Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps Act
Bill: S.1370 | Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. (D-IL)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps Act or the RENEW Conservation Corps Act
This bill establishes the Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps program within the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture under which participants must implement eligible projects (e.g., planting trees or controlling invasive species).

To establish a Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work 
Conservation Corps in the Department of the Interior and the Department 
                of Agriculture, 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 ``Restore Employment in Natural and 
Environmental Work Conservation Corps Act'' or the ``RENEW Conservation 
Corps Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) as a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 
        pandemic, more than 40,000,000 people in the United States have 
        filed claims for unemployment benefits since March 2020, which 
        is a level of unemployment not seen since the Great Depression;
            (2) investments in fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration 
        and outdoor recreation infrastructure generate as many as 33 
        jobs per $1,000,000 invested, as demonstrated by the American 
        Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5; 123 
        Stat. 115);
            (3) the outdoor recreation economy--
                    (A) generates $887,000,000,000 in economic activity 
                each year, which is 2.2 percent of the gross domestic 
                product of the United States, according to the Bureau 
                of Economic Analysis; and
                    (B) was 1 of the fastest growing sectors of the 
                United States economy before the Coronavirus Disease 
                2019 (COVID-19) pandemic;
            (4) the demand for outdoor recreation has increased 
        dramatically during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 
        pandemic;
            (5) the Federal Government and State and local governments 
        and agencies have many ``shovel-ready'' projects and green 
        infrastructure maintenance backlog projects that would--
                    (A) improve the quality of life and outdoor 
                experiences of people of the United States;
                    (B) make communities, especially communities that 
                are traditionally underserved, more resilient to 
                climate change, natural disasters, and wildfires; and
                    (C) provide access to outdoor recreation 
                opportunities to all people of the United States;
            (6) many facilities and natural resources located on 
        dedicated conservation land are in disrepair or degraded and in 
        need of labor-intensive rehabilitation, restoration, and 
        enhancement work that cannot be carried out at existing 
        staffing levels;
            (7) enhancing and maintaining environmentally and 
        recreationally important land and waters through the 
        participation of unemployed individuals in the United States in 
        a conservation corps could--
                    (A) provide critical employment, education, and 
                skill development opportunities to the individuals;
                    (B) prepare the individuals for permanent jobs in 
                the conservation field; and
                    (C) benefit the economy and environment of the 
                United States; and
            (8) existing networks of conservation corps are in place 
        but need additional resources in order to scale up the 
        activities of the conservation corps to meet growing deferred 
        maintenance needs on public land.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to employ, during the 5-year period beginning on the 
        date of enactment of this Act, a total of 1,000,000 people in 
        the United States in dedicated conservation land projects to 
        support the growing backlog of deferred conservation land 
        projects;
            (2) to expose Participants to public service while 
        furthering the understanding and appreciation of the 
        Participants of the natural and cultural resources of the 
        United States;
            (3) to stimulate interest among Participants in 
        conservation careers by exposing the Participants to 
        conservation professionals in land management agencies; and
            (4) to build on the existing network of conservation corps 
        organizations working across the United States while providing 
        for expanded participation in urban centers.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Corps.--The term ``Corps'' means the Restore Employment 
        in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps 
        established by section 4(a).
            (2) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the National 
        Council on the Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental 
        Work Conservation Corps established under section 6(a).
            (3) Eligible agency or organization.--The term ``eligible 
        agency or organization'' means--
                    (A) a unit of local government;
                    (B) a land trust;
                    (C) a conservation nonprofit organization; or
                    (D) a qualified youth service and conservation 
                corps, including--
                            (i) an organization established under--
                                    (I) the National and Community 
                                Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et 
                                seq.);
                                    (II) title I of Public Law 91-378 
                                (commonly known as the ``Youth 
                                Conservation Corps Act of 1970'') (16 
                                U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or
                                    (III) the Public Lands Corps Act of 
                                1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.), 
                                including the Indian Youth Service 
                                Corps authorized under section 210 of 
                                that Act (16 U.S.C. 1727b);
                            (ii) the Urban Youth Corps authorized under 
                        section 106 of the National and Community 
                        Service Trust Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 12656);
                            (iii) a qualified urban youth corps (as 
                        defined in section 106(c)(3) of the National 
                        and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (42 
                        U.S.C. 12656(c)(3))); and
                            (iv) the Healthy Futures Corps established 
                        under section 122(a)(2)(A) of the National and 
                        Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
                        12572(a)(2)(A)).
