Democratic senators introduce legislation to expand national service programs, compensation

Under legislation introduced by a collection of nine Democratic senators this week, AmeriCorps would take on more Americans and offer greater compensation, as part of a three-year response and recovery period linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act seeks to fund 750,000 national service positions, ensuring enough workers to support a projected need for up to 300,000 public health workers. The bill would introduce this in a phased rollout: positions would expand from 75,000 to 150,000 over the first year and double to 300,000 in years two and three. It is sponsored by U.S. Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).

“Americans have a long history of responding to national calls to service in times of crisis,” Coons said. “Today, AmeriCorps members are already hard at work in our communities, supporting students as they learn remotely, helping patients make critical care decisions, and more. These programs can and should be expanded to meet the needs of this moment. As we work to recover from the dual challenge of a public health crisis and an economic crisis, national service presents a unique opportunity for Americans to be part of our response and recovery while earning a stipend and education award and gaining marketable skills.”

The bill would also increase the AmeriCorps living allowance, to guarantee it was more accessible by more people, regardless of their situation and needs. The new living allowance would be set at 175 percent of the federal poverty line, with the accompanying Segal Education Award revalued at the cost of two years of public university tuition. Both would be nontaxable. Partnerships between AmeriCorps and federal health agencies would also expand.

The move has been backed by several national service organizations, including Voices for National Service, America’s Service Commissions, the Corps Network, and the Catholic Volunteer Network.

“AmeriCorps members are integral to the COVID-19 response, serving at drive-thru testing sites, providing child care for health care workers, helping deliver food to our most vulnerable, supporting students struggling with distance learning, and more. As we face the triple threat of a health, economic, and educational crisis, we should expand AmeriCorps so that every American is asked and given the opportunity [to] serve to help our communities respond and recover,” AnnMaura Connolly, president of Voices for National Service, said. “Our country needs their service now, perhaps more than ever.”

The senators envision this as one of three proposals to be put forward, ideally to be included in the next COVID-19 relief package.

“This is an unprecedented pandemic and it will take a massive, national effort to help America get through it, recover, and revive our economy,” Reed said. “Throughout our history, whenever the nation has been in trouble, Americans have always answered the call to national service. This bill will ramp up our existing service framework and infrastructure for that type of unified, national effort that will expand opportunities, improve communities, and strengthen America.”