S. 3487 Serve America Act summary
Posted on September 22nd, 2008 by bile Tags: America, Barack Obama, Campus of Service, Christopher Dodd, Clean Energy Service Corps, Commission on Cross-Sector Solutions, community energy efficiency, Community Solutions Fund, Education Corps, federal government, Healthy Futures Corps, Hillary Clinton, information technology, John McCain, National Service Reserve Corps, Office of Volunteers for Prosperity, Opportunity Corps, Orrin Hatch, S. 3487, Senate, Serve America Act, Service Nation, State Commission, Ted Kennedy, Thad Cochran, United States- Grants for “Youth Engagement Zones”, “not less than $250k and not more than $1m. Eligible partnerships include: a community-based agency, local educational agency, a State Commission or State education agency, local government agency, office of the chief executive officer of a unit of general local government, institution of higher education. Priority given to “eligible partnerships that serve high percentages or numbers of low-income students.” “including partnerships that serve urban, and partnerships that serve rural, communities.” $20m, $30m, $30m, $40m, $40m appropriated for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 respectively. The funds must be used for: ’solve specific community challenges’, ‘improve student engagement, including student attendance and student behavior, and student achievement, graduation rates, and college-going rates in secondary schools’, ‘involve an increasing percentage of secondary school students and out-of-school youth in the community in school-based or community-based service-learning activities each year, with the goal of involving all students in secondary schools served by the local education agency and involving an increasing percentage of the out-of-school youth in service-learning activities over the course of 5 years’, ‘encourage participants to continue to engage in service throughout their lives.’
- Grants for “Campuses of Service”, not more than 30 annually. $10m for each fiscal years 2009 through 2013. For 2 or 4 year, public or private institution of higher education.
- Service-Learning Impact study. 10 year longitudinal study on the impact of the activities carried out. Examining student academic achievement, student engagement, graduation rates, the degree to which the participants in the activities engaged in subsequent national service, volunteering, or other service activities. Allocation “such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.”
- Sec. 167. Establish the “Commission on Cross-Sector Solutions to America’s Problems.” 21 members. 9 appointed by the President, 3 by Senate majority leader, 3 by Senate minority leader, 3 by Speaker of the House, 3 by the House minority leader. No more than 11 from the same political party. “The Commission shall conduct a thorough study of all matters relating to was in which the Federal Government can work more efficiently and effectively with nonprofit organizations and philanthropic organizations… in achieving better outcomes.” “The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.” Terminates after 6 years
- Sec. 167A. “Community Solutions Fund grant program.” Make grants for periods of 5 years, and may renew for 5 years. Not less than $1m not more than $10m. For entities focused on improving measurable outcomes relating to: education for economically disadvantaged students in public schools, child and youth development, reductions in poverty or increases in economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals, health including access to health care and education, resource conservation and local environmental quality, individual or community energy efficiency, civic engagement, reductions in crime. Funds must be matched not less than $1 to $1.
- Sec. 167B. “Innovation Fellowship grants.” “To individuals to pay for the Federal share of carrying out projects in which the individuals establish innovative nonprofit organizations to address national and local challenges.” For periods of 2 years. Not more than $100k. Not more than 25 in a fiscal year.
- To carry out section 167, such sums as necessary. Section 167A: $50m, $60m, $70m, $80m, $100m for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 respectively. For 167B: $3.5 for 2009, $5m each year after.
- Create the Education Corps, Healthy Futures Corps, Clean Energy Service Corps, Opportunity Corps. Raise the number of national service positions from 75,000 to 250,000 by 2013. Establish 25k in 2009, 50k in 2010, 75k in 2011, 125k in 2012 and 175k in 2013. Can receive ‘educational awards’ for performing service. Those over 50 can transfer half the awards to a child or grandchild.
- ServeAmerica fellowships. 1k in 2009 to 5k in 2013. Would receive 50% of the amount of the total average annual subsistence allowance provided to VISTA volunteers under section 105 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 USC 4955). Each Campus of Service may nominate not fewer than 8 individuals, each institution of higher education not a Campus of Service may nominate not few than 4 individuals. Eligible for educational awards.
- Encore Fellowships. Over 50 years old. Not more than 10 from each State. $11k for living expenses / year. $7m appropriated for each year 2009 to 2013.
- Sec. 162. Volunteer generation fund. Grants for ‘eligible entities to increase the number of volunteers available to carry out activities that address ares of national need.” Not less than 3, not more than 5 years. $50m, $60m, $70m, $80m, $100m for 2009-2013 respectively.
- Sec. 163. National Service Reserve Corps. For those who have “completed a term of national service.” “To respond to natural disasters and other emergencies in a timely manner.” Would attend annual training sessions. Keep a database of all National Service Reserve Corps, all nonprofit organizations who have been certified. Deployable by the president. $6.5m.
- Sec. 164. Call to Service Campaign. Campaign to ‘encourage all people of the United States, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status, to engage in full- or part-time national service, long- or short-term public service, or volunteering. In conducting the campaign, the Corporation may collaborate with State Commissions, Governors, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, businesses, institutions of higher education, elementary schools, and secondary schools.”
- Sec. 203. Office of Volunteers for Prosperity. “To provide eligible skilled professionals with fixed amount stipends to offset the travel and living costs of volunteering abroad.” Objectives include: eliminate extreme poverty; reduce world hunger and malnutrition; increase access to safe potable water; enact universal education; reduce child morality and childhood disease; combat the spread of preventable diseases, including HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis; provide educational and work skill support for girls and empowering women to achieve independence; create sustainable business and entrepreneurial opportunities; increase access to information technology. They must provide dollar for dollar match for the stipend. $10m for each year 2009 - 2013.
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