The House Budget Committee completed the markup of the Build Back Better Act, a $3.5 trillion package that would invest in many of President Biden’s first-term domestic policy priorities. The bill which aims to expand the nation’s social safety net and combat climate change is facing opposition by congressional Republicans. The Democrats are trying to enact the legislation through a budgetary process called reconciliation, which would only require Democratic support to pass.
The 10-year Build Back Better Act includes $13.2 billion to establish a Civilian Climate Corps and $80 billion in funding for Pell Grants to increase the value of a maximum educational benefit by $500. The bill includes $2 billion for the AmeriCorps agency.
Senate Democrats have a proposal to structure the Civilian Climate Corps differently. The Senate is contemplating a much larger investment in the CCC that will fund a more robust program and will increase AmeriCorps benefits on an equal basis to all members.
The Senate position is backed by 68 House members who sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi on September 20th urging congressional leaders to dedicate $30 billion in the final reconciliation package for the establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps. The letter was co-led by Reps. Joe Neguse, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Judy Chu, Marcy Kaptur and Bobby Rush. The co-chairs of the National Service Congressional Caucus – Rep. David Price and Doris Matsui – signed on. The letter which was endorsed by Voices for National Service underscored that the CCC should be a single, unified, and visible program that can get to work quickly on climate change. It said the budget should fund a flagship program at AmeriCorps with good pay and educational awards for all participants. Additionally, any increase in funding for benefits should accrue to all AmeriCorps members. Click here to read a press release and the letter.
Build Back Better Act – Funding for Civilian Climate Corps
Reported out of the House Budget Committee on Sept. 25, 2021
| Committee | Program | Funding Level |
| Education and Labor | AmeriCorps Agency
AmeriCorps State and National NCCC VISTA State Commission Admin CNCS Administration Project, Operations and Management Plan Inspector General National Service Trust |
$2B (Total)
$1.305B $80M $100M $40M $199.95M $350K
$260M |
| Education and Labor | Dept of Labor – Job Training Programs | $2.5B |
| Natural Resources | National Park Service | $1.7B |
| Natural Resources | Bureau of Land Management | $900M |
| Natural Resources | US Fish and Wildlife | $400M |
| Natural Resources | Bureau of Indian Affairs | $500M |
| Natural Resources | NOAA | $120M |
| Agriculture Committee | US Forest Service | $4.5B |
| Science Committee | NOAA | $500M |
| TOTAL | Civilian Climate Corps | $13.12M |