with the 
                relevant officials of the Federal Government; and
                    (B) the free exchange of information, plans, and 
                resource records relating to emergency capabilities.

SEC. 6. CLIMATE RESILIENCY AMERICORPS VISTA.

    Section 103(a) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 
U.S.C. 4953(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) after subsection (13), by adding the following:
            ``(14) in addressing the capacity of low-income communities 
        to implement projects that increase resilience to shocks and 
        stressors resulting from climate change.''.

SEC. 7. NONCOMPETITIVE HIRING AUTHORITY.

    A qualified corps member under section 122 of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572) shall be eligible for 
appointment in the competitive service in the same manner as a Peace 
Corps volunteer as prescribed in Executive Order 11103 (22 U.S.C. 2504 
note, relating to Providing for the Appointment of Former Peace Corps 
Volunteers to the Civilian Career Services).

SEC. 8. CLIMATE CAREERS NETWORK.

    (a) In General.--The Corporation (acting through the Employers of 
National Service initiative), in consultation with the Departments of 
Energy, Agriculture, Education, Labor, Interior, Transportation, 
Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other relevant 
Federal agencies, as determined to be appropriate by the Corporation, 
shall establish a program to be known as the ``Climate Careers 
Network'' to carry out the activities described in subsection (b) for 
the purposes of--
            (1) addressing the challenge of job placement in a clean 
        energy economy; and
            (2) supporting individuals--
                    (A) who have completed service in the National 
                Climate Service Corps; and
                    (B) of all ages and backgrounds who want to get 
                involved in growing green industries in the United 
                States.
    (b) Activities of the Climate Careers Network.--The activities 
described in this subsection are as follows:
            (1) Creating and maintaining a database that outlines 
        opportunities for individuals who have completed service in the 
        National Climate Service Corps and other individuals, and that 
        includes information related to opportunities for those 
        individuals in a clean energy economy.
            (2) Establishing direct partnerships between the Climate 
        Careers Network program and existing infrastructure for 
        relevant training and job placement in order to connect 
        individuals with new jobs and lifelong careers, such as 
        partnerships with 2 or more of the following:
                    (A) Labor organizations or joint labor management 
                organizations.
                    (B) Employers.
                    (C) High schools and adult education programs.
                    (D) Nonprofit organizations with demonstrated 
                success in areas of clean energy and climate change 
                mitigation activities.
                    (E) Institutions of higher education.
                    (F) Community development organizations.
                    (G) State and local workforce development boards 
                established under title I of the Workforce Innovation 
                and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.).
                    (H) Career and technical education providers, 
                including those that award credentials and build career 
                pathways.
                    (I) Other entities that may provide relevant direct 
                employment opportunities.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Corporation.--The term ``Corporation'' means the 
        Corporation for National and Community Service established 
        under section 191 of the National and Community Service Act of 
        1990 (42 U.S.C. 12651).
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).

SEC. 9. MATCHING FUNDS WAIVER.

    The matching funds requirements under section 212(a)(1) of the 
Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1729(a)(1)) and section 
121(e) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12571(e)) shall be waived for projects carried out using amounts made 
available under this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) $2,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
        2026 to carry out section 3;
            (2) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 
        to carry out section 8; and
            (3) for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, such sums 
        as may be necessary to provide national service educational 
        awards under subtitle D of title I of the National and 
        Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.) for the 
        members of the National Climate Service Corps for such fiscal 
        year.

SEC. 11. NATIONAL CLIMATE SERVICE CORPS DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``National Climate Service Corps'' means the 
National Climate Service Corps described in section 122(a)(4) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572(a)(4)), as 
added by section 3.
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