The National Service GI Bill Act
This bill requires in-state tuition for certain volunteers, revises the requirements to receive certain national service grants, and revises AmeriCorps educational awards. It also requires certain grant programs to educate students about the U.S. Constitution.
Specifically, states must charge in-state tuition rates for institutions of higher education to volunteers who have served in a national service position (i.e., AmeriCorps) for one year, as well as for their spouses and children.
Additionally, states and subdivisions must submit a plan to the Corporation for National and Community Service to receive certain grants. Such a plan must (1) ensure that students are notified of and encouraged to commit to a term of service in the military, a national service program, or a public service job; (2) ensure that students are provided information about these options; and (3) include assurances that it will request each high school student to indicate a preference for a program and to register their intent to serve in the program.
It revises AmeriCorps educational awards by (1) increasing the amount of such awards, and (2) modifying the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from gross income such awards. Further, AmeriCorps volunteers are eligible for appointment in the competitive service. (Currently, Peace Corps volunteers are eligible for such an appointment.)
Finally, national activities supported by American History and Civics Education grants must include programs that educate students about the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5829 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5829
To require in-State tuition for certain Americorps volunteers, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2020
Mr. Waltz (for himself, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Panetta, and Mr. Bacon)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require in-State tuition for certain Americorps volunteers, and for
other purposes.
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 ``The National Service GI Bill Act''.
SEC. 2. IN-STATE TUITION FOR CERTAIN AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS.
Part C of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 138. IN-STATE TUITION FOR AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS.
``(a) Requirement.--For a period of 7 years beginning on the date
of enactment of the National Service GI Bill Act, in the case of an
individual who has served in an approved national service position (as
defined in section 101 of the National and Community Service Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511)) for not less than 1,700 hours during a period
of not more than 1 year, who meets the requirements of subsection (b),
and whose domicile is in a State that receives assistance under this
Act, such State shall not charge such individual (or the spouse or
dependent child of such member) tuition for attendance at a public
institution of higher education in the State at a rate that is greater
than the rate charged for residents of the State.
``(b) State Law and Regulations.--Notwithstanding State laws with
respect to residency, to benefit from the provisions of this section,
an individual shall meet the enrollment and financial-aid requirements
under applicable State law and regulations.
``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect at each
public institution of higher education in a State that receives
assistance under this Act for the first period of enrollment at such
institution that begins on or after July 1, 2021.''.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT OF 1990.
(a) Additional Requirements for States and Subdivisions of
States.--Section 121(a) of the National and Community Service Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(6) Additional requirements for states and subdivisions
of states.--A State or subdivision of a State desiring to
receive assistance under this subsection shall submit a plan to
the Corporation--
``(A) to ensure that beginning not later than
middle school, students in such State or subdivision--
``(i) are notified of and encouraged to
commit to a term of service in the military, a
national service program, or a public service
job as an employee of a local, State, or
Federal Government, or faith-based alternative
program; and
``(ii) provided information relating to the
various terms and benefits of such options; and
``(B) that includes assurances that in high school,
each student would be requested to--
``(i) indicate the preference of the
student for military, a national service
program, or public service, or a faith-based
alternative program; and
``(ii) register the intent of the student
to serve in such a program upon graduation from
high school, or defer until completion of a
program of study at an institution of higher
education.''.
(b) Educational Award Amount for Full-Time National Service.--
Section 147(a) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12603) is amended by inserting ``2 times the amount of the
national average of the annual tuition and fees (as described in
section 472(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1087ll(1))) at 2-year institutions of higher education, except that
such value shall be not less than'' after ``value equal to''.
(c) Noncompetitive Hiring Authority.--Part III of subtitle C of
title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 142. NONCOMPETITIVE HIRING AUTHORITY.
``Upon completion of a term of service in a national service
position, an individual shall be eligible for appointment in the
competitive service in the same manner as a Peace Corps volunteer as
prescribed in Executive Order 11103 (22 U.S.C. 2504 note, relating to
Providing for the Appointment of Former Peace Corps Volunteers to the
Civilian Career Services).''.
SEC. 4. EXCLUSION FROM GROSS INCOME OF AMERICORPS EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.
(a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 117(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of
subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C)
and inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) a national service educational award under
subtitle D of title I of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990.''.
(b) Exclusion of Discharge of Student Loan Debt.--Subsection (f) of
section 108 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(6) Payments under national service educational award
programs.--In the case of an individual, gross income shall not
include any amount received under a national service
educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.).''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
Section 2233(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6663(b)) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (2)
and inserting the following:
``(1) shall--
``(A) show potential to improve the quality of
student achievement in, and teaching of, American
history, civics and government, or geography, in
elementary schools and secondary schools;
``(B) demonstrate innovation, scalability,
accountability, and a focus on underserved populations;
and
``(C) include programs that educate students about
the history and principles of the Constitution of the
United States, including the Bill of Rights; and
``(2) may include hands-on civic engagement activities for
teachers and students.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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