[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5442 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 5442

To build on America's spirit of service to nurture, promote, and expand 
 a culture of service to secure the Nation's future, address critical 
 needs of the Nation, and strengthen the civic fabric of American 
 society.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 September 17, 2025

Mr. Panetta (for himself and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in 
 addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, 
 Agriculture, Natural Resources, Ways and Means, Oversight and 
 Government Reform, Veterans' Affairs, Homeland Security, Intelligence 
(Permanent Select), House Administration, the Judiciary, and Energy and 
Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
 each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
 jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To build on America's spirit of service to nurture, promote, and expand 
 a culture of service to secure the Nation's future, address critical 
 needs of the Nation, and strengthen the civic fabric of American 
 society.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Inspired to Serve Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

 The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.

Sec. 2. Table of contents.
 TITLE I--PRIORITIZATION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND SERVICE LEARNING

Sec. 101. Civic education fund.

Sec. 102. Service-learning fund.

Sec. 103. National civics assessment.

Sec. 104. Excellence in civics award.

Sec. 105. Development of material on civic education and effective 
 citizenship.

Sec. 106. Sense of Congress regarding the importance of teachers in 
 inspiring civic engagement.
 TITLE II--ELEVATION AND INTEGRATION OF ALL FORMS OF SERVICE

Sec. 201. Council on Military, National, and Public Service.

Sec. 202. Internet-based service platform.

Sec. 203. Pilot program to coordinate military, national, and public 
 service recruitment.

Sec. 204. Joint market research and recruiting program to advance 
 military and national service.

Sec. 205. Information sharing to advance military and national service.

Sec. 206. Transition opportunities for military servicemembers and 
 national service participants.

Sec. 207. Joint report to Congress on initiatives to integrate military 
 and national service.
 TITLE III--ADVANCEMENT OF MILITARY, NATIONAL, AND PUBLIC SERVICE

Sec. 300. Definitions.
 Subtitle A--Advancement of Military Service

Sec. 301. New personnel management structure for military specialists.

Sec. 302. Pre-service tuition grant program.

Sec. 303. Pilot program on technical civilian professional credentials.

Sec. 304. Expansion of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Program.

Sec. 305. Expansion of Cyber Institutes Program.

Sec. 306. Temporary authority for targeted recruitment incentives.

Sec. 307. Multiyear appropriations for marketing and advertising.
 Subtitle B--Advancement of National Service

Sec. 321. National service fellowships.

Sec. 322. Expansion of YouthBuild, Youth Conservation Corps, and 
 National Guard Youth Challenge programs.

Sec. 323. National service public awareness campaign.

Sec. 324. Recognition of corporate contributions to national service.

Sec. 325. Corporation for national and community service demonstration 
 projects.

Sec. 326. Peace Corps remote demonstration projects.

Sec. 327. National service living allowance increases.

Sec. 328. Senior Corps stipend increases.

Sec. 329. Wraparound support services for certain national service 
 participants.

Sec. 330. National service educational award increases.

Sec. 331. Expanded use of national service educational award.

Sec. 332. Discounted end-of-service cash stipend for national service 
 members.

Sec. 333. Exclusion of national service educational award from gross 
 income.

Sec. 334. Transferability of national service educational award.

Sec. 335. Noncompetitive eligibility for full-time national service 
 participants.

Sec. 336. Pension service credit for Federal service corps 
 participants.

Sec. 337. Senior Corps competitive grant model.
 Subtitle C--Advancement of Public Service: Modernization of Federal 
 Personnel Systems

Sec. 341. Enhanced awareness of the value of Federal public service.

Sec. 342. Responsibility for determining eligibility for hiring 
 preferences and special hiring options.

Sec. 343. Enhancement of special hiring authorities for military 
 veterans.

Sec. 344. Noncompetitive eligibility for high-performing civilian 
 employees.

Sec. 345. Flexibility for temporary and term appointments.

Sec. 346. Criteria for granting direct-hire authority to agencies.

Sec. 347. Cafeteria plan for Federal employees.

Sec. 348. Modern benefits pilot program.

Sec. 349. Demonstration project flexibility for the Office of Personnel 
 Management.

Sec. 350. Advanced assessment tools for Executive agency hiring.

Sec. 351. Competency standards for human resources specialists.

Sec. 352. Evaluation of improvements to the Federal civil service 
 personnel system.

Sec. 353. Proposals for modern talent-management system.

Sec. 354. Annual report on blended Federal workforce.

Sec. 355. Sense of Congress on effective and efficient management of 
 the blended Federal workforce.
Subtitle D--Advancement of Public Service: Students, Recent Graduates, 
 and Critical Skills

Sec. 361. Federal Fellowship and Scholarship Center.

Sec. 362. Public Service Corps.

Sec. 363. Public service academy grants.

Sec. 364. Public service cadet program at military service academies.

Sec. 365. Compensation for Federal interns.

Sec. 366. Establishment of Pathways Program.

Sec. 367. Enhanced hiring for recent college graduates and post-
 secondary students.

Sec. 368. Aggregate number of hires of recent college graduates and 
 post-secondary students.

Sec. 369. Demonstration project to hire recent college graduates and 
 post-secondary students with critical 
 skills.

Sec. 370. Noncompetitive eligibility for Federal developmental 
 positions.

Sec. 371. Facilitation of Federal employee reskilling.

Sec. 372. Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve pilot project.

Sec. 373. Expansion of cyber talent management system.

Sec. 374. Personnel policy demonstration project for Federal agencies 
 with employees in science, technology, 
 engineering, and mathematics fields.

Sec. 375. Development of proposal for simplified personnel system for 
 Veterans Health Administration.

Sec. 376. Portability of health care licensure for Federal employees.
 TITLE IV--STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL MOBILIZATION

Sec. 401. Modernization of the Selective Service System.

Sec. 402. Report on exemptions and deferments for a possible military 
 draft.

Sec. 403. Responsibilities for national mobilization; personnel 
 requirements.

Sec. 404. Critical skills for the Department of Defense.

Sec. 405. Individual Ready Reserve for Critical Skills.

 TITLE I--PRIORITIZATION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND SERVICE LEARNING

SEC. 101. CIVIC EDUCATION FUND.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Applied civics.--The term ``applied civics'' means an 
 educational program applying service-learning methods to 
 provide students with practical and experiential opportunities 
 to apply their civic knowledge and skills.

    (2) Civic education.--The term ``civic education'' means an 
 educational program that provides participants with knowledge 
 of law, government, and the rights and responsibilities of 
 citizens and skills that enable participants to participate 
 responsibly in democracy.

    (3) Educational service agency and state educational 
 agency.--The terms ``educational service agency'' and ``State 
 educational agency'' have the meanings given those terms in 
 

section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

    (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
        (A) any local educational agency;
        (B) any State educational agency;
            (C) any educational service agency;
            (D) any institution of higher education;
        (E) any community-based organization;
        (F) any nonprofit, nongovernmental organization; or
        (G) any consortium of entities described in 
 subparagraphs
        (A) through
        (F) .

    (5) High-need school.--The term ``high-need school'' means 
 any public elementary school or secondary school that is 
 located in an area in which the percentage of students from 
 families with incomes below the poverty line is 30 percent or 
 more, as determined by the Secretary.

    (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
 ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
 term in 

section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

    (7) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
 agency'' has the meaning given that term in 

section 8101 of the 
 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) 
 and includes any tribally sanctioned educational authority as 
 defined in 

section 3201 of that Act (20 U.S.C. 7011).

    (8) School.--The term ``school'' means--
        (A) any elementary school or secondary school as 
 those terms are defined in 

section 8101 of the 
 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 7801); and
        (B) any education program provided by the Secretary 
 of Defense under 

section 2164 of title 10, United 
 States Code.

    (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Education.

    (10) Service-learning.--The term ``service-learning'' has 
 the meaning given that term in 

section 101 of the National and 
 Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511).

    (11) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
 Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United 
 States.

    (b) Program Authorized.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and 
 administer a Civic Education Fund from which the Secretary 
 makes grants under this section to eligible entities, on a 
 competitive basis, to support the development and evaluation of 
 civic education programs in schools.

    (2) === Purpose ===
-The purposes of grants awarded from the Civic 
 Education Fund are--
        (A) to promote and expand civic education by 
 supporting the development and implementation of high-
 quality civic education, applied civics, and service-
 learning programming in schools;
        (B) to promote the development and implementation 
 of evidence-based curricula and educational standards, 
 and to provide teacher development, with respect to 
 civic education, applied civics, and service-learning 
 programming in schools; and
            (C) to support State and local educational 
 agencies, institutions of higher education, and 
 nonprofit organizations in their efforts to support 
 civic education, applied civics, and service-learning 
 in schools.
            (c) Teacher Development in Civic Education, Applied Civics, and 
Service-learning.--

    (1) In general.--An eligible entity may apply for a grant 
 under this section for the purpose of teacher development in 
 civic education, applied civics, and service-learning in 
 schools. Such grant may only be used--
        (A) to train teachers in effective strategies for 
 instructing students in civic education, applied 
 civics, and service-learning;
        (B) to host training sessions for teachers to share 
 best practices and learn new skills;
            (C) to develop resources that teachers can use in 
 the classroom to improve civic education, applied 
 civics, and service-learning programs for students;
            (D) to coordinate with other local organizations 
 and community-based services and programs to provide 
 hands-on civic learning development opportunities; or
        (E) to support any other programs designed to 
 ensure that teachers have the requisite knowledge and 
 skills to successfully teach civic education and 
 applied civics.

    (2) Grants.--
        (A) Reservation of funds for high-need schools.--Of 
 the funds made available for grants under this 
 subsection, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 
 50 percent for grants to provide services for teachers 
 in high-need schools.
        (B) General grants.--The remainder of the funds 
 made available for grants under this subsection (but 
 not more than 50 percent of such funds) shall be 
 granted on a competitive basis to eligible entities for 
 the purpose of teacher development in civic education, 
 applied civics, and service learning in schools.
            (d) Development and Implementation of Effective Civic Education, 
Applied Civics, and Service-Learning Programs.--

    (1) In general.--An eligible entity may apply for a grant 
 under this section for activities to support effective civic 
 education, applied civics, and service-learning programs in 
 schools. Such grant may only be used--
        (A) to establish a new, or improve an existing, 
 civic education, applied civics, or service-learning 
 program;
        (B) to evaluate the effect of such programs on 
 participants and increase the effectiveness of such 
 programs with respect to--
            (i) understanding of United States law, 
 history, and government;
            (ii) voting and other forms of political 
 and civic engagement;
            (iii) critical thinking and media literacy;
            (iv) interest in employment, and careers, 
 in military, national, and public service; and
            (v) the ability of participants to 
 collaborate and compromise with others to solve 
 problems;
            (C) to develop and modify curricula relating to 
 civic education, applied civics, and service learning;
            (D) to create and administer classroom activities, 
 thesis projects, individual or team projects, 
 internships, or community service activities related to 
 civics education;
        (E) to collaborate with government entities, 
 nonprofit organizations, or consortia of such entities 
 and organizations to provide students with experiences 
 related to civic education; or
        (F) to develop and support any other programs the 
 Secretary deems crucial to the efficacy of civic 
 education, applied civics, or service-learning 
 programs.

    (2) Grants.--
        (A) Reservation of funds for high-need schools.--Of 
 the funds made available for grants under this 
 subsection, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 
 50 percent for grants for programs for students in 
 high-need schools.
        (B) General grants.--The remainder of the funds 
 made available for grants under this subsection (but 
 not more than 50 percent of such funds) shall be 
 granted on a competitive basis to eligible entities for 
 programs that develop and implement effective civic 
 education, applied civics, and service-learning 
 programs in schools.

    (e) Matching Funds Requirements.--

    (1) Requirements.--Except for grants for high-need schools 
 under subsections
            (c) (2)
        (A) and
            (d) (2)
        (A) , the Federal share of 
 the cost of a program that receives a grant under this section, 
 whether the grant is provided directly or as a subgrant from 
 the original recipient of the grant, may not exceed 50 percent 
 of such cost.

    (2) Calculation.--In providing for the remaining share of 
 the cost of carrying out the program receiving the grant, the 
 recipient--
        (A) may provide for such share through 
 contributions in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, 
 including facilities, equipment, or services; and
        (B) may provide for such share through non-Federal 
 sources or from other Federal sources (other than funds 
 made available under Federal programs administered by 
 the Secretary).

    (3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive in whole or in part 
 the requirements of paragraph

    (1) with respect to a recipient 
 in any fiscal year if the Secretary determines that such a 
 waiver would be equitable due to a lack of available financial 
 resources at the local level.

    (4) Report by recipient on other federal funds.--A 
 recipient of a grant to which this subsection applies shall 
 report to the Secretary the amount and source of any Federal 
 funds used to carry out the program for which the grant is 
 provided, other than funds made available under programs 
 administered by the Secretary, including the amounts and 
 sources of the other Federal funds.

    (f) Geographic Distribution.--To the extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grants 
awarded under this section.

    (g) Reports.--The Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and every 12 months thereafter, 
submit a report to Congress that contains the following:

    (1) Information on all programs for which grants were 
 awarded under this section during the preceding 12-month 
 period, including details on the grant recipients, the programs 
 funded by the grants, and the schools involved in the programs 
 funded by the grants.

