Sponsor
Herbert C. Conaway
Representative · D-NJ
Representative · D-NJ
The bill increases targeted annual support and competitive grant opportunities for schools, tribal communities, and nonprofits while improving oversight, but it shifts funding toward competitive and earmarked streams and creates recurring and potentially open-ended federal costs that may reduce predictability and flexibility for some local recipients.
K–12 schools and consortiums (LEAs) can compete directly for Learn and Serve grants, increasing opportunities and funding for school-based service-learning programs.
Nonprofits and community service programs will receive a dedicated $40 million each year to fund service programs under subtitle B, expanding grant dollars and resources for community providers.
At least 80% of the appropriated funds are directed to Part II programs, providing more predictable, earmarked funding for the specific programs covered there (helping state and local delivery of those services).
Smaller or under-resourced local educational agencies are likely to be disadvantaged by the shift from formula-only funding to competitive grants, reducing predictable support for districts with limited grant-writing capacity.
The $40 million annual appropriation creates a recurring federal spending obligation that is borne by taxpayers and increases federal outlays each year.
Mandating that at least 80% of funds flow to Part II programs (a 20%/80% split) reduces flexibility to reallocate resources if needs shift, potentially limiting responses to changing local priorities.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Provides $40M annually from FY2026 for Learn and Serve America, expands eligible grantees (including LEAs), authorizes allotments or competitive grants, and requires CNCS hires and reporting.
Official title: To provide a direct appropriation of funds for the Learn and Serve America program of the Corporation for National and Community Service and to expand the eligibility of such program to additional entities.
Introduced September 11, 2025 by Herbert C. Conaway · Last progress September 11, 2025
Provides recurring federal funding and program changes to revive and expand the Learn and Serve America program. It directs $40 million annually beginning in FY2026 for subtitle B of the National and Community Service Act, requires CNCS to add at least 10 staff positions to support the program, and broadens who may receive grants to include local educational agencies, consortia of LEAs, tribes, territories, and designated statewide entities with a mix of allotments and competitive grants. The bill also creates reporting requirements and a small reserved set‑aside for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and competitive grants to State educational agencies, territories, and tribes.