Reauthorization in the 110th Congress of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973

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Reauthorization in the 110 Congress of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 and
the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
Updated March 3, 2008
Ann Lordeman
Specialist in Social Legislation
Domestic Social Policy Division

Reauthorization in the 110 Congress of the National
and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic
Volunteer Service Act of 1973
Summary
The major federally funded community service and volunteer programs in this
country are authorized under two statutes: the National and Community Service Act
of 1990 (NCSA) and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (DVSA). In
general, the programs authorized by these statutes are administered by the
Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency.
The NCSA is designed to address unmet human, educational, environmental,
and public safety needs and to renew an ethic of civic responsibility by encouraging
citizens to participate in national service programs. The NCSA authorizes four
community service programs: School-Based and Community-Based Service-Learning
Programs, also known as Learn and Serve America; National Service Trust
Programs, also known as AmeriCorps State and National Grants; the National
Civilian Community Corps (NCCC); and the Points of Light Foundation. The NCSA
also authorizes the National Service Trust, which funds educational awards for
community service participants.
A central purpose of the DVSA, which authorizes the Volunteers in Service to
America (VISTA) program and the National Senior Volunteer Corps, is to foster and
expand voluntary service in communities while helping the vulnerable, the
disadvantaged, the elderly, and the poor. The National Senior Volunteer Corps
includes three main programs: the Foster Grandparents Program, the Senior
Companion Program, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
Authorization of appropriations for the NCSA and DVSA programs expired at
the end of FY1996. These programs continue to be funded, however, through annual
appropriations bills.
H.R. 2857, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE)
Act to amend NCSA and DVSA and extend the authorizations of appropriation for
NCSA and DVSA programs through FY2012, has been scheduled for possible floor
consideration during the week of March 3, 2008. On November 1, 2007, the House
Committee on Education and Labor reported H.R. 2857 (H.Rept. 110-420); the
committee approved the bill by a vote of 44-0 on June 27, 2007. This report provides
selected highlights of H.R. 2857 and will be updated after major legislative
developments.

Contents
Background ......................................................1
National and Community Service Act of 1990...........................2
School-Based and Community-Based Service-Learning Programs
(Title I-B)................................................2
School-Based Programs for Students...........................2
Civic Engagement and Summer of Service......................2
Community-Based Service Programs for School-Age Youth........3
Higher Education Innovative Programs for Community Service.....3
Authorization of Learn and Serve Appropriations.................4
National Service Trust Program (AmeriCorps) (Title I-C)..............4
Allocations ...............................................4
Education Award Only Program..............................4
Authorization of AmeriCorps Appropriations....................5
National Service Trust (Title I-D).................................5
National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) (Title I-E)...............5
Authorization of NCCC Appropriations........................6
Points of Light Foundation......................................6
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973...............................6
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) (Title I-A).................6
Authorization of VISTA Appropriations........................6
National Senior Volunteer Corps (Title II)..........................7
Income Eligibility and Stipends...............................7
Competitive Re-Evaluation..................................7
Authorization Appropriations for the Senior Corps Programs.......7
Additional Provisions..............................................8
Sense of Congress.............................................8
Accountability ................................................8
Outreach and Recruitment.......................................8
Training and Technical Assistance................................8

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Reauthorization in the 110 Congress of the
National and Community Service Act of
1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service
Act of 1973
Background
The major federally funded community service and volunteer programs are
authorized under two statutes: the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(NCSA) and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (DVSA). In general, these
programs are administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service
(hereafter referred to as the Corporation), an independent federal agency. On
November 1, 2007, the House Committee on Education and Labor reported H.R.

2857, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act (H.Rept.