            (4) Eligible participant.--The term ``eligible 
        participant'' means an individual who--
                    (A) is 16 years of age or older at the time the 
                individual begins the term of service as a Participant; 
                and
                    (B) is a citizen or national of the United States 
                or lawful permanent resident alien of the United 
                States.
            (5) Eligible project.--The term ``eligible project'' means 
        any of the following:
                    (A) A project to plant trees.
                    (B) A project for the restoration and management of 
                wildlife habitat.
                    (C) A project to control invasive species.
                    (D) A project for the conduct of prescribed burns, 
                hazardous fuels reduction, or invasive species removal.
                    (E) A project for the restoration of streams, 
                wetlands, and other aquatic ecosystems, including the 
                Great Lakes and coastal areas.
                    (F) A project to monitor water quality in streams 
                and lakes.
                    (G) A project to assist with the conduct of fish 
                and wildlife surveys.
                    (H) A project for the construction or maintenance 
                of trails, bridges, campgrounds, picnic shelters, or 
                other recreational amenities for use by the public.
                    (I) A project for the construction or maintenance 
                of parks and playgrounds.
                    (J) A project to restore brownfield sites (as 
                defined in section 101 of the Comprehensive 
                Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
                of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601)) in urban areas.
                    (K) A project to construct rain gardens, grass 
                waterways, pollinator gardens, or green schoolyards.
                    (L) A project for the development of urban gardens 
                and farms.
                    (M) A project to plant native grasslands.
                    (N) A project to provide environmental 
                interpretation or outdoor education.
                    (O) A project to improve community resiliency to 
                climate change and natural disasters, such as the 
                installation of bioswales and permeable surfaces.
                    (P) A project for the collection, storage, and 
                propagation of native seed and plant materials.
                    (Q) Any other project determined to be appropriate 
                by the Secretaries.
            (6) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (7) Opportunity youth.--The term ``opportunity youth'' 
        means an individual who--
                    (A) is not younger than the age of 16 or older than 
                the age of 24; and
                    (B) is not enrolled in school or participating in 
                the labor market.
            (8) Participant.--The term ``Participant'' means an 
        eligible participant enrolled in the Corps.
            (9) Program partner.--The term ``Program partner'' means--
                    (A) a State or Indian Tribe administering a program 
                for eligible projects or a grant program under 
                subsection (a) or (b) of section 5, as applicable; and
                    (B) an eligible agency or organization carrying out 
                eligible projects under section 5(a)(3)(B).
            (10) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
        Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, 
        acting jointly.
            (11) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United 
        States.

SEC. 4. RESTORE EMPLOYMENT IN NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORK 
              CONSERVATION CORPS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of the 
Interior and the Department of Agriculture the Restore Employment in 
Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps program under which 
Participants shall carry out--
            (1) eligible projects administered by the Secretaries under 
        this section; and
            (2) eligible projects administered by Program partners 
        under subsection (a) or (b) of section 5.
    (b) Participants.--
            (1) In general.--The Corps shall consist of--
                    (A) eligible participants who are enrolled in the 
                Corps by the Secretaries; and
                    (B) eligible participants who are enrolled in the 
                Corps by Program partners.
            (2) Requirement.--In enrolling eligible participants in the 
        Corps under paragraph (1), the Secretaries and Program partners 
        shall ensure that Participants reflect the demographics of the 
        area in which the Participants are carrying out an eligible 
        project.
            (3) Work experience.--The Secretaries and Program partners 
        shall provide Participants--
                    (A) meaningful, full-time, productive work in a 
                natural or cultural resource setting;
                    (B) a mix of work experience, basic and life 
                skills, education, training, and support services; and
                    (C) the opportunity to develop an ethic of 
                citizenship, community service, and environmental 
                stewardship through service to the community and the 
                United States.