    (2) An evaluation of the successes of all programs for 
 which grants are awarded under this section, noting in 
 particular the successes of such programs in achieving--
        (A) progress toward exposing all students in 
 schools to a robust civic education curriculum by 2034; 
 and
        (B) increases in the number of students in grades 
 4, 8, and 12 testing at or above the ``Proficient'' 
 level in the civics portion of the National Assessment 
 of Education Progress Test under 

section 303 of the 
 National Assessment of Educational Progress 
 Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9622), as compared with 
 the last administration of such Assessment.

    (3) An assessment of the potential need for additional 
 funding for programs under this section.

    (4) Information regarding each recipient of a grant under 
 this section that uses Federal funds to carry out the program 
 for which the grant is provided, other than funds made 
 available under programs administered by the Secretary.

    (h) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations 
as may be necessary to carry out this section. Such regulations shall 
include--

    (1) procedures for eligible entities to apply for grants 
 under this section;

    (2) the competitive process for the awarding of grants;

    (3) any limitations on the use of funds from grants awarded 
 under this section; and

    (4) reporting requirements by recipients of such grants.
            (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Civic Education Fund established under this section 
for each fiscal year not less than $100,000,000 to carry out programs 
authorized under subsection
            (c) , and not less than $100,000,000 to 
carry out programs authorized under subsection
            (d) .

SEC. 102. SERVICE-LEARNING FUND.

    (a) Eligible Entity.--

Section 119

    (a)

    (1) of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12563

    (a)

    (1) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``a public or private elementary school or 
 secondary school,''; and

    (2) by striking ``a consortium of such entities, or a 
 consortium of 2 or more such entities and a for-profit 
 organization'' and inserting ``or a consortium of such 
 entities.''

    (b) Establishment.--

Section 119 of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12563) is amended by striking subsection

    (b) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (b) Service-Learning Fund.--
 ``

    (1) Establishment.--There is established in the 
 Corporation a Service-Learning Fund (in this section referred 
 to as the `Fund'). The purpose of the Fund is to make grants 
 and fixed-amount grants (in accordance with 

section 129
            (l) ) to 
 eligible entities or eligible partnerships, as appropriate, for 
 programs and activities described in subsection
            (c) , in order 
 to achieve the objectives set forth in paragraph

    (2) .
 ``

    (2) Objectives.--The objectives of the Fund are to ensure 
 that, by 2031--
 ``
        (A) all students in kindergarten through grade 12 
 receive in-class service-learning experiences;
 ``
        (B) at least 1,000,000 students in grades 6 
 through 12 participate in a summer of service program 
 each year; and
 ``
            (C) at least 1,000,000 students in grades 9 
 through 12 participate in a semester of service program 
 each year.
 ``

    (3) Allocation of funds.--Of the funds made available to 
 the Fund each fiscal year--
 ``
        (A) 20 percent shall be reserved for service-
 learning programs in public schools under paragraphs

    (1) through

    (7) ,

    (9) , and

    (11) of subsection
            (c) , of 
 which amount--
 ``
            (i) 80 percent shall be reserved for 
 programs in elementary schools and secondary 
 schools, of which amount not less than 50 
 percent shall be reserved for programs in low-
 income communities; and
 ``
            (ii) 20 percent shall be reserved for 
 programs at institutions of higher education;
 ``
        (B) 40 percent shall be reserved for summer of 
 service programs under paragraph

    (8) of subsection
            (c) , 
 of which amount not less than 50 percent shall be 
 reserved for programs in low-income communities; and
 ``
            (C) 40 percent shall be reserved for semester of 
 service programs under paragraph

    (10) of subsection
            (c) , of which amount not less than 50 percent shall be 
 reserved for programs in low-income communities.''.
            (c) Summer of Service Completion Awards.--

Section 119
            (c) (8)
        (B)
            (iii) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12563
            (c) (8)
        (B)
            (iii) ) is amended--

    (1) by inserting ``no less than'' before ``100 hours''; and

    (2) by striking ``educational award of $500 or $750 as 
 described in sections 146

    (a)

    (2)
            (C) and 147
            (d) '' and inserting 
 ``completion award of $500 (or, at the discretion of the Chief 
 Executive Officer, of $750 in the case of a participant who is 
 economically disadvantaged)''.
            (d) Semester of Service Programs.--

Section 119
            (c) (10)
        (A) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12563
            (c) (10)
        (A) ) 
is amended--

    (1) by inserting ``in grades 9 through 12'' after 
 ``secondary school students''; and

    (2) by striking ``70 hours'' and inserting ``150 hours''.

    (e) Priority of Applicants.--

Section 119

    (e) of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12563

    (e) ) is amended by 
inserting ``in accordance with the objectives and funding requirements 
set forth in subsection

    (b) ,'' after ``In making grants under this 
part,''.

    (f) Matching Fund Requirement.--Subsection 119

    (f) of the National 
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12563

    (f) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (3) , by striking ``Serve America Act'' and 
 inserting ``Inspired to Serve Act of 2025''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
 ``

    (4) Matching fund requirement.--
 ``
        (A) Requirement.--Except for programs that will 
 be undertaken in low-income communities, the Federal 
 share of the cost of a program that receives assistance 
 under subsection

    (b) , whether the assistance is 
 provided directly or as a subgrant from the original 
 recipient of the assistance, may not exceed 50 percent 
 of such cost.
 ``
        (B) Calculation.--In providing for the remaining 
 share of the cost of carrying out a program under this 
 section, the recipient--
 ``
            (i) shall provide for such share through 
 payment in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, 
 including facilities, equipment, or services; 
 and
 ``
            (ii) may provide for such share through 
 State sources, local sources, or other Federal 
 sources.
 ``
            (C) Waiver.--The Chief Executive Officer may 
 waive in whole or in part the requirements of this 
 paragraph with respect to a recipient in any fiscal 
 year if the Chief Executive Officer determines that 
 such waiver would be equitable due to a lack of 
 available financial resources at the local level.''.

    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--

Section 119 of the National 
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12563) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
 ``

    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Service-Learning Fund $250,000,000 for each fiscal 
year.''.

SEC. 103. NATIONAL CIVICS ASSESSMENT.

    (a) Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.--

    (1) State plans.--

Section 1111 of the Elementary and 
 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311) is amended--
        (A) in subsection

    (g)

    (2)
            (D) , by striking ``reading 
 and mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, mathematics, 
 and civics''; and
        (B) in subsection

    (h)

    (1)
            (C) 
            (xii) , by striking 
 ``reading and mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, 
 mathematics, and civics''.

    (2) Local educational agency plans.--

Section 1112
            (c) (3) of 
 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 6312
            (c) (3) ) is amended by striking ``reading and mathematics'' 
 and inserting ``reading, mathematics, and civics''.

    (b) National Assessment of Educational Progress.--

Section 303 of 
the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 
U.S.C. 9622) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) in subparagraphs
        (B) and
        (E) , by 
 striking ``reading and mathematics'' and 
 inserting ``reading, mathematics, and civics'';
            (ii) in subparagraph
            (D) , by striking 
 ``civics,'';
            (iii) in subparagraph
        (G) , by striking 
 ``and'' at the end;
            (iv) in subparagraph
        (H) , by striking the 
 period and inserting ``; and''; and
            (v) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (I) ensure that achievement data from the civics 
 assessments described in subparagraphs
        (B) and
        (E) are 
 made available both in the aggregate for the United 
 States and separately for each State.''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (3) , in subparagraphs
        (A)
            (i) and
            (C) 
            (ii) , by striking ``reading and mathematics'' and 
 inserting ``reading, mathematics, and civics''; and

    (2) in subsection
            (d) (3) , in subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) , by 
 striking ``reading and mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, 
 mathematics, and civics''.

SEC. 104. EXCELLENCE IN CIVICS AWARD.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Applied civics.--The term ``applied civics'' means an 
 educational program applying service-learning methods to 
 provide students with practical and experiential opportunities 
 to apply their civic knowledge and skills.

    (2) Civic education.--The term ``civic education'' means an 
 educational program that provides participants with knowledge 
 of law, government, and the rights and responsibilities of 
 citizens and with skills that enable participants to 
 participate responsibly in democracy.

    (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Education.

    (4) Service-learning.--The term ``service-learning'' has 
 the meaning given that term in 

section 101 of the National and 
 Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511).

    (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
 Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United 
 States.

    (b) In General.--The Secretary may annually award to States, school 
districts, schools, teachers, and students or groups of students the 
Excellence in Civics Award to highlight excellence in the delivery and 
teaching of civic education, applied civics, and service-learning, 
especially programs that address community needs.
            (c) Applications.--

    (1) In general.--To be eligible for an award under 
 subsection

    (b) , a State, school district, school, teacher, 
 student, or group of students shall submit an application or be 
 nominated to the Department of Education at such time, in such 
 manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of 
 Education may require.

    (2) Contents.--At a minimum, applications or nominations 
 submitted to the Secretary or the committee created under 
 subsection
            (d) shall include information specifying--
        (A) the types of innovative civic education, 
 applied civics, or service-learning programs or 
 projects previously administered or completed;
        (B) for awards given for service-learning programs 
 or projects, the impact on measurable civics outcomes 
 and learning, or the impact of the project on 
 addressing community or national needs, including 
 disaster relief, education, poverty reduction, ex-
 offender reintegration, and senior citizen aid; and
            (C) for awards given for education, the ability of 
 the program, teaching style, or project to be used more 
 broadly across the Nation.
            (d) Committee.--The Secretary shall create a select committee to 
review applications and nominations for and designate recipients of 
awards under this section.

    (e) Regulations.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue such regulations as 
may be necessary to govern applications and nominations for awards 
under this section, evaluation of such applications and nominations, 
and making such awards.

SEC. 105. DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIAL ON CIVIC EDUCATION AND EFFECTIVE 
 CITIZENSHIP.

    (a) Coordination.--

    (1) In general.--The Librarian of Congress, the Director of 
 the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Archivist 
 of the United States shall work jointly to develop and 
 distribute to the public educational materials and teaching 
 resources on civic education and effective citizenship, 
 including by enhancing existing online resources and supporting 
 the distribution of hard copy and digital materials to local 
 libraries, polling locations, and schools, especially in rural 
 areas.

    (2) Civic education defined.--In this subsection, the term 
 ``civic education'' means an educational program that provides 
 participants with knowledge of law, government, and the rights 
 and responsibilities of citizens and skills that enable 
 participants to participate responsibly in democracy.

    (b) Reporting.--The Librarian of Congress, the Director of the 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Archivist of the 
United States shall submit as part of the budget request for each 
fiscal year an update on the development and distribution efforts 
outlined under subsection

    (a) .
            (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 106. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHERS IN 
 INSPIRING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

    (a) 

=== Findings ===
-Congress finds the following:

    (1) Parents have a critical voice in ensuring their 
 children receive an education that will help them to be engaged 
 and productive members of American society, and members of the 
 teaching profession are crucial to helping them achieve that 
 goal.

    (2) The United States suffers from a lack of consistently 
 effective civic education that imparts knowledge about 
 government, democratic engagement, and the Constitution.

    (3) Recent polling by the Annenberg Public Policy Center 
 revealed that 22 percent of American adults are unable to name 
 any of the three branches of government and 37 percent are 
 unable to name or do not know any of the rights guaranteed by 
 the First Amendment to the Constitution.

    (4) Every State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
 of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the 
 United States reported a lack of qualified teachers in at least 
 one academic subject during the 2017-2018 school year.

    (5) The Learning Policy Institute reported a teacher 
 shortage of about 64,000 teachers during the 2015-2016 academic 
 year and estimated that, beginning in 2020, 300,000 new 
 teachers will be needed each year.

    (6) Teachers often do not receive full support for 
 classroom activities or for advancing their contributions to 
 the education system through career development.

    (7) A survey by the Department of Education found that 94 
 percent of public school teachers in the United States paid for 
 their own classroom supplies and materials without 
 reimbursement during the 2014-2015 school year, with the 
 average teacher spending $479 out-of-pocket.

    (8) Eighteen percent of teachers work a second job during 
 the school year, making teachers three times as likely as all 
 workers in the United States to work multiple jobs.

    (9) Teachers in all subjects and at all grade levels play a 
 crucial role in educating youth about service options and the 
 ways youth can engage in their communities.

    (10) The advancement of civic education and the 
 availability of well-trained and effective teachers are 
 essential for the future health of civil society in the United 
 States.

    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

    (1) teachers of all subjects and at all grade levels, 
 including those in public, private, and homeschool settings, 
 are essential in inspiring civic knowledge and engagement in 
 their students;

    (2) public school teachers are dedicated public servants 
 and should be honored and supported in their work to educate 
 youth in the United States;

    (3) teachers are crucial in inspiring their students to 
 contribute to their Nation and communities through all forms of 
 service;

    (4) the profession of teaching is a noble endeavor and one 
 that is vital to the civic education of American youth;

    (5) teachers across the country have sought to raise 
 awareness of a crisis in resource support and adequate 
 compensation for teachers, especially at public schools;

    (6) officials at all levels of government should seek to 
 address these concerns by providing teachers with resource 
 support, adequate compensation, and career development 
 opportunities; and

    (7) more Americans will be called to the teaching 
 profession when government officials at all levels demonstrate 
 value for the essential role of teachers in our society by 
 providing teachers with resource support, adequate 
 compensation, and career development opportunities.