110-420) to amend and extend both acts. On June 27, 2007, the committee approved
H.R. 2857 by a vote of 44-0.
The NCSA is designed to address unmet human, educational, environmental,
and public safety needs and to renew an ethic of civic responsibility by encouraging
citizens to participate in national service programs. The NCSA authorizes four
community service programs: School-Based and Community-Based Service-
Learning Programs, also known as Learn and Serve America; National Service Trust
Programs also known as AmeriCorps State and National Grants; the National
Civilian Community Corps (NCCC); and the Points of Light Foundation. The NCSA
also authorizes the National Service Trust, which funds educational awards for
community service participants.
A central purpose of the DVSA, which authorizes the Volunteers in Service to
America (VISTA) program and the National Senior Volunteer Corps, is to foster and
expand voluntary service in communities while helping the vulnerable, the
disadvantaged, the elderly, and the poor. The National Senior Volunteer Corps
includes three main programs: the Foster Grandparents Program, the Senior
Companion Program, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
Both NCSA and DVSA were last amended in 1993 by the National and
Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-82). This act created (1) the
Corporation to administer NCSA and DVSA programs, (2) a new national service
program referred to as AmeriCorps, (3) a National Service Trust to fund educational
awards to persons participating in AmeriCorps and other select community service
programs, and (4) state commissions on national and community service to receive
funding under NCSA. Authorization of appropriations for the NCSA and DVSA
programs expired at the end of FY1996. These programs continue to be funded,

however, through annual appropriations measures. H.R. 2857 would extend the
authorization of appropriations for all NCSA and DVSA programs through FY2012.
The focus of this report is on selected amendments H.R. 2857 would make to these
two statutes.
For more information on current NCSA and DVSA programs and their funding,
see CRS Report RL33931, The Corporation for National and Community Service:
Overview of Programs and FY2008 Funding by Ann Lordeman and Abigail B.
Rudman.
National and Community Service Act of 1990
School-Based and Community-Based
Service-Learning Programs (Title I-B)
Programs authorized under Title I-B are generally referred to as Learn and Serve
programs. These programs are intended to benefit both communities and students.
Under current law, there are three Learn and Serve programs: school-based programs
for students, community-based service programs for school-age youth, and higher
education innovative programs for community service.
School-Based Programs for Students. These programs help schools
create service-learning initiatives that involve elementary and secondary school
students in community service that is integrated with their academic curricula. Under
current law, school-based programs receive 63.75% of the Learn and Serve
appropriation. Not more than 3% of this amount is reserved for grants to Indian
tribes and U.S. territories. Of the remainder, 75% is allocated by formula to state
educational agencies (SEAs), and 25% is awarded competitively to SEAs, tribes,
U.S. territories, and other entities.
Under H.R. 2857, 63.75% of the Learn and Serve “core” appropriation¹ could
be used for school-based programs. Not less than 2% or more than 3% would be
reserved for grants to Indian tribes and U.S. territories. All of the remainder would
be allocated by formula to state educational agencies (SEAs); the competitive awards
would be eliminated.
Civic Engagement and Summer of Service. H.R. 2857 would include
programs to encourage civic engagement in service learning as a new activity under
the school-based programs. The Corporation would be required to reserve up to 3%
of the Learn and Serve appropriation for competitive grants for these civic
engagement programs. In addition, H.R. 2857 would authorize a summer of service
program under which participating students, entering grades 6 through 12 at the end
of the summer, who complete one hundred hours of service in an approved position
would be eligible for an educational award of not more that $500 from funds

¹ The Learn and Serve “core” appropriation is 97% of the total appropriation, since 3% of
the total appropriation would be reserved for civic engagement programs.

deposited in the National Service Trust. (For a discussion of the Trust, see below.)
The Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer could increase the award to not more than
$1,000 in the case of a participant who is “economically disadvantaged.” A
participant could earn a maximum of two summer of service educational awards.
Awards could be used to pay for educational expenses at an institution of higher
education, to repay qualified student loans, and to pay for college preparatory
program expenses.
Community-Based Service Programs for School-Age Youth. These
programs help community groups create service-learning initiatives that involve
elementary and secondary school students in community service. Funds are
distributed through competitive grants given by the Corporation to national non-
profit organizations and state commissions. Funds are then awarded in local
competitions. Under current law, these programs receive 11.25% of the Learn and
Serve core appropriation.
H.R. 2857 would restructure these programs as “Innovative Demonstrations
Service-Learning Programs and Research.” They would also receive 11.25% of the
Learn and Serve appropriation. Entities, such as a state education agency, a state
commission on national and community service, a Territory, an Indian tribe, an
institution of higher education, and a public or private nonprofit organization, could
apply to the Corporation for three year grants with a possible one year extension.
Allowable activities would include integrating service-learning programs into
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula; involving
students in service-learning programs focused on energy conservation, emergency
and disaster preparedness; improving access to computers and other emerging
technologies; mentoring; and conducting research and evaluations on
servi ce-l earni ng.
Higher Education Innovative Programs for Community Service.
These programs help institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations to
create service-learning initiatives that involve postsecondary school students in
community service which complements their academic studies. Under current law
and H.R. 2857, these programs would receive 25% of the Learn and Serve core
appropriation.
H.R. 2857 would add the requirement that grantee institutions meet the Higher
Education Act minimum requirement regarding the participation of federal work-
study students in community service activities.² H.R. 2857 also directs the
Corporation, to the extent practicable, to give special consideration to applications
submitted by predominantly Black institutions, Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

