WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in recognition of September 11 National Day of Service, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced a package of four bills as a part of his Answer the Call Agenda to renew a call to service for Americans of all ages and backgrounds. The legislative package aims to boost national service and encourage more Americans to engage in service by uplifting programs that connect students with opportunities to serve, creating pathways into the federal workforce, and honoring Americans making a difference to our local communities and country.  

Senator Kim first introduced these bills as a member of the House of Representatives as a part of his mission to recommit our nation to the power and opportunity of service. 

“Each year, we come together to mark the anniversary of September 11^th with a National Day of Service dedicated to those we lost and guided by our longing to find purpose through the gift of service. I believe we must recommit to this feeling of unity and responsibility to take care of each other,” said Senator Kim. “By opening doors to volunteering and creating more opportunities to serve, these bills are a starting point. As we look toward the 250^th anniversary of our independence as a nation next year, I hope they can help create the calls to service needed for years to come to mend the fractures in our democracy and heal our country.” 

Today on the 24^th anniversary of September 11^th, Senator Kim published an op-ed with further reflections on the purpose and unity found in service. 

Each of the four bills are detailed below:  

Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act – To provide $40 million in funding to restart the Learn and Service America program that provides technical skills training to K-12 teachers and higher education institutions to incorporate service-learning into classrooms. Before the program was discontinued in 2011 due to a lack of funding, it successfully engaged with over a million students and teachers each year and providing 19.9 million hours of community service. 

• New Jersey schools have previously used the funding in vocational programs to coordinate with local non-profits and help enrich students’ learning experience and teach civic responsibility.  

• The bill would also make technical changes to the program to strengthen its impact and allow more organizations, including school districts and community organizations, to apply directly to the program. 

The Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act is endorsed by the Coalition for Service-Learning and is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ-03). 

“The Coalition for Service Learning enthusiastically supports Senator Kim and Congressman Conaway’s introduction of the Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act. Funding to support service-learning across K-12 schools, universities, Indian tribes and community-based organizations has never been more important. Throughout the nation, there is a pressing need for students to engage in hands-on learning to acquire the skills, knowledge, and values essential for becoming active, civically engaged citizens capable of addressing community issues they care about. High-quality service-learning imparts academic content while infusing it with meaningful service communities that helps students’ build workforce skills. Research consistently finds that high-quality service-learning programs promote students’ civic knowledge, leadership skills, and commitment to continue contributing to their community and to the broader society. We applaud Senator Kim and Congressman Conaway for their leadership in recognizing the importance of service-learning and how it is a necessary program of the AmeriCorps agency to ensure that Americans of ALL ages have the support they need to serve,” said the Coalition for Service-Learning Steering Committee 

Service Starts at Home Act – To encourage and support students’ service in their local communities by creating two grant programs at the Department of Education that support paid internships at county and municipal governments and create a scholarship program for students who complete at least 100 hours of volunteer service. 

• Additionally, the bill directs the Secretary of Education to design an award program that recognizes schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education for their overall volunteer achievement and contributions to community service. 

The Service Starts at Home Act is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ-03). 

“Empowering our students and educators with hands-on skills and a deep sense of civic responsibility is crucial to ensuring that our communities across New Jersey and the nation can thrive,” said Congressman Conaway. “I’m proud to introduce the Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act and the Service Starts at Home Act with my friend Senator Kim. By revitalizing service-learning, internships, and recognition of community contributions, we’re not only enriching education but also strengthening the foundation of our communities. Together, we can cultivate the next generation of engaged, skilled leaders who understand that service truly starts at home.” 

Pipeline to Service Act – To encourage and unlock paths for college graduates to enter the federal service by directing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create pipeline programs with colleges and universities to prepare and assist enrolled students who are interested in public service, particularly from marginalized communities, to better understand and navigate the federal hiring process. 

• The bill would provide a minimum stipend of $15/hour for every federal government internship and allows interns outside of the Pathways Program to have their temporary position converted to a permanent position with the federal government upon completion of the necessary requirements. 
• Additionally, the bill codifies and makes improvements to the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, which attracts thousands of young, talented professionals into public service. As a PMF alumni himself, Senator Kim previously introduced the TALENTS Act earlier this year to reinstate the program and protect it from future political attacks after the Trump administration gutted the program. 

The Pipeline to Service Act is endorsed by Partnership for Public Service. 

“To face the challenges of today head-on and prepare for the issues of tomorrow, our federal government needs to recruit and hire the next generation of public servants. We appreciate Senator Kim’s commitment to ensuring that our government has the early career talent necessary to effectively serve the public,”said Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service.
 

A Chance to Serve Act – To expand and increase opportunities for Americans to serve in AmeriCorps and incentivize and celebrate service by strengthening post-service benefits for AmeriCorps Members and Return Peace Corps Volunteers as they transition into their next jobs and careers. Examples of improved benefits include: 

• Adjusting AmeriCorps Members’ living stipends to at least 200% of the federal poverty line.   

• Making Returned Peace Corps Volunteers’ readjustment allowance tax exempt. 

• Bolstering the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which helps Members after their service offset the cost of higher education, by doubling the award amount, making it tax-exempt, and allowing the award to be used to obtain a recognized post-secondary credential.  

• Providing AmeriCorps Members and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers with free health insurance for one year after their service. 

• Suspending the student loan payment and interest accrual for AmeriCorps Members and Peace Corps Volunteers during their service and making them eligible to count their suspended months toward forgiveness. 

• Providing AmeriCorps Members and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers with three years of non-competitive eligibility status which helps streamline the process of getting hired into the federal government. 
• Remove barriers that prevent lawful permanent residents, refugees, and other lawfully admitted individuals to serve as AmeriCorps Members and Peace Corps Volunteers. 

The A Chance to Serve Act is endorsed by Service Year Alliance and America’s Service Commission and is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Horsford (NV-04). 

“AmeriCorps members and Peace Corps volunteers make an impact in local communities every day, serving in schools, public health clinics, national parks, and urban gardens — all while building trust with neighbors both at home and abroad. At a time when national service is under threat, the Chance to Serve Act offers a bold vision to expand service, strengthen benefits, and make service years more accessible to young people,” said Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “Service Year Alliance is proud to endorse this legislation and grateful for Senator Kim’s leadership in ensuring every young person has the opportunity to serve and every community can benefit.” 

“On behalf of State Service Commissions around the country, we applaud Senator Kim for his efforts developing A Chance to Serve Act. Sen. Kim’s legislation would significantly improve and expand AmeriCorps to enable any American to have the opportunity to serve their community. It would also improve the quality of positions offered to members and help get them on a pathway to good-paying jobs after their term of service. We look forward to working with Senator Kim and the US Congress to enact this bill into law,” said Kaira Esgate, CEO, America’s Service Commissions. 

“At a time when some in Congress are calling for deep cuts to AmeriCorps, we commend Senator Kim for taking a bold stand in the opposite direction,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service. “By introducing legislation to improve AmeriCorps benefits and expand opportunities for more Americans to serve, he is sending a clear message that national service is not disposable—it’s essential. We look forward to working with him on this legislation.”

This legislative package builds on Senator Kim’s commitment to promote and encourage public service and strengthen our democracy. In the Senate, he also introduced the TALENTS Act to codify the PMF Program, which he had personally participated in at the start of his career in public service working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. Prior to being elected to the U.S. Senate, Senator Kim represented New Jersey’s 3^rdCongressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives where he introduced multiple bills to encourage and uplift service of different forms.  

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