 TITLE II--ELEVATION AND INTEGRATION OF ALL FORMS OF SERVICE

SEC. 201. COUNCIL ON MILITARY, NATIONAL, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency'' has 
 the meaning given that term in 

section 105 of title 5, United 
 States Code.

    (2) Military service.--The term ``military service'' means 
 active service (as defined in subsection
            (d) (3) of 

section 101 
 of title 10, United States Code) or active status (as defined 
 in subsection
            (d) (4) of such section) in one of the uniformed 
 services (as defined in subsection

    (a)

    (5) of such section).

    (3) National service.--
        (A) In general.--The term ``national service'' 
 means participation, other than military service or 
 public service, in a program that--
            (i) is designed to enhance the common good 
 and meet the needs of communities, the States, 
 or the United States; and
            (ii) is funded or facilitated by--
            (I) an organization described in 
 

section 501
            (c) (3) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
 tax under 

section 501

    (a) of such Code;
            (II) an institution of higher 
 education as defined in 

section 101 of 
 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 1001); or
            (III) the Federal Government or a 
 State, Tribal, or local government.
        (B) Included programs.--The term ``national 
 service'' includes--
            (i) the programs authorized in--
            (I) sections 5 and 6 of the Peace 
 Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504 and 2505);
            (II) section 171 of the Workforce 
 Innovation and Opportunity Act 
 (relating to the YouthBuild Program; 29 
 U.S.C. 3226);
            (III) part A of title I of the 
 Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 
 (relating to the Volunteers in Service 
 to America; 42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.); 
 and
            (IV) subtitles C (relating to the 
 National Service Trust Program; 42 
 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.) and E (relating 
 to the National Civilian Community 
 Corps; 42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.) of 
 title I of the National and Community 
 Service Act of 1990; and
            (ii) any other program that is consistent 
 with subparagraph
        (A) , as determined by the 
 Director of the Council on Military, National, 
 and Public Service established under subsection

    (b) .

    (4) Public service.--The term ``public service'' means 
 civilian employment in the Federal Government or a State, 
 Tribal, or local government.

    (5) Service.--The term ``service'' means a personal 
 commitment of time, energy, and talent to a mission that 
 contributes to the public good by protecting the Nation and its 
 citizens, strengthening communities, or promoting the general 
 social welfare.

    (b) Establishment.--

    (1) In general.--There is established in the Executive 
 Office of the President a Council on Military, National, and 
 Public Service (in this section referred to as the 
 ``Council'').

    (2) Functions.--The Council shall--
        (A) advise the President with respect to promoting 
 and expanding opportunities for military service, 
 national service, and public service for all Americans;
        (B) coordinate policies and initiatives of the 
 executive branch to promote and expand opportunities 
 for military service, national service, and public 
 service; and
            (C) coordinate policies and initiatives of the 
 executive branch to foster an increased sense of 
 service and civic responsibility among all Americans.
            (c) Composition.--

    (1) Director.--The President shall appoint, by and with the 
 advice and consent of the Senate, an Assistant to the President 
 for Military, National, and Public Service, who shall serve at 
 the pleasure of the President. The Assistant to the President 
 for Military, National, and Public Service shall serve as the 
 Director of the Council.

    (2) Membership.--In addition to the Director, the Council 
 shall be composed of--
        (A) the Secretary of State;
        (B) the Secretary of Defense;
            (C) the Attorney General;
            (D) the Secretary of the Interior;
        (E) the Secretary of Commerce;
        (F) the Secretary of Labor;
        (G) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
        (H) the Secretary of Education;
            (I) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
        (J) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
        (K) the Director of the Office of Management and 
 Budget;
            (L) the Director of National Intelligence;
            (M) the Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management;
        (N) the Director of the Peace Corps;
        (O) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation 
 for National and Community Service; and
        (P) such other officers as the President may 
 designate.

    (3) Meetings.--The Council shall meet on a quarterly basis, 
 or more frequently as the Director may direct.
            (d) Responsibilities of the Council.--In addition to performing 
such other functions as the President may direct, the Council shall do 
the following:

    (1) Assist and advise the President and the heads of 
 Executive agencies in the establishment of policies, goals, 
 objectives, and priorities to promote service and civic 
 responsibility among all Americans.

    (2) Develop and recommend to the President and the heads of 
 Executive agencies policies of common interest to Executive 
 agencies for increasing the participation and propensity of 
 Americans to participate in military, national, and public 
 service in order to address national security and other current 
 and future needs of the Nation.

    (3) Serve as the interagency lead for identifying critical 
 skills to address national security and other needs of the 
 Nation, with responsibility for coordinating Governmentwide 
 efforts to address gaps in critical skills and identifying 
 methods to recruit and retain individuals possessing such 
 critical skills.

    (4) Serve as a forum for Federal officials responsible for 
 military, national, and public service programs to coordinate 
 and develop interagency, cross-service initiatives.

    (5) Lead the effort of the Federal Government to develop 
 joint awareness and recruitment, retention, and marketing 
 initiatives involving military, national, and public service, 
 including the sharing of marketing and recruiting research 
 between and among service agencies.

    (6) Coordinate and oversee the development and 
 implementation of recruitment, retention, marketing, and public 
 outreach initiatives for the Federal civilian service and 
 national service programs, including--
        (A) efforts to reevaluate benefits for the Federal 
 civilian service and national service programs in order 
 to increase awareness of, and remove barriers to entry 
 into, such programs; and
        (B) efforts to develop pathways to service for 
 college students and recent college graduates.

    (7) Consider approaches for assessing impact of service on 
 the needs of the Nation and individuals.

    (8) Consult with such representatives of non-Federal 
 entities, including State, local, and Tribal governments, State 
 and local educational authorities, institutions of higher 
 education, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic 
 organizations, and the private sector, as the Council considers 
 advisable, in order to promote and develop initiatives to 
 foster and reward military, national, and public service.

    (9) Oversee the implementation of the recommendations of 
 the National Commission on Military, National, and Public 
 Service established under 

section 553 of the National Defense 
 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328).

    (10) Prepare and submit to the President and to the 
 Congress a Quadrennial Military, National, and Public Service 
 Strategy, with the first such Strategy submitted not later than 
 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, which 
 shall set forth--
        (A) a review of programs and initiatives of the 
 Federal Government relating to the Council's mandate;
        (B) notable initiatives by State, local, and Tribal 
 governments and by nongovernmental entities to increase 
 awareness of and participation in service programs;
            (C) current and foreseeable trends for service to 
 address the needs of the Nation; and
            (D) a program for addressing any deficiencies 
 identified by the Council, together with 
 recommendations for legislation.

    (11) Prepare and submit to the President and the Congress a 
 Quadrennial Report on Cross-Service Participation on the basis 
 of the activities carried out under 

section 207, with the first 
 such Report submitted not later than 4 years after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act.

    (12) Prepare, for inclusion in the President's annual 
 budget submission to Congress under 

section 1105 of title 31, 
 United States Code, a detailed, separate analysis, by budget 
 function, by agency, and by initiative area for the preceding 
 fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and the fiscal years for 
 which the budget is submitted, identifying the amounts of gross 
 and net appropriations or obligational authority and outlays 
 for initiatives consistent with the priorities of the President 
 under the Quadrennial Military, National, and Public Service 
 Strategy, with separate displays for mandatory and 
 discretionary amounts.

    (13) Develop a definition of national service that 
 incorporates domestic and international service and a joint 
 national service messaging strategy that both the Corporation 
 for National and Community Service and the Peace Corps would 
 promote.

    (e) Responsibilities of the Director.--In addition to duties 
relating to the preceding provisions of this section, as well as such 
other functions as the President may direct, the Director shall--

    (1) coordinate with the Assistant to the President for 
 National Security Affairs for any matter that may affect 
 national security;

    (2) at the President's discretion, serve as spokesperson of 
 the executive branch on issues related to military, national, 
 and public service; and

    (3) upon request, appear before any committee or 
 subcommittee of the House of Representatives and of the Senate 
 to represent the position of the executive branch on matters 
 within the scope of the Council's responsibilities.

    (f) Organizational Matters.--

    (1) Assistant to the president for military, national, and 
 public service.--The Assistant to the President for Military, 
 National, and Public Service shall be compensated at the rate 
 payable for level II of the Executive Schedule under 

section 5313 of title 5, United States Code.

    (2) Staff.--The Council may employ such officers and 
 employees as may be necessary to carry out its functions. Staff 
 of the Council shall be compensated at a rate no higher than 
 the rate payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
 

section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

    (3) Experts and consultants.--The Council may employ and 
 fix the compensation of such experts and consultants as may be 
 necessary for carrying out of its functions, in accordance with 
 

section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.

    (4) Advisory committees.--The Council may, in carrying out 
 its functions, establish advisory committees composed of 
 representatives from outside the Federal Government.

    (5) Authority to accept gifts.--The Council may accept, 
 use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services, goods, and 
 property, except for cash, from non-Federal entities for the 
 purposes of aiding and facilitating the work of the Council.

    (6) Authority to accept voluntary services.--
 Notwithstanding 

section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, 
 the Council may accept and employ voluntary and uncompensated 
 services in furtherance of the purposes of the Council.

    (g) Conforming Amendment.--

Section 1105

    (a) of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (39) a separate statement of the amount of appropriations 
 requested for the Council on Military, National, and Public 
 Service in the Executive Office of the President.
 ``

    (40) a separate analysis by budget function, by agency, 
 and by initiative area, for the current fiscal year and the 
 fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, identifying the 
 amounts of obligational authority and outlays for initiatives 
 consistent with the priorities of the President under the 
 Quadrennial Military, National, and Public Service Strategy 
 required by 

section 201
            (d) of the Inspired to Serve Act of 
 2025, with separate displays for mandatory and discretionary 
 amounts.''.

    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 202. INTERNET-BASED SERVICE PLATFORM.

    (a) Declaration of 

=== Policy ===
-It is the policy of the United States, 
in promoting a culture of service in the United States and meeting the 
recruiting needs for military, national, and public service programs, 
to provide a comprehensive, interactive, and integrated internet-based 
platform to enable Americans to learn about and connect with service 
organizations and opportunities and assist in the recruiting needs of 
service organizations.

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Council on military, national, and public service.--The 
 term ``Council on Military, National, and Public Service'' 
 means the Council on Military, National, and Public Service 
 established under 

section 201.

    (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
 the Office of Management and Budget.

    (3) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency'' has 
 the meaning given that term in 

section 105 of title 5, United 
 States Code.

    (4) Member.--The term ``member'' means an individual who is 
 a member of the Service Platform under this section.

    (5) Military department.--The term ``military department'' 
 has the meaning given that term in 

section 102 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (6) Military service.--The term ``military service'' means 
 active service (as defined in subsection
            (d) (3) of 

section 101 
 of title 10, United States Code) or active status (as defined 
 in subsection
            (d) (4) of such section) in one of the uniformed 
 services (as defined in subsection

    (a)

    (5) of such section).

    (7) National service.--
        (A) In general.--The term ``national service'' 
 means participation, other than military or public 
 service, in a program that--
            (i) is designed to enhance the common good 
 and meet the needs of communities, the States, 
 or the United States; and
            (ii) is funded or facilitated by--
            (I) an organization described in 
 

section 501
            (c) (3) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
 tax under 

section 501

    (a) of such Code;
            (II) an institution of higher 
 education as defined in 

section 101 of 
 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 1001); or
            (III) the Federal Government or a 
 State, Tribal, or local government.
        (B) Included programs.--The term ``national 
 service'' includes--
            (i) the programs authorized in--
            (I) sections 5 and 6 of the Peace 
 Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504 and 2505);
            (II) section 171 of the Workforce 
 Innovation and Opportunity Act 
 (relating to the YouthBuild Program; 29 
 U.S.C. 3226);
            (III) part A of title I of the 
 Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 
 (relating to the Volunteers in Service 
 to America; 42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.); 
 and
            (IV) subtitles C (relating to the 
 National Service Trust Program; 42 
 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.) and E (relating 
 to the National Civilian Community 
 Corps; 42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.) of 
 title I of the National and Community 
 Service Act of 1990; and
            (ii) any other program that is consistent 
 with subparagraph
        (A) , as determined by the 
 Director of the Council on Military, National, 
 and Public Service.

    (8) Public service.--The term ``public service'' means 
 civilian employment in the Federal Government or a State, 
 Tribal, or local government.

    (9) Service.--The term ``service'' means a personal 
 commitment of time, energy, and talent to a mission that 
 contributes to the public good by protecting the Nation and its 
 citizens, strengthening communities, or promoting the general 
 social welfare.

    (10) Service mission.--The term ``service mission'' means 
 the objectives of a service organization or a service 
 opportunity.

    (11) Service opportunity.--The term ``service opportunity'' 
 means any paid, volunteer, or other position with a service 
 organization.

    (12) Service organization.--The term ``service 
 organization'' means any military service, national service, or 
 public service organization that participates in the Service 
 Platform.

    (13) Service platform.--The term ``Service Platform'' means 
 the interactive and integrated internet-based platform 
 established under this section.

    (14) Service type.--The term ``service type'' means the 
 period and form of service with a service organization, 
 including part-time, full-time, term limited, sabbatical, 
 temporary, episodic, and emergency options for paid, volunteer, 
 and stipend-based service.