    (c) Terms and Compensation.--
            (1) Term.--Participants shall serve for a term of at least 
        12 weeks, but not more than 1 year.
            (2) Compensation.--
                    (A) Wages.--Participants shall be compensated at a 
                wage rate that is appropriate for the type of work 
                performed by the Participant, but not less than $15 per 
                hour (to be increased each year based on increases in 
                the Consumer Price Index for the year).
                    (B) Educational credit; tuition assistance.--If a 
                Participant completes at least 1 year of service in the 
                Corps, the Participant shall be eligible for--
                            (i) an educational credit that may be 
                        applied toward a program of postsecondary 
                        education at an institution of higher education 
                        that agrees to award the credit for 
                        participation in the Corps; and
                            (ii) not more than $5,500 in tuition 
                        assistance to the Participant for purposes of 
                        continuing education.
    (d) Training; Apprenticeships.--The Secretaries and Program 
partners shall--
            (1) ensure that 20 to 50 percent of the term of a 
        Participant in the Corps is dedicated to education, training, 
        and workforce readiness activities; and
            (2) provide curricula to Participants that improve the 
        future job prospects of Participants, including through making 
        available to Participants registered apprenticeships and other 
        professional licenses or certifications.
    (e) Additional Duties and Responsibilities of Program Partners With 
Respect to Opportunity Youth.--A Program partner that enrolls 
Participants that are opportunity youth--
            (1) shall provide to the opportunity youth--
                    (A) supervision and training;
                    (B) adult mentoring; and
                    (C) education, which may include--
                            (i) basic instruction and remedial 
                        education;
                            (ii) language instruction for individuals 
                        with limited English proficiency;
                            (iii) secondary education services and 
                        activities, including dropout prevention and 
                        tutoring; and
                            (iv) other activities that are delivered in 
                        conjunction with project-based service-learning 
                        to the maximum extent practicable;
            (2) may provide to the opportunity youth--
                    (A) services to assist in the preparation for, and 
                access to, postsecondary education opportunities, 
                including--
                            (i) counseling; and
                            (ii) assistance with applying for student 
                        financial aid;
                    (B) employability training, which may include--
                            (i) development of basic skills, such as--
                                    (I) arriving on time to work;
                                    (II) being prepared to work;
                                    (III) following directions;
                                    (IV) working independently;
                                    (V) working with others;
                                    (VI) working safely; and
                                    (VII) demonstrating a commitment to 
                                produce high-quality work;
                            (ii) career counseling and job search 
                        assistance; and
                            (iii) pathways to family sustaining jobs; 
                        and
                    (C) supportive services, which may include--
                            (i) health care, including mental health 
                        care, such as drug and alcohol abuse 
                        counseling;
                            (ii) child care; and
                            (iii) transportation.
    (f) Certificate of Completion.--The Secretaries shall provide each 
Participant with a certificate of completion bearing the signature of 
the Secretaries on the completion of a term of service in the Corps.

SEC. 5. STATE, TRIBAL, AND LOCAL FUNDING PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.

    (a) Apportionment to States.--
            (1) In general.--For each fiscal year, subject to 
        paragraphs (2) and (3), of the amounts made available for 
        apportionment to the States for that fiscal year under section 
        7(a)(2), the Secretaries shall apportion--
                    (A) 66\2/3\ percent among States based on the 
                proportion that--
                            (i) the number of unemployed individuals in 
                        each State, as determined based on the most 
                        recent data available; bears to
                            (ii) the total number of unemployed 
                        individuals in all States as so determined; and
                    (B) 33\1/3\ percent among States based on the 
                proportion that--
                            (i) the population of each State; bears to
                            (ii) the population of all States.
            (2) Minimum apportionment.--No State shall receive an 
        apportionment under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year in an 
        amount less than $42,000,000.
            (3) Use of funds.--Of the amounts apportioned to a State 
        under this subsection for a fiscal year--
                    (A) 50 percent shall be used by the State to 
                administer a program for the conduct of eligible 
                projects by Participants enrolled in the program by the 
                States; and
                    (B) 50 percent shall be used by the State to 
                administer a grant program in the State under which the 
                State provides grants to eligible agencies or 
                organizations in the State for the conduct of eligible 
                projects by Participants enrolled by the eligible 
                agencies or organizations, with preference to be given 
                for grants to eligible agencies or organizations 
                described in section 3(3)(D).
