AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps Act of 2005 - Establishes an AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, to carry out service projects that: (1) provide food, clothing, shelter, and other humanitarian assistance for victims of major disasters and emergencies; (2) involve cleaning, repair, and reconstruction of structures, facilities, and lands located within the disaster area; and (3) perform other activities in response to the consequences of major disasters and emergencies.
Authorizes the Corporation to: (1) make grants to, or enter into agreements with states, local governments, or other organizations to support AmeriCorps projects; (2) support the National Civilian Community Corps authorized under the National and Community Service Act; (3) support the VISTA program under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act; and (4) enter into a contract or other agreement with another Federal agency.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3796 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3796
To establish the AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps to carry out national
service projects that address the needs arising from the consequences
of Hurricane Katrina, and other major disasters and emergencies.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 15, 2005
Mr. Ford introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps to carry out national
service projects that address the needs arising from the consequences
of Hurricane Katrina, and other major disasters and emergencies.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps Act
of 2005''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY.
The Corporation for National and Community Service (referred to in
this Act as the ``Corporation''), pursuant to section 126(b) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12576(b)), shall
carry out the activities authorized under this Act.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL AMERICORPS DISASTER RELIEF CORPS.
(a) Establishment.--There is established an AmeriCorps Disaster
Relief Corps, to be administered by the Corporation, to carry out full-
or part-time service projects that provide food, clothing, shelter, and
other humanitarian assistance for victims of major disasters and
emergencies, projects involving cleaning, repair, and reconstruction of
structures, facilities, and lands located within the disaster area, and
other projects arising from the consequences of major disasters and
emergencies.
(b) Recruitment of Participants and Eligibility.--
(1) Recruitment.--The Corporation shall endeavor to recruit
up to 10,000 additional eligible participants for the national
service program established under subsection (a).
(2) Eligibility.--Eligibility to participate in the
national service program established under subsection (a) shall
be on the same basis as for participation in an approved
national service position authorized by subtitle C or E of
title I of the National and Community Service Act (42 U.S.C.
12571 et seq.) or by title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service
Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.). Individuals selected as
participants in the program shall be eligible for living
allowances, educational awards, and other support authorized
for participants in approved national service positions under
such Acts.
(3) Priority.--In conducting recruiting under paragraph
(1), the Corporation and recipients of assistance to operate
projects shall give priority to those individuals dislocated as
a result of major disasters and emergencies and may permit
alternative documentation requirements relating to
demonstrating eligibility of such individuals.
(c) Projects.--Participants for the national service program
established under subsection (a) may serve on projects that--
(1) help those affected by major disasters and emergencies
assess their needs;
(2) assist in the construction of temporary housing for the
displaced victims of a major disaster or emergency;
(3) provide relocation services for victims of the
hurricane, including food, water and clothing distribution and
housing location services;
(4) conduct outreach to local businesses, building owners,
and others with applications for disaster relief and for other
assistance to be provided by Federal or State government;
(5) provide employment services for victims, such as
identifying job training, job placement, and other
opportunities;
(6) conduct environmental surveys, monitoring water quality
and determining the environmental impact on the affected
region;
(7) provide teaching and administrative support functions
for school systems where displaced children have enrolled;
(8) work with schools to identify and mentor students
coping with the impact of a major disaster or emergency;
(9) work with public officials to prepare them for future
disasters or emergencies; and
(10) otherwise assist with the rebuilding of the affected
regions.
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES, CITIES, ORGANIZATIONS; COOPERATION WITH
FEDERAL AGENCIES.
The Corporation may use funds authorized under this Act in support
of projects or activities consistent with those specified in section
3(c) to--
(1) make grants to, or enter into agreements with States,
subdivisions of States, or other organizations to support
AmeriCorps projects under section 121 of the National and
Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571);
(2) support the National Civilian Community Corps
authorized under subtitle E of title I of the National and
Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12611);
(3) support the VISTA program under title I of the Domestic
Volunteer Service Act (42 U.S.C. 4451 et seq.); and
(4) enter into a contract or cooperative or other agreement
with another Federal agency.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act, the terms ``emergency'' and ``major disaster''
have the meaning given such terms in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section
102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C 5122(1) and (2)).
SEC. 6. TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRUST.
The Corporation shall transfer funds to the National Service Trust
established in section 145 of the National and Community Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 12601) an amount required under the Strengthen AmeriCorps
Program Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-45) (42 U.S.C. 12605 et seq.) to
provide educational awards and related assistance authorized under
subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act (42
U.S.C. 12601 et. seq.)
SEC. 7. AUTHORITY FOR THIRD-TERM BENEFITS AND EDUCATIONAL AWARD.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual serving
in a program authorized by this Act may serve a third term of service
in an approved national service position and may receive in-service
benefits and a post-service educational award authorized under the
national service laws on the same basis as an individual serving in a
first or second term of service.
SEC. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
The Corporation may use up to two percent of funds authorized under
section 12 for the administration of this Act.
SEC. 9. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATED SERVICES.
Section 196(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 12651g(a)(2)) of the National and
Community Service Act is amended by striking ``money or property'' and
inserting ``money, services, or property''.
SEC. 10. GRANTS NOT SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS LIMITATIONS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds provided under
this Act to administer, reimburse, or support any national service
program authorized under the national service laws, shall not be
considered in applying any limitation on funding for such programs in
annual appropriations Acts.
SEC. 11. AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS OPERATED BY FEDERAL AGENCIES.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation may use
funds authorized under this Act to enter into a contract or cooperative
agreement with another Federal agency to support a national service
program carried out by that agency consistent with section 121(b) of
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Corporation
$150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to carry out this
Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Select Education.
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