² This requirement under section 443(b)(2)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 requires
institutions of higher education to spend a minimum of 7% of their federal work study
allocation to compensate students employed in community service jobs and to operate at
least one tutoring or family literacy project in service to the community, unless they receive
a waiver.

Authorization of Learn and Serve Appropriations. H.R. 2857 would
authorize $65 million for Learn and Serve programs for FY2008, of which $10
million would be for summer of service grants and $10 million would be deposited
in the National Service Trust for the summer of service educational awards. Such
sums as may be necessary would be authorized for each of fiscal years 2009 though
2012. The FY2007 appropriation was $37.1 million; the FY2008 conference report
(H.Rept. 110-424) to accompany H.R. 3043 would appropriate $38.1 million.
National Service Trust Program (AmeriCorps) (Title I-C)
This program is generally referred to as the AmeriCorps State and National
Grants Program or simply as AmeriCorps. Participants in AmeriCorps provide
services that address unmet needs for the direct benefit of communities through local
service programs operated by a wide range of organizations. In general, participants
receive a living allowance and an educational award. Educational awards can be
used to pay for educational expenses at an institution of higher education or to repay
qualified student loans.
Allocations. AmeriCorps consists of state formula grants, state competitive
grants, national competitive grants to non-profit organizations, and set-asides for
Indian tribes and U.S. territories. Current law specifies how the Corporation
allocates funds. Since FY1997, however, the appropriations bills have “capped” the
amount that can be allocated for national competitive grants. The actual distribution
of funds allocated by the Corporation for FY2007 is 33% for state formula grants,
43% for state competitive grants, 22% for national competitive grants, 1% for Indian
tribes, and 1% for U.S. territories.
Under H.R. 2857, 37.5% of the funds allocated by the Corporation would be for
state formula grants, 37.5% for state competitive grants, 23% for national
competitive grants to non-profit organization, 1% for Indian tribes, and 1% for U.S.
territories. H.R. 2857 would also establish a minimum state formula grant of
$600,000.
Education Award Only Program. H.R. 2857 would also include, as part
of AmeriCorps, the education award only program in which the Corporation pays
only for the education award and a fixed, relatively small amount for operational
support. From FY1997 to FY2003, this program operated under Subtitle I-H,
Investment for Quality and Innovations, which contains the authority for³
demonstration projects. Since FY2004, annual appropriations bills have included
funding for the program in the appropriation for AmeriCorps. Currently, a program⁴
can receive up to $600 per member service year (MSY) for operational support.
Under H.R. 2857, a program could receive up to $600 per participant and programs

³ Subtitle I-H, Investment for Quality and Innovations, is a category of funding authorized
by the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to support special initiatives and
demonstration projects.
⁴ A Member Service Year is defined as 1,700 hours of service.