    (15) State.--The term ``State'' means the several States, 
 the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and 
 any other territory or possession of the United States.
            (c) Establishment of the Service Platform.--The Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget shall establish, maintain, and promote 
the Service Platform, an interactive and integrated internet-based 
platform to serve as a centralized resource and database for the 
American public to learn about and connect with organizations and 
opportunities in military, national, and public service and for those 
organizations to identify members of the American public with the 
skills necessary to address their needs.
            (d) Coordination and Oversight.--The development and maintenance of 
the Service Platform shall be subject to the oversight of the Director 
of the Council on Military, National, and Public Service who shall be 
responsible for ensuring that the Service Platform achieves the policy 
objectives set forth in this section.

    (e) Use of the Service Platform.--

    (1) Public accessibility.--The Director shall determine, 
 and make accessible by the public, information about service 
 organizations and service opportunities, without any 
 requirement that a person seeking such access become a member 
 of the Service Platform.

    (2) Members.--Any individual meeting criteria established 
 by the Director by regulation may become a member of the 
 Service Platform. Registering as a member shall entitle the 
 member to access information about service organizations and 
 service opportunities available through the Service Platform.

    (3) Procedure for registration of members.--An individual 
 seeking to become a member shall provide to the Director such 
 information as the Director may determine is necessary to 
 facilitate the functionality of the Service Platform.

    (4) Additional requirements.--In addition to the 
 requirements under paragraph

    (3) , each prospective member--
        (A) shall, unless specifically electing not to do 
 so, consent to share any information entered into the 
 Service Platform with, and to be contacted by, any 
 public service or national service organization that 
 participates in the Service Platform;
        (B) may consent to share any information entered 
 into the Service Platform with and to be contacted by 
 any uniformed service that participates in the Service 
 Platform;
            (C) may consent to be contacted for potential 
 service with any national or public service 
 organization in the event of a national emergency; and
            (D) may consent to be contacted to join the Armed 
 Forces on a voluntary basis during an emergency 
 requiring national mobilization.

    (5) Verification.--The Director shall register an 
 individual as a member when the Director verifies that the 
 individual has not previously registered as a member. The 
 Director shall, by written notice (including by electronic 
 communication), notify the member of such registration.

    (6) Additional information by members.--The Service 
 Platform shall enable members to provide additional information 
 to improve the functionality of the Service Platform, as 
 determined by the Director. Such additional information may 
 include information regarding--
        (A) educational background;
        (B) employment background;
            (C) professional skills, training, licenses, and 
 certifications;
            (D) service organization preferences;
        (E) service type preferences;
        (F) service mission preferences; and
        (G) geographic preferences.

    (7) Updates.--Each member may update the member's personal 
 and other information in the Service Platform at any time.

    (8) Request regarding military service.--The Director shall 
 send to any member who consents under paragraph

    (4)
            (D) to 
 voluntarily join the Armed Forces during an emergency requiring 
 national mobilization an annual request to confirm the member's 
 continued willingness to so serve.

    (9) Withdrawal of members.--Each member may withdraw as a 
 member by submitting to the Service Platform a request to so 
 withdraw. Within 30 days after the request to withdraw is made, 
 all records regarding that member shall be removed from the 
 Service Platform and any other data storage locations the 
 Service Platform may use, notwithstanding any obligations under 
 the Federal Records Act (44 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).

    (f) Service Organizations.--

    (1) Executive agencies and military departments.--All 
 Executive agencies and military departments shall participate 
 in the Service Platform as service organizations.

    (2) Non-federal service organizations.--The regulations 
 issued under subsection
            (i) shall include--
        (A) procedures that enable State, local, and Tribal 
 government agencies to participate in the Service 
 Platform as service organizations;
        (B) procedures that enable nongovernmental 
 organizations that undertake national service programs 
 to participate in the Service Platform as service 
 organizations; and
            (C) a timeline to implement the procedures 
 described in subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) .

    (3) Information on service organizations.--Each service 
 organization shall make available on the Service Platform--
        (A) information sufficient for members to identify 
 and understand the organization's service opportunities 
 and service mission;
        (B) information on the availability of service 
 opportunities by service type;
            (C) internet links to the service organization's 
 hiring and recruiting websites; and
            (D) such additional information as the Director may 
 determine.

    (4) Additional platforms not precluded.--Nothing in this 
 subsection shall prevent any service organization from creating 
 or maintaining its own internet-based system or platform to 
 recruit individuals for employment or for volunteer or other 
 service opportunities.

    (g) Minimum Design Requirements.--In addition to the requirements 
set forth in this section, the Service Platform shall do the following:

    (1) Provide the public with access to information on 
 service organizations and service opportunities through an 
 internet-based system that is user-friendly, interactive, 
 accessible, and fully functional through mobile applications 
 and other widely used communications media, without a 
 requirement that any person seeking such access register as a 
 member.

    (2) Provide individuals with the ability to register as 
 members in order to customize their experience in accordance 
 with subsection

    (e)

    (6) , include mechanisms to connect members 
 with service organizations and service opportunities that match 
 the interests of the members, and ensure robust search 
 capabilities to facilitate the ability of members to explore 
 service organizations and service opportunities.

    (3) Include mechanisms to enable service organizations to 
 connect with members who have consented to be contacted and 
 meet the needs of the service organizations.

    (4) Incorporate, to the extent permitted by law and 
 regulation, the ability of members to securely upload 
 information on education, employment, and skills from internet-
 based professional, recruiting, and social media systems, 
 consistent with security requirements.

    (5) Ensure compatibility with relevant information systems 
 of Executive agencies and military departments.

    (6) Use state-of-the-art technology and analytical tools to 
 facilitate the efficacy of the Service Platform in connecting 
 members with service opportunities and service organizations.

    (7) Retain all personal information in a manner that 
 protects the privacy of members in accordance with 

section 552a 
 of title 5, United States Code, and other applicable law, 
 provide access to information relating to a member only in 
 accordance with the consent of the member, and incorporate data 
 security and control policies that are adequate to ensure the 
 confidentiality and security of information provided and 
 maintained on the Service Platform.

    (h) Development of Service Platform Plan.--

    (1) Implementation plan.--Not later than 180 days after the 
 date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a 
 detailed plan to implement the Service Platform that complies 
 with all the requirements of this section.

    (2) Consultation required.--In developing the plan under 
 this subsection, the Director shall consult with the Secretary 
 of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for 
 National and Community Service, the Director of the Office of 
 Personnel Management, the head of the United States Digital 
 Service and, as needed, the heads of other Executive agencies. 
 Such consultation may include seeking assistance in the design, 
 development, and creation of the Service Platform.

    (3) Technical advice permitted.--In developing the plan 
 under this subsection, the Director may seek and receive 
 technical advice from experts outside of the Federal Government 
 and to form a committee of such experts to assist in the design 
 and development of the Service Platform. Notwithstanding 
 

section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Director may 
 accept the voluntary services of these individuals. A committee 
 of the experts shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 
 Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

    (4) Information collection authorized.--In developing the 
 plan under this subsection, the Director may collect 
 information from the public through focus groups, surveys, and 
 other mechanisms, without regard to subchapter I of chapter 35 
 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the 
 ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
            (i) Regulations.--The Director shall issue regulations to carry out 
this section not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.

    (j) Selective Service System.--

Section 10 of the Military Selective 
Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3809) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
 ``
            (i) Service Platform.--The Selective Service System shall provide 
to all registrants, on its website and in communications with 
registrants relating to registration, information about the Service 
Platform established under 

section 202 of the Inspired to Serve Act of 
2025. The Selective Service System shall provide to each registrant, at 
the time of registration, an option to transfer to the Service Platform 
the information the registrant has provided to the Selective Service 
System. The Director of Selective Service shall consult with the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that 
information provided by the Selective Service System is compatible with 
the information requirements of the Service Platform.''.

    (k) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and every 12 months thereafter, the 
Director of the Council on Military, National, and Public Service shall 
provide a report to Congress on the Service Platform. Such report shall 
include information on the following:

    (1) Details on the status of implementation of the Service 
 Platform and plans for further development of the Service 
 Platform.

    (2) Participation rates of service organizations and 
 members.

    (3) The number of individuals visiting the Service 
 Platform, the number of service organizations participating in 
 the platform, and the number of service opportunities available 
 in the preceding 12-month period.

    (4) Any cybersecurity or privacy concerns.

    (5) The results of any surveys or studies undertaken to 
 increase the use and efficacy of the Service Platform.

    (6) Any additional information the Director or the 
 President considers appropriate.
            (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Office of Management and Budget for each fiscal 
year such funds as may be necessary for the development, maintenance, 
improvement, and promotion of the Service Platform.

SEC. 203. PILOT PROGRAM TO COORDINATE MILITARY, NATIONAL, AND PUBLIC 
 SERVICE RECRUITMENT.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Council on military, national, and public service.--The 
 term ``Council on Military, National, and Public Service'' 
 means the Council on Military, National, and Public Service 
 established under 

section 201.

    (2) Military service.--The term ``military service'' means 
 active service (as defined in subsection
            (d) (3) of 

section 101 
 of title 10, United States Code) or active status (as defined 
 in subsection
            (d) (4) of such section) in one of the Armed 
 Forces (as defined in subsection

    (a)

    (4) of such section).

    (3) National service.--
        (A) In general.--The term ``national service'' 
 means participation, other than military or public 
 service, in a program that--
            (i) is designed to enhance the common good 
 and meet the needs of communities, the States, 
 or the United States; and
            (ii) is funded or facilitated by--
            (I) an organization described in 
 

section 501
            (c) (3) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
 tax under 

section 501

    (a) of such Code;
            (II) an institution of higher 
 education as defined in 

section 101 of 
 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (22 
 U.S.C. 1001); or
            (III) the Federal Government or a 
 State, Tribal, or local government.
        (B) Included programs.--The term ``national 
 service'' includes--
            (i) the programs authorized in--
            (I) sections 5 and 6 of the Peace 
 Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504 and 2505);
            (II) section 171 of the Workforce 
 Innovation and Opportunity Act 
 (relating to the YouthBuild Program; 29 
 U.S.C. 3226);
            (III) part A of title I of the 
 Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 
 (relating to the Volunteers in Service 
 to America; 42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.); 
 and
            (IV) subtitles C (relating to the 
 National Service Trust Program; 42 
 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.) and E (relating 
 to the National Civilian Community 
 Corps; 42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.) of the 
 National and Community Service Act of 
 1990; and
            (ii) any other program that is consistent 
 with subparagraph
        (A) , as determined by the 
 Director of the Council on Military, National, 
 and Public Service.

    (4) Public service.--The term ``public service'' means 
 civilian employment in the Federal Government or a State, 
 Tribal, or local government.

    (b) Pilot Program Authorized.--The Director of the Council on 
Military, National, and Public Service may carry out a pilot program in 
coordination with departments and agencies responsible for recruiting 
individuals for military, national, and public service, to focus on 
recruiting individuals from underserved markets and demographic 
populations, such as those defined by gender, geography, socioeconomic 
status, and critical skills, as determined by each participating 
department or agency, to better reflect the demographics of the Nation 
while ensuring that recruiting needs are met.
            (c) Consultation.--In developing a pilot program under this 
section, the Director of the Council on Military, National, and Public 
Service shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, the Secretaries of the military departments, the 
Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the 
Director of the Peace Corps, and the Director of the Office of 
Personnel Management.
            (d) Duration.--The pilot program under this section shall terminate 
no earlier than 2 years after its commencement.

    (e) Status Reports.--Not later than 12 months after the initiation 
of any pilot program authorized by this section, and not later than 12 
months thereafter, the Director of the Council on Military, National, 
and Public Service shall submit to Congress reports evaluating any 
pilot program carried out under this section.

    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 204. JOINT MARKET RESEARCH AND RECRUITING PROGRAM TO ADVANCE 
 MILITARY AND NATIONAL SERVICE.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Defense, the Chief 
Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community 
Service, and the Director of the Peace Corps may carry out a joint 
market research, market studies, recruiting, and advertising program to 
complement the existing programs of the military departments, the 
national service programs administered by the Corporation, and the 
Peace Corps.

    (b) Information Sharing Permitted.--

Section 503 of title 10, United 
States Code, shall not be construed to prohibit sharing of information 
among, or joint marketing efforts of, the Department of Defense, the 
Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Peace Corps to 
carry out this section.
            (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for carrying out this 
section.

SEC. 205. INFORMATION SHARING TO ADVANCE MILITARY AND NATIONAL SERVICE.

    (a) Establishment of Plan.--The Secretary of Defense, the Chief 
Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community 
Service, and the Director of the Peace Corps shall establish a joint 
plan to provide applicants who are either ineligible or otherwise not 
selected for service in the Armed Forces, in a national service program 
administered by the Corporation, or in the Peace Corps, with 
information about the forms of such service for which they have not 
applied.

    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, the Chief 
Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community 
Service, and the Director of the Peace Corps shall submit to Congress a 
report on the plan established under subsection

    (a) .

SEC. 206. TRANSITION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS AND 
 NATIONAL SERVICE PARTICIPANTS.

    (a) Employment Assistance.--

Section 1143
            (c) (1) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ``the Corporation for National and 
Community Service,'' after ``State employment agencies,''.