    (b) Tribal Program.--For each fiscal year, the Secretaries shall 
apportion, in accordance with a formula established by the Secretaries, 
amounts made available under section 7(a)(3) to Indian Tribes to 
administer a program for the conduct of eligible projects by 
Participants enrolled in the program by the Indian Tribe.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Of the amounts provided to a Program partner for 
the conduct of eligible projects under this section, the Program 
partner--
            (1) may use not more than 20 percent for administrative 
        costs of administering and carrying out eligible projects 
        (including costs of recruiting and hiring individuals to carry 
        out eligible projects);
            (2) may use not more than 14 percent to provide continuing 
        education to individuals administering or carrying out eligible 
        projects;
            (3) may use not more than 8 percent for the cost of 
        equipment and supplies for eligible projects; and
            (4) shall use the remainder of the amounts for the costs of 
        salaries of individuals administering or carrying out eligible 
        projects.
    (d) Reallocation.--Any funds made available to a State or Indian 
Tribe under subsection (a) or (b) that are not obligated by the State 
or Indian Tribe at the end of the third fiscal year beginning after the 
fiscal year during which the funds were made available shall be 
withdrawn from the State or Indian Tribe and reallocated by the 
Secretaries to other States and Indian Tribes on the basis of need, as 
determined by the Secretaries, and in amounts that the Secretaries 
determine would best accomplish the purposes described in section 2(b).

SEC. 6. NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE RESTORE EMPLOYMENT IN NATURAL AND 
              ENVIRONMENTAL WORK CONSERVATION CORPS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of 
Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the Chair of the Council on 
Environmental Quality, the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil 
Works, through the execution of a memorandum of understanding, shall 
establish a National Council on the Restore Employment in Natural and 
Environmental Work Conservation Corps.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall be composed of--
                    (A) the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
                    (B) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management;
                    (C) the Commissioner of Reclamation;
                    (D) the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 
                Service;
                    (E) the Director of the United States Fish and 
                Wildlife Service;
                    (F) the Director of the National Park Service;
                    (G) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration;
                    (H) the Director of the Office of Surface Mining 
                Reclamation and Enforcement;
                    (I) the Chief of Engineers;
                    (J) the Chief of the Forest Service;
                    (K) the Director of the Office of Personnel 
                Management;
                    (L) the Administrator of the Environmental 
                Protection Agency;
                    (M) the Chair of the Council on Environmental 
                Quality;
                    (N) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation 
                for National and Community Service; and
                    (O) other members that the signatories to the 
                memorandum of understanding under subsection (a) 
                determine to be appropriate for membership on the 
                Council, including--
                            (i) the Secretary of Labor;
                            (ii) the Secretary of Education;
                            (iii) the Secretary of Health and Human 
                        Services;
                            (iv) the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
                        Development;
                            (v) the Secretary of Transportation; and
                            (vi) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Chair.--
                    (A) In general.--The Council shall select a Chair 
                of the Council from among the members of the Council 
                described in subparagraphs (A) through (M) of paragraph 
                (1).
                    (B) Term.--The Chair of the Council shall serve for 
                a term of 1 year.
    (c) Annual Meeting.--The Chair of the Council shall convene annual 
meetings of the Council during which the Council shall conduct an 
assessment of--
            (1) the Corps; and
            (2) eligible projects carried out by the Corps.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act $55,800,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2021 
through 2025, of which--
            (1) 37.5 percent shall be made available to the Secretaries 
        to carry out eligible projects under section 4(a)(1);
            (2) 57.5 percent shall be made available to the Secretaries 
        for apportionment to States under section 5(a); and
            (3) 5 percent shall be made available to the Secretaries 
        for apportionment to Indian Tribes under section 5(b).
    (b) Matching Funds Waiver.--Any otherwise applicable matching funds 
requirements, including under section 212(a)(1) of the Public Lands 
Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1729(a)(1)), shall be waived for projects 
carried out using amounts made available under this Act.
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