The co-chairs of the National Service Congressional Caucus – Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) – have introduced the Promoting Service through AmeriCorps Act in the House (H.R. 9569) and Senate (S. 5053). The PSA Act would reauthorize the AmeriCorps programs and funding through 2029.
This bipartisan, bicameral bill provides more opportunities for Americans to serve, expands member benefits to support recruitment and to improve the member experience, strengthens post-service pathways to education and employment, and authorizes federal funding for the next 5 years.
Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) are original cosponsors of the PSA Act.
Voices for National Service and many of the leading AmeriCorps programs have endorsed the bipartisan legislation.
Highlights from the Promoting Service through AmeriCorps (PSA) Act
- Reauthorizes the National and Community Service Act of 1993 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 for five years, 2025-2029
- Establishes a 1,500-hour term of service for AmeriCorps State and National members with a prorated education award
- Permanently authorizes the “Season of Service” to allow for individuals to serve a shortened term with AmeriCorps NCCC
- Authorizes AmeriCorps NCCC term extensions to facilitate disaster response and other surges
- Increases the maximum AmeriCorps NCCC age from 24 years to 26 years
- Allows AmeriCorps members to earn up to 4 full-time equivalent Education Awards
- Gives AmeriCorps State and National members the option of taking an end-of-service cash payment in lieu of an Education Award (an option currently available to AmeriCorps VISTA members)
- Allows the AmeriCorps Education Award to be used for workforce development opportunities and non-traditional educational expenses, such as industry credentialing or career pathway and job training programs
- Gives members up to 10 years to use their AmeriCorps Education Award instead of seven
- Allows all members the opportunity to transfer their Education Awards to any designated individual (transferability is currently only available to individuals 55 years and older serving in AmeriCorps State and National and there are relational limits)
- Extends existing federal non-competitive civil service eligibility afforded to Peace Corps and AmeriCorps VISTA members to all AmeriCorps members who serve an annual term
- Establishes an Office of Alumni Engagement at AmeriCorps
- Changes the cap on the federal share of administrative costs on AmeriCorps State and National and Volunteer Generation Fund grants from 5% to 10%
- States that the federal share of a Volunteer Generation Fund grant may not exceed 75 percent of the program cost
- Allows the agency to reinvest unobligated, expiring appropriations, as well as interest earnings from the National Service Trust Fund, into core operations, AmeriCorps grants, grantee support, and technology modernization
- Establishes five-year Board of Directors terms regardless of when appointed
Additional Resources: