The economic relief and stimulus package includes national service provisions
Congress passed H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion bill that provides significant funding for businesses, hospitals, schools, and social support programs to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
The CARES Act includes four provisions that were included in the COVID-19 emergency appropriations and legislative relief recommendations that Voices for National Service sent to Congress on March 19, 2020.
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards: Provides CNCS with a waiver to allow AmeriCorps members to earn the full value of their Segal AmeriCorps Education Award if COVID-19 prevented them from fulfilling their service hour requirements;
- Fixed Amount Grants: Provides CNCS with the flexibility to allow Fixed Amount Grant recipients to access their full federal award to maintain operations even if their AmeriCorps members were exited early, suspended or serving in a limited capacity due to COVID-19;
- Funding Carryover: Provides CNCS with the authority to carryover unexpended FY20 funds and apply these resources to FY21 activities; and
- AmeriCorps NCCC: Extends age limits (maximum 26 years) and terms of service (not to exceed 1 year) for NCCC members who want to continue participating in the program after the COVID-19 disaster declaration ends.
The COVID-19 pandemic will have an enormous and unprecedented impact on our country and providing economic relief will be an ongoing process. Voices for National Service will continue to work with Congress to secure additional funding and legislative relief provisions to ensure that national service programs and members are part of the long-term national response to the pandemic.
Click here to read the Voices for National Service’s statement on the CARES Act.
A bipartisan congressional coalition that is working to support national service during the pandemic endorsed the Voices for National Service recommendations. That coalition, led by Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Michael Waltz (R-FL), David Price (D-NC), Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy urging Congress to make certain forthcoming legislation in response to the pandemic helps national service programs and their members. Click here to read their letter and press release.