    (b) Employment Assistance, Job Training Assistance, and Other 
Transitional Services: Department of Labor.--

    (1) In general.--

Section 1144 of title 10, United States 
 Code, is amended--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``and the 
 Secretary of Veterans Affairs,'' and inserting 
 ``the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the 
 Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for 
 National and Community Service,'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking ``and 
 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs'' and 
 inserting ``the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
 and the Chief Executive Officer of the 
 Corporation for National and Community 
 Service''; and
            (iii) in paragraph

    (3) , by inserting ``and 
 the Chief Executive Officer'' after ``The 
 Secretaries'';
        (B) in subsection

    (b) , by adding at the end the 
 following:
 ``

    (11) Provide information on public service opportunities, 
 training on public service job recruiting, and the advantages 
 of careers with the Federal Government.'';
            (C) in subsection
            (c) (2)
        (A) , by striking ``and the 
 Secretary of Veterans Affairs,'' and inserting ``, the 
 Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Chief Executive 
 Officer of the Corporation for National and Community 
 Service,'';
            (D) in subsection
            (d) , in the matter preceding 
 paragraph

    (1) , by inserting ``and the Chief Executive 
 Officer of the Corporation for National and Community 
 Service'' after ``the Secretaries''; and
        (E) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (g) Corporation for National and Community Service Programs.--In 
establishing and carrying out a program under this section, the Chief 
Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service 
shall do the following:
 ``

    (1) Provide information concerning national service 
 opportunities, including--
 ``
        (A) opportunities to acquire and enhance 
 technical skills available through national service;
 ``
        (B) certifications and verifications of job 
 skills and experience available through national 
 service;
 ``
            (C) support services and benefits available 
 during terms of service; and
 ``
            (D) job analysis techniques, job search 
 techniques, and job interview techniques specific to 
 national service positions.
 ``

    (2) Inform such members that the Department of Defense 
 and the Department of Homeland Security are required, under 
 

section 1143

    (a) of this title, to provide proper certification 
 or verification of job skills and experience acquired while on 
 active duty that may have application to service in programs of 
 the Corporation for National and Community Service.
 ``

    (3) Work with military and veterans' service 
 organizations and other appropriate organizations in promoting 
 and publicizing job fairs for such members.
 ``

    (4) Provide information about disability-related 
 employment and education protections.''.

    (2) Clerical amendment.--The heading of 

section 1144 of 
 such title is amended to read as follows:
``

Sec. 1144. Employment assistance, job training assistance, and other 
 transitional services: Department of Labor and the 
 Corporation for National and Community Service''.
            (c) Authorities and Duties of the Chief Executive Officer.--

Section 193A

    (b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12651d

    (b) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (24) , by striking ``and'' at the end;

    (2) in paragraph

    (25) , by striking the period at the end 
 and inserting ``; and''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (26) ensure that individuals completing a partial or full 
 national service term receive information about military and 
 public service opportunities for which they may qualify or in 
 which they may be interested.''.

SEC. 207. JOINT REPORT TO CONGRESS ON INITIATIVES TO INTEGRATE MILITARY 
 AND NATIONAL SERVICE.

    (a) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 4 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and not later than the end of each 4-year 
period thereafter, the Director of the Council on Military, National, 
and Public Service established under 

section 201, in coordination with 
the Secretary of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Director of the 
Peace Corps, shall submit to Congress a joint report on cross-service 
recruitment, including recommendations for increasing joint advertising 
and recruitment initiatives, for the Armed Forces, programs 
administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, and 
the Peace Corps.

    (b) Contents of Report.--Each report under subsection

    (a) shall 
include the following:

    (1) The number of Peace Corps volunteers and participants 
 in national service programs administered by the Corporation 
 for National and Community Service who previously served as a 
 member of the Armed Forces.

    (2) The number of members of the Armed Forces who 
 previously served in the Peace Corps or in a program 
 administered by the Corporation for National and Community 
 Service.

    (3) An assessment of existing joint recruitment and 
 advertising initiatives undertaken by the Department of 
 Defense, the Peace Corps, or the Corporation for National and 
 Community Service.

    (4) An assessment of the feasibility and cost of expanding 
 such existing initiatives.

    (5) An assessment of ways to improve the ability of the 
 reporting agencies to recruit individuals from the other 
 reporting agencies.
            (c) Consultation.--The Director of the Council on Military, 
National, and Public Service established under 

section 201, the 
Secretary of Defense, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation 
for National and Community Service, and the Director of the Peace Corps 
shall--

    (1) consult with each other with respect to the content and 
 production of the reports submitted under this section; and

    (2) undertake studies of recruiting efforts that are 
 necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

 TITLE III--ADVANCEMENT OF MILITARY, NATIONAL, AND PUBLIC SERVICE

SEC. 300. DEFINITIONS.

 In this title, the terms ``Executive agency'' and ``military 
department'' have the meanings given those terms in sections 105 and 
102 of title 5, United States Code, respectively.

 Subtitle A--Advancement of Military Service

SEC. 301. NEW PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE FOR MILITARY SPECIALISTS.

    (a) Plan for Personnel Management.--The Secretary of each military 
department shall develop a plan to implement a new personnel management 
structure in such military department for the purpose of recruiting and 
retaining personnel for specific military occupational specialties 
requiring skills that are critical to meet current and future military 
requirements, including specialties involving science, technology, 
cybersecurity, and engineering.

    (b) Plan Requirements.--Each plan under subsection

    (a) shall--

    (1) be based on the exercise of existing authorities;

    (2) examine the successes in recruiting and retaining 
 personnel for other military occupational specialties requiring 
 specific skills, such as medical workers, attorneys, and 
 chaplains; and

    (3) examine methods to improve recruiting and retaining 
 personnel for the military occupational specialties described 
 in subsection

    (a) based on--
        (A) methods for members of the Armed Forces to 
 transition more easily between regular and reserve 
 components; and
        (B) methods for members of the Armed Forces to 
 transition more easily between military service, 
 Federal civilian service, and nongovernmental civilian 
 service.
            (c) Submittal to Congress.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of each military department 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives the plan developed by such Secretary under 
this section.

SEC. 302. PRE-SERVICE TUITION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Pre-Service Tuition Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of each 
military department may provide a grant, for a period of not more than 
3 years, to pay all or a portion of the charges of an educational 
institution for the tuition of an individual who is enrolled in such 
educational institution for a technical degree, certificate, or 
certification program to meet a critical need in such military 
department, and who makes a commitment to service in an Armed Force 
under the jurisdiction of such Secretary. Each Secretary shall create a 
list of degrees, certificates, and certifications that qualify for 
grants under this section and shall update that list at least once 
every 5 years.

    (b) Requirements for Receipt of Grant.--The Secretary of a military 
department may not provide grant funds under subsection

    (a) to an 
individual unless the individual signs an enlistment contract for 
military service upon completion of the educational program for which 
the funds were provided, for such period as is determined by the 
Secretary. Upon signing such enlistment contract, the individual shall 
be placed in the Delayed Entry Program of the Armed Force concerned. 
If, at the time the individual is expected to begin military training, 
the individual no longer qualifies for service or is otherwise unable 
or unwilling to serve, the individual shall, subject to subsection
            (c) , 
repay the funds received, or serve a period equal to the military 
service commitment in a federally sponsored national service program.
            (c) Waiver.--The Secretary of a military department may reduce or 
waive the service obligation of an individual under this section in 
exigent circumstances, as determined by the Secretary.
            (d) Relation to Other Personnel Authorities.--A grant under 
subsection

    (a) may be provided--

    (1) without regard to the lack of authority for the grant 
 under title 10 or 37, United States Code; and

    (2) notwithstanding any provision of such titles, or any 
 regulation prescribed under such provision, relating to methods 
 of providing incentives to individuals to accept appointments 
 or enlistments in the Armed Forces, including the provision of 
 group individual bonuses, pay, or other incentives.

    (e) Notice and Wait Requirement.--The Secretary of a military 
department may not provide a grant under subsection

    (a) until--

    (1) the Secretary submits to the Committees on Armed 
 Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan 
 regarding the provision of grants under that subsection, which 
 includes--
        (A) a description of the grant program, including 
 its purpose and the potential recruits to be addressed 
 by the program;
        (B) a description of the provisions of titles 10 
 and 37, United States Code, that require reporting of 
 incentives to individuals to accept appointment or 
 enlistments in the Armed Forces, including the 
 provision of group individual bonuses, pay, or other 
 incentives;
            (C) a statement of the anticipated outcomes as a 
 result of providing grants under the grant program; and
            (D) a description of the methods and metrics to be 
 used to evaluate the effectiveness of the grant 
 program; and

    (2) a period of 30 days beginning on the date on which the 
 plan is submitted to the committees has expired.

    (f) Limitation on Number of Incentives.--The Secretary of a 
military department may not provide to an individual more than 2 
incentives described in subsection
            (d) (2) to encourage the individual 
to enlist in an Armed Force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, in 
addition to a grant under subsection

    (a) .

    (g) Limitation on Number of Individuals Receiving Tuition Grants.--
The number of individuals who receive a grant under subsection

    (a) from 
the Secretary of a military department during a fiscal year for an 
Armed Force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary may not exceed 20 
percent of the number of enlistments for that fiscal year that is the 
objective of that Armed Force.

    (h) Reports to Congress.--If the Secretary of a military department 
provides a grant under subsection

    (a) during a fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report, not later than 60 
days after the end of that fiscal year, containing--

    (1) a description of each grant provided under subsection

    (a) during that fiscal year; and

    (2) an assessment of the impact of all such the grants on 
 the recruitment of individuals for the Armed Force under the 
 jurisdiction of the Secretary.
            (i) Federally Sponsored National Service Programs.--A federally 
sponsored national service program referred to in subsection

    (b) includes the programs authorized in--

    (1) sections 5 and 6 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504 
 and 2505);

    (2) section 171 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
 Act (relating to the YouthBuild Program; 29 U.S.C. 3226);

    (3) part A of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act 
 of 1973 (relating to the Volunteers in Service to America; 42 
 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.); and

    (4) subtitles C (relating to the National Service Trust 
 Program; 42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.) and E (relating to the 
 National Civilian Community Corps; 42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.) of 
 the National and Community Service Act of 1990.

    (j) Regulations.--The Secretary of each military department shall 
issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.

    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 303. PILOT PROGRAM ON TECHNICAL CIVILIAN PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out, 
through the Secretary of one of the military departments, a pilot 
program, for a period of not more than 2 years, to assess the 
feasibility and advisability of establishing partnerships with 
community colleges and vocational schools to create technical education 
programs through which members of the Armed Forces may earn 
professional credentials in areas of critical need in the Armed Forces. 
The pilot program shall be comprised of such partnerships with up to 3 
community colleges and vocational schools. The educational programs 
created through the pilot program shall be open to participation by 
members of the Armed Forces (including recruits) and any other students 
at the selected community colleges and vocational schools.

    (b) Costs.--The military department selected under subsection

    (a) shall bear at least 50 percent of the costs of the pilot program 
authorized under such subsection, and the community colleges and 
vocational schools in the pilot program shall bear the remaining costs, 
including providing the staff and facilities for the pilot program.
            (c) Reports.--

    (1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
 submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
 the House of Representatives a report on the pilot program 
 under this section. The report shall include--
        (A) a comprehensive framework for the education and 
 credentials to be provided under the pilot program;
        (B) metrics to be used to assess the effectiveness 
 of the pilot program; and
            (C) a description of mechanisms to be used to cover 
 the costs of the technical education programs created 
 under the pilot program.

    (2) Final report.--Not later than 180 days after completion 
 of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the 
 committees of Congress referred to in paragraph

    (1) a final 
 report on the pilot program. The report shall include--
        (A) an evaluation of the pilot program using the 
 metrics of assessment set forth in the initial report;
        (B) an assessment of the effects of the pilot 
 program on recruitment and retention of military 
 personnel; and
            (C) an assessment on the feasibility and 
 advisability of extending the term of the pilot 
 program, expanding its scope, or both.
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 304. EXPANSION OF JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS PROGRAM.

    (a) Plan To Increase Number of JROTC Units.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military 
departments, develop and implement a plan to establish and support not 
fewer than 6,000 units of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps 
by September 30, 2034.

    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 305. EXPANSION OF CYBER INSTITUTES PROGRAM.

 

Section 1640 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 132 Stat. 2310; 10 U.S.C. 
2200 note) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (g) , by inserting ``and not later than 
 March 1, 2026,'' after ``September 30, 2021,''

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to funds 
otherwise available to carry out this section, there are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Department of Defense such sums as may be 
necessary to prepare the reports under subsection

    (g) and to expand the 
Cyber Institutes program under this section after September 30, 
2025.''.

SEC. 306. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY FOR TARGETED RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES.

 

Section 522

    (h) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2016 (10 U.S.C. 503 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
2025'' and inserting ``December 31, 2026''.

SEC. 307. MULTIYEAR APPROPRIATIONS FOR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING.

