Bill Overview
Title: ACTION for National Service Act
Description: This bill (1) converts the Corporation for National and Community Service into the AmeriCorps Administration and revises its membership, leadership, and authority; (2) reauthorizes programs carried out by the administration; (3) establishes a National Service Foundation to accept and administer gifts on behalf of the administration; (4) modifies the calculation of national service educational awards; and (5) otherwise modifies provisions related to national and volunteer service programs. Additionally, the bill creates an interagency Civilian Climate Corps, operated by the administration, to conduct service projects addressing climate change.
Sponsors: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Target Audience
Population: People involved or benefiting from national and community service programs
Estimated Size: 4400000
- The AmeriCorps Administration manages national and volunteer service programs in the U.S., covering a diverse array of initiatives and demographics.
- The bill modifies educational awards which directly impact service members, their educational benefits, and their financial situations.
- The establishment of a National Service Foundation affects individuals and entities interested in supporting national service through donations and gifts.
- The Civilian Climate Corps will engage individuals interested in participating and working in environmental service or projects.
- Volunteer and national service programs involve U.S. residents who are eligible to participate, which spans across various demographics and locales.
- There are organizations and communities that benefit from the service projects initiated and carried out through national service programs.
Reasoning
- The target population is U.S. residents eligible for national and community service programs, with an estimated 4,400,000 individuals involved or benefiting from such programs.
- The policy could significantly impact those in national service, especially pertaining to educational awards, which provide financial support for education in return for service.
- The Civilian Climate Corps may attract individuals interested in environmental issues and climate change, predominantly impacting younger demographics and those in related fields.
- With only 2.3 billion USD available in year 1, only a fraction of the target population can directly benefit from the policy, but awareness and indirect impacts, like environmental improvements, may affect a broader group.
- A range of perspectives, from students and young professionals to retirees and non-beneficiaries, will show diverse impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Recent College Graduate (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am excited about the Civilian Climate Corps component as it's directly related to my field.
- The modified educational awards are enticing, as I am considering further studies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Tech Company Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see potential in aligning company volunteering with the new national service programs.
- Our CSR can benefit from the National Service Foundation, pooling more resources for community services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
High School Teacher (Detroit, MI)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe these changes could motivate students to pursue service opportunities.
- Better educational awards could encourage more students to engage in AmeriCorps.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Landscape Architect (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm thrilled about the Civilian Climate Corps—it's a perfect synergy with my career goals.
- I hope to engage in significant projects that benefit the environment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Cincinnati, OH)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm intrigued by the new service opportunities but unsure how they will cater to retirees.
- It would be great if the National Service Foundation supports our local projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Portland, OR)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The ACTION act aligns with my personal and professional values regarding community and nature.
- I hope to see more local projects benefiting from the policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
College Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Civilian Climate Corps could be a great opportunity for me to gain experience and education.
- Improved educational awards would help alleviate financial stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Nonprofit Executive Director (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see potential in these changes to enhance partnerships with federal service.
- It could increase our capacity to deliver impactful projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Philanthropy Coordinator (Boston, MA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The formation of the National Service Foundation could streamline our aid delivery to targeted initiatives.
- I anticipate more strategic partnerships to maximize our impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Software Developer (Omaha, NE)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm curious about the potential of the new service efforts but don't see immediate personal relevance.
- I might explore volunteering more if projects match my skills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2300000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $2600000000)
Year 2: $2400000000 (Low: $2100000000, High: $2700000000)
Year 3: $2500000000 (Low: $2200000000, High: $2800000000)
Year 5: $2700000000 (Low: $2400000000, High: $3000000000)
Year 10: $3000000000 (Low: $2700000000, High: $3300000000)
Year 100: $5000000000 (Low: $4500000000, High: $5500000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy entails a significant increase in government spending and thus requires careful consideration of budgetary allocations and potential offsets.
- The success of philanthropic contributions affecting savings relies heavily on external donor engagement.
- There may be political and social implications tied to climate service project selection and implementation.