Rep. Garamendi, Sen. Reed & Rep. Larson Push for ACTION to Increase Service Opportunities Act & Help Students Reduce Their Debt

WASHINGTON, D.C. - During AmeriCorps week, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) reintroduced the America's Call to Improve Opportunities Now (ACTION) for National Service Act. This bicameral legislation would enhance access to national and community service opportunities, lower student debt, create a more engaged citizenry, and address national priorities in education, infrastructure, health care, disaster relief, and poverty.

America's Call to Improve Opportunities Now (ACTION) for National Service Act would achieve the following goals:

• Gives all those who wish to serve the opportunity to do so by establishing a ten-year goal of providing the necessary federal funding to support at least one million service positions nationwide.

• Significantly reduces the burden of student loan debt by ensuring that individuals who serve two full terms of service are rewarded with an education benefit equivalent to four years of the average in-state tuition at a public, four-year college.

• Increases access to national service opportunities by raising living stipend amounts, allowing members to earn a meaningful wage during their service.

• Makes the education benefit and living stipend free from federal taxation.

• Renames the existing Corporation for National and Community Service as the AmeriCorps Administration and elevates it to a Cabinet-level federal agency, including the appointment of a Director of AmeriCorps with the same rank as Cabinet Secretaries. The Director would be required to establish an interagency working group to evaluate both education award eligibility for participants in programs outside of AmeriCorps and the feasibility of granting Federal hiring preference to volunteers.

• Creates a 21st Century American Service Outreach Program to notify eligible individuals about opportunities to serve.

• Maintains the authority and programmatic responsibilities of state and local boards to direct federal resources to meet community needs and be responsive to local priorities.

• Establishes a National Service Foundation to encourage private sector and philanthropic investment in expanding national service opportunities.

The reintroduction of the ACTION for National Service Act comes as service organizations across the nation celebrate AmeriCorps Week, highlighting the power of public service to unite communities, transform lives, and address challenges facing the nation.

Cosponsors in the U.S. Senate include Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chris Coons (D-DE).

Cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives include Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Judy Chu (CA-28), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Sean Casten (IL-06), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12).

The ACTION for National Service Act is supported by more than 40 endorsing organizations, including Voices for National Service, YouthBuild USA, and City Year.

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