 Chapter 341 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after 

section 4509 the following new section:
``

Sec. 4510. Contracts for periods crossing fiscal years: Marketing and 
 advertising contracts
 ``

    (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a 
military department (as defined in 

section 102 of title 5), or the 
Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it 
is not operating as a service in the Navy, may enter into a contract, 
for a period that begins in one fiscal year and ends in the next fiscal 
year (without regard to any option to extend the period of the 
contract), to procure marketing and advertising services.
 ``

    (b) Obligation of Funds.--Funds made available in one fiscal year 
may be obligated or expended in the next fiscal year for a contract 
entered into under subsection

    (a) .''.

 Subtitle B--Advancement of National Service

SEC. 321. NATIONAL SERVICE FELLOWSHIPS.

    (a) In General.--

Section 198B of the National and Community Service 
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653b) is amended to read as follows:

``

SEC. 198B. NATIONAL SERVICE FELLOWSHIPS.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Area of national need.--The term `area of national 
 need' means targeted efforts to--
 ``
        (A) improve education in schools for economically 
 disadvantaged students;
 ``
        (B) expand and improve access to health care;
 ``
            (C) improve energy efficiency and conserve 
 natural resources;
 ``
            (D) improve economic opportunities for 
 economically disadvantaged individuals;
 ``
        (E) improve disaster preparedness and response; 
 or
 ``
        (F) support the reintegration of ex-offenders.
 ``

    (2) Disadvantaged youth.--The term `disadvantaged youth' 
 has the meaning given that term in 

section 101

    (13) .
 ``

    (3) Eligible fellowship applicant.--The term `eligible 
 fellowship applicant' means an individual who is selected by 
 the Corporation through a randomized lottery and, as a result 
 of such selection, is eligible for a national service 
 fellowship.
 ``

    (4) Fellow.--The term `fellow' means an eligible 
 fellowship applicant who is awarded a national service 
 fellowship and is designated a fellow under subsection

    (e)

    (2) .
 ``

    (5) State.--The term `State' means each of the several 
 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
 Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United 
 States.
 ``

    (b) Fellowship Awards and Positions.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated to carry 
 out this section, the Corporation shall award national service 
 fellowships in accordance with this section.
 ``

    (2) Allotment of positions.--
 ``
        (A) Allotment by congressional district.--The 
 Corporation shall allot 80 percent of the eligible 
 fellowship positions supported under this section in a 
 fiscal year on a formula basis to be distributed evenly 
 among the congressional districts in each of the 
 States, to include districts of nonvoting delegates to 
 the Congress, in accordance with the selection process 
 described in subsection
            (c) (1) . The Corporation shall, 
 to the extent practicable, reserve a percentage of 
 eligible fellowship positions approximately equal to 
 the percentage of disadvantaged youth residing in that 
 district. In any district in which one or more Indian 
 tribes are located, a portion of the positions shall be 
 reserved for applicants who are members of any such 
 Indian tribe.
 ``
        (B) Allotment to specific organizations.--The 
 Corporation shall allot 20 percent of the eligible 
 fellowship positions supported under this section in a 
 fiscal year to service sponsor organizations, 
 regardless of congressional district, that have 
 targeted service strategies for utilizing fellows, in 
 accordance with the selection processes described in 
 subsections
            (c) (2) and

    (f)

    (2) . The Corporation shall, 
 to the extent practicable, reserve a percentage of 
 eligible fellowship positions approximately equal to 
 the nationwide percentage of disadvantaged youth.
 ``

    (3) Number of positions.--The Corporation shall--
 ``
        (A) establish the number of approved positions 
 under this section at 25,000 for the first fiscal year 
 that begins after the date of the enactment of the 
 Inspired to Serve Act of 2025; and
 ``
        (B) increase the number of such approved 
 positions by 25,000 for each fiscal year thereafter 
 until the number of approved positions is at least 
 250,000.
 ``
            (c) Selection by Lottery.--
 ``

    (1) In congressional districts.--For positions described 
 in subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (A) , the Corporation shall select, from the 
 applications received under this section, the number of 
 eligible fellowship applicants that may be supported for that 
 fiscal year based on the amount of funds appropriated for that 
 fiscal year to carry out this section. Such selection shall be 
 done by randomized lottery for all applicants, except that--
 ``
        (A) for those positions reserved for 
 disadvantaged youth applicants under such subsection, 
 selection shall be done by randomized lottery for 
 disadvantaged youth applicants; and
 ``
        (B) for those positions reserved for Indian 
 tribal applicants under such subsection, selection 
 shall be done by randomized lottery for Indian tribal 
 applicants.
 ``

    (2) Other positions.--For positions described in 
 subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) , the Corporation shall select, from the 
 applications received, the number of eligible fellowship 
 applicants that may be supported for that fiscal year based on 
 the amount of funds appropriated for that fiscal year to carry 
 out this section. Such selection shall be done by randomized 
 lottery for all applicants, except that for those positions 
 reserved for disadvantaged youth applicants under such 
 subsection, selection shall be done by randomized lottery for 
 disadvantaged youth applicants.
 ``

    (3) Regulations.--In the regulations issued to carry out 
 this section, the Corporation shall--
 ``
        (A) establish the randomized lottery system for 
 positions described in subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (A) and

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) ;
 ``
        (B) establish preference for those individuals 
 who have not previously been an eligible fellowship 
 applicant or a fellow; and
 ``
            (C) create a waitlist for eligible fellowship 
 applicants if any individual selected as such an 
 applicant does not become a fellow.
 ``
            (d) Eligible Fellowship Applicants.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--An applicant desiring to become an 
 eligible fellowship applicant shall submit an application to 
 the Corporation at such time and in such manner as the 
 Corporation may require and containing information on the 
 applicant's age, educational status, disadvantaged youth 
 status, Indian tribal status, and contact information, and 
 stating whether the applicant elects to be considered for 
 placement in a position in a congressional district under 
 subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (A) or in a position described in subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) . Each applicant may apply for only one national 
 service fellowship for any fiscal year.
 ``

    (2) Age and education.--An applicant may be selected as 
 an eligible fellowship applicant only if the applicant--
 ``
        (A) is not less than age 18 and not more than age 
 25 on the date on which the application is made; and
 ``
        (B) holds a high school diploma or recognized 
 equivalent or will be working towards such diploma or 
 recognized equivalent during the applicant's term of 
 service as a fellow.
 ``

    (e) Fellows.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--An eligible fellowship applicant is 
 eligible to participate in a service project as a fellow and 
 receive a national service fellowship if--
 ``
        (A) within 3 months after being selected as an 
 eligible fellowship applicant, the applicant selects a 
 registered service sponsor organization described in 
 subsection

    (f) --
 ``
            (i) with which the applicant is 
 interested in serving under this section; and
 ``
            (ii) with which the applicant would serve 
 in a position that is located in the 
 congressional district in which the fellow 
 resides or a district adjoining the district in 
 which the fellow resides, for a position 
 allotted under subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (A) , or would 
 serve in a position allotted under subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) ;
 ``
        (B) enters into an agreement with the 
 organization--
 ``
            (i) that specifies the service the 
 applicant will provide if the placement is 
 approved; and
 ``
            (ii) in which the applicant agrees to 
 serve for at least 1,700 hours during the 
 applicant's fellowship year, including 
 training, high school equivalency coursework, 
 and special fellow events, except that the 
 Chief Executive Officer may, on a case-by-case 
 basis, authorize a fellow to serve on a part-
 time basis for a lesser number of hours; and
 ``
            (C) submits such agreement to the Corporation.
 ``

    (2) Designation.--Upon receiving the eligible fellowship 
 applicant's agreement under paragraph

    (1) , the Corporation 
 shall award a national service fellowship to the applicant and 
 designate the applicant as a fellow.
 ``

    (3) Fellowship amount.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Corporation shall award to 
 each fellow a stipend equal to the living allowance 
 under 

section 199K.
 ``
        (B) Proration of amount.--In the case of a fellow 
 who is authorized to serve on a part-time basis under 
 paragraph

    (1)
        (B)
            (ii) , the amount provided to a fellow 
 under this paragraph shall be prorated accordingly.
 ``

    (4) Educational awards.--A fellow who serves in a service 
 project under this section shall be considered to have served 
 in an approved national service position and, upon meeting the 
 requirements of 

section 147 for full-time or part-time national 
 service, shall be eligible for an educational award described 
 in such section or the alternative discounted end-of-service 
 cash stipend described in 

section 332 of the Inspired to Serve 
 Act of 2025. The Corporation shall transfer an appropriate 
 amount of funds to the National Service Trust to provide for 
 the educational award for such fellow.
 ``

    (f) Service Sponsor Organizations.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--An organization is eligible to be a 
 service sponsor organization if the organization--
 ``
        (A) is a nonprofit organization, a local 
 government agency, a State government agency, or an 
 agency of an Indian tribe;
 ``
        (B) satisfies qualification criteria established 
 by the Corporation, including standards relating to 
 organizational capacity, financial management, and 
 programmatic oversight; and
 ``
            (C) at the time of registration with a State 
 Commission, enters into an agreement with the State 
 Commission providing that the service sponsor 
 organization shall--
 ``
            (i) abide by all program requirements;
 ``
            (ii) be responsible for certifying the 
 number of hours served by each fellow and 
 whether each fellow serving with the 
 organization successfully completes the 
 national service fellowship;
 ``
            (iii) provide supervision, supplies, and 
 training for fellows, including a quarterly 
 performance review;
 ``
            (iv) provide educational resources, 
 funding for coursework, and other necessary 
 resources to support fellows working towards 
 their high school equivalency degrees; and
 ``
            (v) provide, to the State Commission, the 
 Corporation, and the Inspector General of the 
 Corporation, timely access to records relating 
 to the national service fellowships.
 ``

    (2) Eligibility as a specific organization.--An 
 organization is eligible to be considered for an allotment of 
 positions under subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) if the organization--
 ``
        (A) satisfies the requirements of this 
 subsection;
 ``
        (B) submits an application to the Corporation 
 that includes a detailed description of the area of 
 national need that fellows will address with the 
 organization, along with other requirements that the 
 Corporation may establish; and
 ``
            (C) is selected by the Corporation in accordance 
 with a selection process established by the 
 Corporation.
 ``

    (3) Additional assistance.--Each service sponsor 
 organization may provide additional benefits to fellows, 
 including additional funding.
 ``

    (4) Registration.--
 ``
        (A) Requirement.--A service sponsor organization 
 may not receive a fellow under this section until the 
 organization registers with the State Commission of any 
 State in which a fellow will be serving with the 
 organization.
 ``
        (B) Clearinghouse.--Each State Commission shall 
 maintain on a public website a list of service sponsor 
 organizations registered with that State Commission.
 ``

    (5) Noncompliance.--If the Corporation determines that a 
 service sponsor organization is in violation of any of the 
 applicable provisions of this subsection, or a State Commission 
 determines that a service sponsor organization is in violation 
 of any requirement for registration under paragraph

    (4) --
 ``
        (A) the State Commission shall revoke the 
 registration of the organization;
 ``
        (B) the organization shall not be eligible to 
 receive assistance, approved national service fellows, 
 or approved summer of service positions under this 
 title for a period of not less than 5 years; and
 ``
            (C) the Corporation shall have the right to 
 remove a fellow from the organization and relocate the 
 fellow to another site.
 ``

    (g) Grants for Ancillary Services.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Corporation may award grants to 
 service sponsor organizations to offset the costs of providing 
 ancillary services in support of fellows serving with those 
 service sponsor organizations, including costs for--
 ``
        (A) attending the convention described in 
 subsection

    (j) ;
 ``
        (B) courses and exams necessary to obtain a high 
 school diploma or recognized equivalent;
 ``
            (C) recruitment or training activities for 
 fellows; and
 ``
            (D) other activities approved by the Corporation.
 ``

    (2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
 under this subsection, a service sponsor organization shall 
 submit an application to the Corporation at such time, in such 
 manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may 
 require.
 ``

    (h) Coordination Within Congressional District.--Service sponsor 
organizations shall coordinate with other service sponsor organizations 
on training and events beneficial to fellows serving within the same 
congressional district and ensure that the offices of Members of 
Congress in those districts are kept apprised of such coordination.
 ``
            (i) Branded Attire.--The Corporation may provide fellows with 
branded attire to wear where appropriate.
 ``

    (j) Yearly Convention.--The Corporation may sponsor a yearly 
convention to convene a geographically diverse group of fellows in a 
central location to provide the fellows with the opportunity to share 
experiences and to provide the fellows with information on 
opportunities to continue in national, public, or military service 
after their fellowships end.
 ``

    (k) Compliance With Ineligible Service Categories.--Service under 
a national service fellowship shall comply with 

section 132

    (a) . For 
purposes of applying that section to this subsection, a reference to 
assistance shall be considered to be a reference to assistance provided 
under this section.
 ``
            (l) Public Service Integration.--The Chief Executive Officer 
shall consult with the Council on Military, National, and Public 
Service established under 

section 201 of the Inspired to Serve Act of 
2025 regarding opportunities to place fellows in public service 
positions at the State, local, and tribal levels.
 ``
            (m) Surveys of Fellows.--The Corporation may survey fellows about 
their experiences as fellows, and shall make data acquired from any 
such survey publicly available.
 ``

    (n) Regulations.--The Corporation shall promulgate such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.
 ``

    (o) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendments.--

    (1) The item relating to 

section 198B of the National and 
 Community Service Act of 1990 in the table of contents for that 
 Act is amended to read as follows:

``

SEC. 198B. NATIONAL SERVICE FELLOWSHIPS.''.

