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H.R. 5844: ACTION for National Service Act

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H.R. 5844: ACTION for National Service Act

114th Congress · introduced 2016-07-14 · Social Welfare · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-07-14 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

ACTION for National Service Act

Plain summary

America's Call To Improve Opportunities Now for National Service Act or the ACTION for National Service Act This bill amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to reestablish the Corporation for National and Community Service as an independent executive agency called the National and Community Service Administration. An individual who successfully completes a term of full-time national service shall be entitled to a national service educational award equal to twice the amount of tuition for the institution of higher education where the individual is enrolled, not to exceed twice the average in-state tuition. Current law limits the award's value to the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant that an individual is eligible to receive in the aggregate. Within the administration, the bill establishes an interagency working group to evaluate specified issues related to: (1) eligibility for tuition and student loan repayment assistance with regard to participation in certain national or volunteer service programs, (2) the advisability of granting federal hiring preference to certain volunteer program participants, and (3) methods for increasing the participation of seniors in national service programs. The National Service Foundation, a nonprofit corporation established by the bill, shall accept and administer gifts made in connection with the administration. The bill expresses support for the authorization of appropriations sufficient to provide, within 10 years, volunteer service opportunities for at least 1 million volunteers in full-time national service annually. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude AmeriCorps educational awards from gross income.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

ACTION for National Service Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] · 125 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Jim Costa (D-CA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Jared Huffman (D-CA) and 65 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] reported raising $3.0 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr5844 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114