that support at least 50% disadvantaged youth could receive up to $800 per
participant.⁵
Authorization of AmeriCorps Appropriations. H.R. 2857 would
authorize a total of $485 million for FY2008 for Title I-C (AmeriCorps), Title I-D
(National Service Trust), and Subtitle I-H (Investment for Quality and Innovations).
Such sums as may be necessary would be authorized for each of the years FY2009
through FY2012. Of the amount appropriated for FY2008, not more than $324
million could be used for AmeriCorps. For FY2009 and FY2010, not more that $357
million and $387 million, respectively, could be used. For FY2011 and 2012, such
sums as may be necessary could be provided. The FY2007 appropriation for
AmeriCorps was $264.8 million; the FY2008 conference report (H.Rept. 110-424)
to accompany H.R. 3043 would appropriate $261.4 million.
National Service Trust (Title I-D)
The National Service Trust is a special account in the U.S. Treasury which
provides educational awards to participants in AmeriCorps, the National Civilian
Community Corps, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). The National
Service Trust also pays interest on qualified student loans of participants who have
obtained forbearance (i.e., postponement) in the repayment of their loans while
participating in these programs. H.R. 2857 would also permit the Corporation to use
trust funds to pay for the summer of service educational awards. (See Learn and
Serve, above).
Under current law, the amount of an educational award for full-time service is
$4,725. (Pro-rated awards are also made for other terms of service, such as half-
time.) H.R. 2857 would increase the award for full-time service by $100 each year
beginning in FY2008 until FY2012 when the award would reach $5,225. Also,
current law specifies that an individual can receive a maximum of two educational
awards, regardless of whether those awards were for full-time, part-time, or a
combination of different terms of service. Under H.R. 2857, an individual could
receive up to an amount equal to the aggregate value of two national educational
awards for full time service. The summer of service educational awards would not
be included in this limit. (For information on the authorization of appropriations, see
AmeriCorps Authorization of Appropriations, above.)
National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) (Title I-E)
NCCC is both a 10-month and a summer residential program for young adults
ages 18-24 administered by the Corporation. NCCC participants address critical
needs in education, public safety, the environment, and disaster relief. Participants
serve various communities at one of three campuses, and receive a living allowance

⁵ H.R. 2857 adds the term “disadvantaged youth” and defines it to include youth who are
economically disadvantaged and one or more of the following: out-of-school, in or aging
out of foster care, have limited English proficiency, homeless or have run away from home,
at-risk to leave school without a diploma, former juvenile offenders or at risk of
delinquency.

and an educational award. H.R. 2857 would focus NCCC activities on energy
conservation, environmental stewardship, and urban and rural development, as well
as disaster relief, and would permit NCCC to operate non-residential programs. H.R.

2857 would also require that 50% of the participants be disadvantaged youth.

Authorization of NCCC Appropriations. H.R. 2857 would authorize $25
million for FY2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the years FY2009
through FY2012. The FY2007 appropriation was $26.8 million; the FY2008
conference report (H.Rept. 110-424) to accompany H.R. 3043 would appropriate
$24.2 million.
Points of Light Foundation
The Points of Light Foundation, authorized under Title III of NCSA, is a
nonprofit charitable organization that functions as an independent and autonomous
entity. The foundation promotes community service through a partnership with the
Volunteer Center National Network. H.R. 2857 would eliminate the authorization
of federal funds for the Points of Light Foundation. The FY2007 appropriation was
$9.9 million; the FY2008 conference report (H.Rept. 110-424) to accompany H.R.

3043 would not appropriate any funds.

Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) (Title I-A)
VISTA volunteers work to alleviate poverty in communities by serving full
time, with no outside commitments for at least one year. To the maximum extent
possible, they live among and at the economic level of the people they serve.
Participants receive a living allowance, and either a cash stipend or an educational
award. Under current law, the Corporation sets the monthly stipend at a minimum
of $100 a month and a maximum of $125. Currently, participants choosing the
stipend receive $120 per month paid as a $1,200 “lump sum” at the end of a service
year. H.R. 2857 would establish a minimum monthly stipend of $125 and a
maximum monthly stipend of $175. H.R. 2857 would also require the Corporation
to give a priority in selecting VISTA participants to individuals who are
disadvantaged youth, low-income, and retired adults of any profession, but with an
emphasis on professions whose services are most needed in a community, such as
health care, teaching, counseling, and engineering.
Authorization of VISTA Appropriations. H.R. 2857 would authorize $100
million for FY2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the years FY2009
through FY2012. The FY2007 appropriation was $95.5 million; the FY2008
conference report (H.Rept. 110-424) to accompany H.R. 3043 would appropriate
$95.5 million.