    (2) Section 123

    (7) of the National and Community Service 
 Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12573

    (7) ) is amended by striking 
 ``ServeAmerica'' and inserting ``National Service''.

    (3) Section 501

    (a)

    (4)
        (B) of the National and Community 
 Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681

    (a)

    (4)
        (B) ) is repealed.

SEC. 322. EXPANSION OF YOUTHBUILD, YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS, AND 
 NATIONAL GUARD YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAMS.

    (a) YouthBuild Program.--

    (1) Expansion.--The Secretary of Labor shall take the 
 necessary steps to double, by December 31, 2034, the number of 
 participants in the YouthBuild Program established under 
 

section 171 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
 U.S.C. 3226), from the number of such participants in fiscal 
 year 2023.

    (2) Reports to congress.--The Secretary of Labor shall 
 submit to Congress, not later than December 31 of each of the 
 years 2026, 2029, 2032, and 2034, a report on the level of 
 participation in the YouthBuild Program since the end of fiscal 
 year 2023 and on the efforts taken to achieve the goal 
 described in paragraph

    (1) .

    (b) Youth Conservation Corps.--

    (1) Expansion.--The Secretaries of Agriculture and the 
 Interior shall take the necessary steps to double, by December 
 31, 2034, the number of participants in the Youth Conservation 
 Corps established under the Act popularly known as the ``Youth 
 Conservation Corps Act of 1970'' (title I of Public Law 91-378; 
 16 U.S.C. 1701-1706), from the number of such participants in 
 fiscal year 2023.

    (2) Reports to congress.--The Secretaries of Agriculture 
 and the Interior shall submit to Congress, not later than 
 December 31 of each of the years 2026, 2029, 2032, and 2034, a 
 report on the level of participation in the Youth Conservation 
 Corps since the end of fiscal year 2023 and on the efforts 
 taken to achieve the goal described in paragraph

    (1) .
            (c) Youth Challenge Program.--

    (1) Expansion.--The Secretary of Defense shall take the 
 necessary steps to double, by December 31, 2034, the number of 
 participants in the National Guard Youth Challenge Program 
 established under 

section 509 of title 32, United States Code, 
 from the number of such participants in fiscal year 2023.

    (2) Reports to congress.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
 submit to Congress, not later than December 31 of each of the 
 years 2026, 2029, 2032, and 2034, a report on the level of 
 participation in the National Guard Youth Challenge Program 
 since the end of fiscal year 2023 and on the efforts taken to 
 achieve the goal described in paragraph

    (1) .
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 323. NATIONAL SERVICE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

    (a) In General.--The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for 
National and Community Service shall carry out a public awareness 
campaign to educate individuals likely to provide the greatest 
influence on youth, including parents, grandparents, teachers, guidance 
counselors, clergy, and coaches, on opportunities for youth to engage 
in national service, the impacts of national service, and ways to 
encourage youth to provide such service. Funds made available to carry 
out this subsection may be used to identify best practices, carry out 
national outreach and education campaigns, produce and make available 
materials for schools and students from kindergarten through grade 12, 
facilitate access to national service information and opportunities, 
and advertise national service programs nationwide.

    (b) Report Required.--Not later than 60 days after the end of the 
fiscal year in which funds are made available to carry out the public 
awareness campaign under subsection

    (a) , the Chief Executive Officer 
shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the 
House of Representatives, a report describing the scope and 
effectiveness of the public awareness campaign under this section.
            (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the campaign 
under subsection

    (a) , including for salaries and expenses related to 
such campaign.

SEC. 324. RECOGNITION OF CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATIONAL SERVICE.

 The Corporation for National and Community Service may annually 
designate not more than 25 corporations, whether publicly owned or 
privately held, with an award for their significant contributions to 
national service. The Corporation shall promulgate regulations 
describing evaluation criteria for the award under this section and may 
conduct a ceremony or give a symbolic medal or plaque to recipients. 
This section does not authorize any monetary award.

SEC. 325. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE DEMONSTRATION 
 PROJECTS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-

    (1) Ex-offender.--The term ``ex-offender'' means an 
 individual who requires assistance in overcoming barriers to 
 employment resulting from a record of arrest or conviction for 
 a crime under Federal, State, local, or Tribal law.

    (2) Place-based model.--The term ``place-based model'' 
 means an investment initiative that seeks to leverage national 
 service programs to expand the services available within a 
 specific geographic location, to build the capacity of 
 community organizations to provide those services, and to 
 establish a community-wide culture of service and volunteerism.

    (b) Priority Pilots.--The Chief Executive Officer of the 
Corporation for National and Community Service may conduct, during the 
3-year period beginning on October 1, 2024, up to 5 demonstration 
projects to assess the feasibility and advisability of novel approaches 
to and focus areas of national service, with at least one demonstration 
project focused on developing a place-based model and at least one 
demonstration project supporting the reintegration of ex-offenders.
            (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the 
demonstration projects under subsection

    (b) , including for salaries and 
expenses related to such projects.

SEC. 326. PEACE CORPS REMOTE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

 The Director of the Peace Corps may carry out demonstration 
projects to test the feasibility of permitting individuals who serve 
fewer than 27 months as a volunteer (as such term is used in the Peace 
Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.)) to serve as a volunteer in the 
United States, and not abroad.

SEC. 327. NATIONAL SERVICE LIVING ALLOWANCE INCREASES.

    (a) Annual Increases to Living Allowances for National Service 
Participants.--

Section 140

    (a) of the National and Community Service Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12594

    (a) ) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
 ``

    (7) Increases.--The Chief Executive Officer shall review 
 the amounts of living allowances under this subsection on an 
 annual basis and, subject to paragraph

    (2) , make increases as 
 necessary to reflect changes in inflation, cost of living, and 
 the geographical areas in which the national service programs 
 are carried out.''.

    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to provide increases in living allowances under 

section 140

    (a) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12594

    (a) ), such sums as may be necessary to increase the allowances 
above the levels provided on the day before the date of enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 328. SENIOR CORPS STIPEND INCREASES.

    (a) Grants and Contracts for Individual Service Projects.--

Section 211
            (d) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 
5011
            (d) ) is amended by striking ``$3.00 per hour'' and inserting ``60 
percent of the Federal minimum wage under 

section 6 of the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206)''.

    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to provide increases in allowances and stipends under 

section 211
            (d) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 
5011
            (d) ), such sums as may be necessary to increase the allowances and 
stipends above the levels provided on the day before the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 329. WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CERTAIN NATIONAL SERVICE 
 PARTICIPANTS.

    (a) Wraparound Support Services for National Service 
Participants.--

    (1) In general.--

Section 140 of the National and Community 
 Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12594) is amended by adding at 
 the end the following:
 ``

    (g) Wraparound Support Services.--
 ``

    (1) Provision of additional support services.--In 
 addition to the living allowance and other benefits provided 
 under this section, and subject to the availability of 
 appropriations to carry out this subsection, a State or other 
 recipient of assistance under 

section 121 shall provide support 
 services under this subsection (in this subsection referred to 
 as `wraparound support services') to those individuals who--
 ``
        (A) are participants in a national service 
 program carried out or supported by the recipient using 
 the assistance; and
 ``
        (B) are disadvantaged youth of ages 17 through 
 26, are located in Indian lands, or are located in 
 rural communities.
 ``

    (2) Guidelines for wraparound support services.--Not 
 later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
 subsection, the Corporation shall establish guidelines 
 regarding the circumstances under which wraparound support 
 services shall be made available under paragraph

    (1) and the 
 types of wraparound support services that shall be made so 
 available. Wraparound support services may include career 
 counseling, transportation assistance, training and 
 certification programs, and mental health assistance. In 
 developing such guidelines, the Corporation shall consider the 
 availability of philanthropic investment and the cost-per-
 participant to recipients who support participants described in 
 paragraph

    (1) .
 ``

    (3) Exemption from living allowance.--Wraparound support 
 services shall not be considered in determining the total 
 living allowance under subsection

    (a)

    (2) .''.

    (2) Limitation on program costs.--

Section 189
            (c) of the 
 National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
 12645c
            (c) ) is amended to read as follows:
 ``
            (c) Costs Not Subject to Limitation.--The limitation under 
subsection

    (a) , and the increased limitation under subsection

    (e)

    (1) , 
shall not apply to--
 ``

    (1) expenses under a grant authorized under the national 
 service laws to operate a program that are not included in the 
 grant award for operating the program; or
 ``

    (2) expenses for wraparound support services provided 
 under 

section 140

    (g) .''.

    (b) Wraparound Support Services for VISTA Participants.--

Section 105

    (b) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 
4955

    (b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (4)
        (A) In addition to the stipend and other assistance provided 
under this section, and subject to the availability of appropriations 
to carry out this paragraph, the Director shall provide support 
services under this paragraph (in this paragraph referred to as 
`wraparound support services') for volunteers who--
 ``
            (i) are disadvantaged youth of ages 17 through 26;
 ``
            (ii) are located in Indian lands; or
 ``
            (iii) are located in rural communities.
 ``
        (B) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this paragraph, the Corporation shall establish guidelines regarding 
the circumstances under which wraparound support services shall be made 
available to volunteers under subparagraph
        (A) , and the types of 
wraparound support services that shall be made so available. Wraparound 
support services may include career counseling, transportation 
assistance, training and certification programs, and mental health 
assistance. In developing such guidelines, the Corporation shall 
consider the availability of funds and the cost-per-volunteer to 
support such volunteers.
 ``
            (C) In this paragraph, the terms `disadvantaged youth' and 
`Indian lands' have the meanings given those terms in 

section 101 of 
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511).''.
            (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for 
National and Community Service shall submit a report to Congress on the 
use of funds made available to provide wraparound support services 
under the amendments made by this section.
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Corporation for National and Community Service such 
sums as may be necessary to provide wraparound support services under 

section 140

    (g) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12594

    (g) ) and 

section 105

    (b)

    (4) of the Domestic Volunteer 
Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955

    (b)

    (4) ).

SEC. 330. NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARD INCREASES.

    (a) Determination of Educational Award Amount.--

Section 147

    (a) of 
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12603

    (a) ) is 
amended by striking ``having a value equal to'' and all that follows 
through ``mandatory appropriations),'' and inserting ``equal to the 
average cost of 1 year of in-State tuition at a public institution of 
higher education that awards bachelor's degrees, as determined by the 
Chief Executive Officer,''.

    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to provide increases in national service educational 
awards under 

section 147

    (a) of the National and Community Service Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12603

    (a) ), such sums as may be necessary to increase 
the awards above the level provided on the day before the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 331. EXPANDED USE OF NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARD.

    (a) Disbursement of Educational Awards.--

Section 148

    (a)

    (4) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12604

    (a)

    (4) ) is 
amended by inserting after ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs'' the 
following: ``, regardless of whether the individual is a veteran as 
defined under 

section 101''.

    (b) Treatment of Certain Provisions of Law.--Any individual who 
receives an educational award under 

section 146 of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12602) may use the award for 
expenses described in 

section 148

    (a)

    (4) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
12604

    (a)

    (4) ), as a result of the amendment made by subsection

    (a) of 
this section, notwithstanding the provisions of any appropriations Act 
that does not specifically reference this section and that would not 
permit such use by the individual.

SEC. 332. DISCOUNTED END-OF-SERVICE CASH STIPEND FOR NATIONAL SERVICE 
 MEMBERS.

    (a) Stipend; Limitation; Payment Upon Completion of Term.--

    (1) === Definitions. ===
-In this subsection:
        (A) Chief executive officer.--The term ``Chief 
 Executive Officer'' means the Chief Executive Officer 
 of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
        (B) Full-time service.--The term ``full-time 
 service'' means ``full-time national service'' within 
 the meaning of 

section 139

    (b)

    (1) of the National and 
 Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12593

    (b)

    (1) ).
            (C) National service participant.--The term 
 ``national service participant'' means a participant in 
 a national service program who is described in 

section 137

    (a) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12591

    (a) ).
            (D) Part-time service.--The term ``part-time 
 service'' means ``part-time national service'' within 
 the meaning of 

section 139

    (b)

    (2) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
 12593

    (b)

    (2) ).

    (2) Stipend for national service participants.--
        (A) Authority.--
            (i) Full-time service.--Subject to clause
            (ii) , the Chief Executive Officer may provide 
 to each national service participant who is 
 performing full-time service, a stipend for any 
 period in which such participant is in training 
 or performing the participant's service 
 assignments.
            (ii) Part-time service.--The Chief 
 Executive Officer may, on a case-by-case basis, 
 provide, to a national service participant who 
 is performing part-time service, a stipend for 
 any period described in clause
            (i) .
        (B) Amount of stipend.--
            (i) In general.--Subject to clauses
            (ii) and
            (iii) , the amount of the stipend under 
 subparagraph
        (A) shall be set at a rate that is 
 not less than $200 per month and not more than 
 $280 per month.
            (ii) Leader stipends.--The Chief Executive 
 Officer may set the amount of the stipend under 
 subparagraph
        (A) at a rate that does not exceed 
 $380 per month in the case of an individual 
 who--
            (I) has completed a corresponding 
 term of service as required under 
 subtitle D of the National and 
 Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.), subject to 
 paragraph

    (4) ; and
            (II) has, in accordance with 
 standards that the Chief Executive 
 Officer shall establish in regulations, 
 been designated a leader on the basis 
 of experience among other national 
 service participants.
            (iii) Limitation.--The amount of the 
 stipend under this subparagraph is subject to 
 the availability of funds for such stipend.
            (C) Restriction on certain individuals.--The Chief 
 Executive Officer may not provide a stipend under this 
 subsection to an individual who elects to receive a 
 national service educational award under subtitle D of 
 title I of the National and Community Service Act of 
 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.).