National Senior Volunteer Corps (Title II)
The National Senior Volunteer Corps⁶ (Senior Corps) consists primarily of the
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Foster Grandparent Program, and
the Senior Companion Program. Under current law, participants in RSVP must be
55 years of age or older and participants in the foster grandparent and senior
companion programs must be 60 years of age or older. Under H.R. 2857, individuals
age 55 and older could participate in any of the three programs.
Income Eligibility and Stipends. Under current law, individuals whose
income is 125% of the poverty level or less can receive a stipend in the foster
grandparent and senior companion programs. Current law sets the stipend at $2.45
an hour and provides that the Corporation adjust it once prior to December 31, 1997,
to account for inflation. The stipend is currently set at $2.65 an hour. Under H.R.
2857, income eligibility would be raised to 200% of the poverty level, and the
stipend would be set at $2.65 an hour with one adjustment made by the Corporation
prior to December 31, 2012, to account for inflation. In addition, the Corporation
could provide stipends to 15% of volunteers whose income was greater than 200%
of poverty and who were serving in a Foster Grandparent or Senior Companion
Program if a grant recipient was unable to effectively recruit and place low-income
volunteers in the number of placements approved for the project.
Competitive Re-Evaluation. Under current law, an application for
refunding a Senior Corps project may not be denied unless the Corporation gives the
grant recipient a notice of the possibility of the denial and the grounds for the denial
at least 75 days prior to denying funding. The grant recipient must also be given an
opportunity to show cause why the application should not be denied. H.R 2857
would require that RSVP grants be competitively re-evaluated after FY2009. The
process for the competitive re-evaluation must ensure that (1) the resulting grants
support no less then the volunteer service year of the previous grant cycle in a given
service area, (2) the resulting grants maintain a similar program distribution, and (3)
every effort is made to minimize the disruption of volunteers. In addition, the
competitive re-evaluation would “include some form of priority consideration for
existing grantees in good standing.”
Authorization Appropriations for the Senior Corps Programs. H.R.
2857 would authorize RSVP at $67.5 million for RSVP for FY2008. The FY2007
appropriation was $59.7 million; the FY2008 conference report (H.Rept. 110-424)
to accompany H.R. 3043 would also appropriate $59.7 million The bill would
authorize $115 million for the Foster Grandparent Program for FY2008. The
FY2007 appropriation was $110.9 million; the FY2008 conference report would also
appropriate $110.9 million. The bill would authorize $52 million for the senior
companion program for FY2008. The FY2007 appropriation was nearly $47 million;
the FY2008 conference report would also appropriate nearly $47 million. For all
three programs, such sums as may be necessary would be authorized for each of the
years FY2009 through FY2012.

⁶ H.R. 2857 would change the name of the Corps to the “National Senior Service Corps.”

Additional Provisions
Some additional provisions are provided by H.R. 2857 in the amendments to
NCSA, but apply to both NCSA and DVSA programs. The provisions include the
following.
Sense of Congress
H.R. 2857 expresses the sense of Congress that the number of participants in
AmeriCorps, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and NCCC grow to reach
100,000 participants by FY2012. For FY2007, the estimated number of participants
is 75,000.
Accountability
H.R. 2857 would require that the Corporation establish, in consultation with
grantees receiving assistance under NCSA and DVSA, performance measures for
each grantee. H.R. 2857 would also require grantees to submit to the Corporation
corrective plans if they fail to meet the established levels of performance, and would
allow the Corporation to reduce or terminate the grant of an underperforming grantee.
The Corporation would be permitted to reserve 1% of the total funds appropriated in
a fiscal year for NCSA and DVSA to support program accountability activities.
Outreach and Recruitment
H.R. 2857 would establish within the Corporation an Office of Outreach and
Recruitment. The duties of this office would include increasing the public awareness
of the range of service opportunities for citizens of all ages; identifying and
implementing methods of recruitment to increase the diversity of participants and
program sponsors in NCSA and DVSA programs; and identifying and implementing
recruitment strategies and training programs for bilingual volunteers in the National
Senior Service Corps.
Training and Technical Assistance
H.R. 2857 creates a new Subtitle J of Title I, which consolidates the training and
technical assistance provisions which are currently contained throughout current law.
Under the new Subtitle J, the Corporation would be required to provide technical
assistance to NCSA and DVSA programs. Priority would be given to programs
where services are needed most, that focus on service opportunities for underserved
rural and urban areas, or that seek to develop a service component that combines
students, out-of-school youth, and older adults as participants to provide community
services. H.R. 2857 would require the Corporation to reserve for training and
technical assistance up to 2.5% of the total funds appropriated for NCSA Titles I-B
(Learn and Serve), I-C (AmeriCorps), Subtitle I-H (Investment for Quality and
Innovation), and DVSA Titles I (VISTA) and II (National Senior Service Corps). On
the basis of the FY2007 appropriations and the FY2008 conference report (H.Rept.
110-424) to accompany H.R. 3043, up to approximately $16 million could be
available.