    (3) Stipend for national civilian community corps 
 members.--
        (A) Authority.--The Chief Executive Officer may 
 provide, to each member of the National Civilian 
 Community Corps who is enrolled in a national service 
 program under 

section 153 of the National and Community 
 Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12613), a stipend for 
 any period in which such member is in training or 
 performing the member's service assignment.
        (B) Amount of stipend.--
            (i) In general.--Subject to clauses
            (ii) and
            (iii) , the amount of the stipend under 
 subparagraph
        (A) shall be set at a rate that is 
 not less than $200 per month and not more than 
 $280 per month.
            (ii) Leader stipends.--The Chief Executive 
 Officer may set the amount of the stipend under 
 subparagraph
        (A) at a rate that does not exceed 
 $380 per month in the case of an individual 
 who--
            (I) has completed a corresponding 
 term of service as required under 
 subtitle D of the National and 
 Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.), subject to 
 paragraph

    (4) ; and
            (II) has, in accordance with 
 standards that the Chief Executive 
 Officer shall establish in regulations, 
 been designated a leader on the basis 
 of experience among other national 
 service members.
            (iii) Limitation.--The amount of the 
 stipend under this subparagraph is subject to 
 the availability of funds for such stipend.
            (C) Restriction on certain individuals.--The Chief 
 Executive Officer may not provide a stipend under this 
 subsection to an individual who elects to receive a 
 national service educational award under 

section 158 of 
 the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
 U.S.C. 12618).

    (4) Eligibility for stipend.--A stipend under paragraph

    (2) or

    (3) shall be payable to an individual only upon completion 
 of a corresponding term of service, except under such 
 circumstances as the Chief Executive Officer shall determine. 
 In accordance with regulations which the Chief Executive 
 Officer shall prescribe for payment under such circumstances, 
 the accrued stipend, or any part of the accrued stipend, may be 
 paid to the individual, or on behalf of the individual, to 
 members of the individual's family or others during the term of 
 the individual's service. In the event of the death of an 
 individual during service, the amount of any unpaid stipend 
 shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of 

section 5582 
 of title 5, United States Code.

    (b) National Service Educational Awards.--

Section 141

    (a) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12595

    (a) ) is 
amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``and'';

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking the period and inserting 
 ``; and''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) has not accepted the stipend authorized under 

section 332 of the Inspired to Serve Act of 2025.''.
            (c) Authorized Benefits for Corps Members.--

Section 158

    (f) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12618

    (f) ) is 
amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``and'';

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking the period and inserting 
 ``; and''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) has not accepted the stipend authorized under 

section 332 of the Inspired to Serve Act of 2025.''.

SEC. 333. EXCLUSION OF NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARD FROM GROSS 
 INCOME.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph

    (2) of 

section 117
            (c) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--

    (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph
        (B) ;

    (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph
            (C) and inserting ``, or''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
 ``
            (D) a national service educational award under 
 subtitle D of title I of the National and Community 
 Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.).''.

    (b) Exclusion of Discharge of Student Loan Debt.--Subsection

    (f) of 

section 108 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph:
 ``

    (6) Payments under national service educational award 
 programs.--In the case of an individual, gross income shall not 
 include any amount received under a national service 
 educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National 
 and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.).''.
            (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 334. TRANSFERABILITY OF NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARD.

    (a) Disbursement of Educational Awards.--

Section 148

    (f) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12604) is 
amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (2)
        (A)
            (i) , by striking ``in a national 
 service program that receives a grant under subtitle C'' and 
 inserting ``in a position specified under 

section 123''; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (8) , by striking subparagraph
            (C) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``
            (C) who meets such other requirements as the 
 Corporation shall specify in regulations.''.

    (b) Individuals Eligible To Receive an Educational Award From the 
Trust.--

Section 146
            (d) (3) of the National and Community Service Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12602
            (d) (3) ) is amended by striking ``a 10-year 
period'' and all that follows through ``basis of the award'' and 
inserting ``a 7-year period that begins on the date on which the 
designated individual who received the transferred educational award 
becomes 18 years of age''.

SEC. 335. NONCOMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY FOR FULL-TIME NATIONAL SERVICE 
 PARTICIPANTS.

    (a) Noncompetitive Eligibility for Americorps Alumni.--

    (1) Volunteers in service to america.--

Section 415
            (d) of 
 the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5055
            (d) ) 
 is amended--
        (A) by striking ``appointment in the competitive 
 service'' and inserting ``noncompetitive appointment to 
 a position in the competitive service (as defined in 
 

section 2102 of title 5, United States Code) for a 
 period of 36 months, beginning on the date on which 
 their required term of service ends,''; and
        (B) by striking ``Executive Order Number 11103 
 (April 10, 1963)'' and inserting ``Executive Order 
 11103 (22 U.S.C. 2504 note, relating to Providing for 
 the Appointment of Former Peace Corps Volunteers to the 
 Civilian Career Services), as amended by Executive 
 Order 12107 (44 Fed. Reg. 1055; relating to the Civil 
 Service Commission and Labor-Management in the Federal 
 Service), without regard to 

section 4 of such Order''.

    (2) Other national service participants.--
        (A) In general.--Part III of subtitle C of title I 
 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
 U.S.C. 12591 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
 the following new section:

``

SEC. 142. NONCOMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY FOR NATIONAL SERVICE 
 PARTICIPANTS.

 ``Participants in a national service program who are eligible to 
receive a national service educational award under 

section 141, and who 
the Chief Executive Officer determines have successfully completed 
their terms of service, shall be eligible for noncompetitive 
appointment in a position in the competitive service (as defined in 

section 2102 of title 5, United States Code) for a period of 36 months 
beginning on the date on which their required term of service ends. The 
Chief Executive Officer shall make the determination about successful 
completion in accordance with the requirements of Executive Order 11103 
(22 U.S.C. 2504 note, relating to Providing for the Appointment of 
Former Peace Corps Volunteers to the Civilian Career Services), as 
amended by Executive Order 12107 (44 Fed. Reg. 1055; relating to the 
Civil Service Commission and Labor-Management in the Federal Service), 
without regard to 

section 4 of such Order.''.
        (B) Conforming amendment.--The table of contents of 
 the National and Community Service Act of 1990 is 
 amended by inserting after the item relating to 

section 141 the following:

``

Sec. 142. Noncompetitive eligibility for national service 
 participants.''.

    (b) Noncompetitive Eligibility for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers 
and Volunteer Leaders.--

Section 5 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 
2504) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (q)

    (1) Volunteers and volunteer leaders who have satisfactorily 
completed not fewer than 2 years of service under this Act (as 
determined under paragraph

    (2) ) shall be eligible for noncompetitive 
appointment in a position in the competitive service (as defined in 

section 2102 of title 5, United States Code) for a period of 3 years 
beginning on the day after the date on which such service ends.
 ``

    (2) The Director shall determine if a volunteer or volunteer 
leader has satisfactorily completed service under this Act for the 
purpose of paragraph

    (1) in accordance with sections 1, 2, 3, and 5 of 
Executive Order 11103 (22 U.S.C. 2504 note, relating to Providing for 
the Appointment of Former Peace Corps Volunteers to the Civilian Career 
Services), as amended by Executive Order 12107 (44 Fed. Reg. 1055; 
relating to the Civil Service Commission and Labor-Management in the 
Federal Service).''.
            (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
to any individual--

    (1) who is--
        (A) a volunteer under the Domestic Volunteer 
 Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.);
        (B) a participant, in a national service program, 
 to whom 

section 141 of the National and Community 
 Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12595) applies; or
            (C) a volunteer or volunteer leader under the Peace 
 Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.); and

    (2) who has not completed the corresponding required term 
 of service as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 336. PENSION SERVICE CREDIT FOR FEDERAL SERVICE CORPS 
 PARTICIPANTS.

    (a) Creditable Service.--

Section 8411

    (h) of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ``as a National Civilian Community Corps 
member or leader under subtitle E of title I of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.), as a member of 
a program under title I of the Act entitled `An Act to establish a 
pilot program in the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture 
designated as the Youth Conservation Corps, and for other purposes', 
approved August 13, 1970 (commonly known as the `Youth Conservation 
Corps Act of 1970'; 16 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) or the Public Lands Corps 
Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.),'' after ``Domestic Volunteer 
Service Act of 1973,''.

    (b) Contributions for Creditable Service.--

Section 8422

    (f)

    (1) of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by inserting ``as a National Civilian Community Corps 
 member or leader under subtitle E of title I of the National 
 and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.), as 
 a member of a program under title I of the Act entitled `An Act 
 to establish a pilot program in the Departments of the Interior 
 and Agriculture designated as the Youth Conservation Corps, and 
 for other purposes', approved August 13, 1970 (commonly known 
 as the `Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970'; 16 U.S.C. 1701 
 et seq.) or the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 
 et seq.),'' after ``Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973,'' 
 the first place the term appears;

    (2) by striking ``or the stipend'' and inserting ``, of the 
 stipend''; and

    (3) by striking ``for each period of service as such a 
 volunteer or volunteer leader'' and inserting ``or of the 
 living allowance paid to the National Civilian Community Corps 
 member or leader under subtitle E of title I of the National 
 and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.), or 
 to the member of a program under title I of the Act entitled 
 `An Act to establish a pilot program in the Departments of the 
 Interior and Agriculture designated as the Youth Conservation 
 Corps, and for other purposes', approved August 13, 1970 
 (commonly known as the `Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970'; 
 16 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) or the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.), for each period of service as such a 
 volunteer, volunteer leader, member, or leader''.

SEC. 337. SENIOR CORPS COMPETITIVE GRANT MODEL.

    (a) Grants and Contracts for Volunteer Service Projects.--

Section 201 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5001) is 
amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (e) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking subparagraph
        (A) and inserting the following:
 ``
        (A) awarded for a period of not more than 3 years; and''; 
 and
        (B) in paragraph

    (2)
        (B) --
            (i) in clause
            (iii) , by adding ``and'' 
 after the semicolon; and
            (ii) by striking clause
            (iv) and 
 redesignating clause
            (v) as clause
            (iv) ; and

    (2) by striking subsection
            (i) and redesignating subsection

    (j) as subsection
            (i) .

    (b) Multiyear Grants or Contracts.--

Section 227

    (a) of the Domestic 
Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5027

    (a) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking paragraph

    (2) ; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) by striking ``

    (1) Subject to paragraph

    (2) and'' and inserting ``Subject to''; and
        (B) by redesignating subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) as 
 paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) , respectively.
            (c) Notice and Hearing Procedures for Suspension and Termination of 
Financial Assistance.--

Section 412

    (a) of the Domestic Volunteer Service 
Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5052) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by adding ``and'' after the 
 semicolon; and

    (2) by striking paragraphs

    (2) and

    (3) and redesignating 
 paragraph

    (4) as paragraph

    (2) .

 Subtitle C--Advancement of Public Service: Modernization of Federal 
 Personnel Systems

SEC. 341. ENHANCED AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE.

    (a) Authorization of Activity.--Subchapter I of chapter 3 of title 
5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``

Sec. 307. Enhanced awareness of the value of Federal public service
 ``

    (a) In General.--Subject to guidance that the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall issue, any Executive agency or military 
department may use appropriated funds to educate and inform the public 
about the role of Federal employees, the value of Federal employment, 
and the mission of the agency or department.
 ``

    (b) Rule of Construction.--The use of funds pursuant to the 
guidance issued by the Comptroller General of the United States under 
subsection

    (a) may not be construed as self-aggrandizement, publicity, 
or propaganda that is otherwise prohibited under any other provision of 
law that is enacted before, on, or after the date of enactment of this 
section.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 3 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to 

section 306 the following:

``307. Enhanced awareness of the value of Federal public service.''.
            (c) Guidance.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue 
the guidance required under 

section 307

    (a) of title 5, United States 
Code, as added by subsection

    (a) of this section.
            (d) Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsection
            (c) , 

section 307 of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection

    (a) of this 
section, and the amendment made by subsection

    (b) of this section, 
shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 342. RESPONSIBILITY FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR HIRING 
 PREFERENCES AND SPECIAL HIRING OPTIONS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
 the Office of Personnel Management.

    (2) Preference eligible.--The term ``preference eligible'' 
 has the meaning given the term in 

section 2108 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (b) Authority To Determine Eligibility.--The Director shall 
determine whether an individual is preference eligible, or whether an 
individual is eligible for appointment to a position in an Executive 
agency, under any of the following authorities:

    (1) Section 4214 of title 38, United States Code.

    (2) Section 3112 of title 5, United States Code.

    (3) Section 3304

    (f) of title 5, United States Code.

    (4) Section 3330d of title 5, United States Code.

    (5) Section 415
            (d) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 
 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5055
            (d) ), as amended by 

section 335

    (a)

    (1) of 
 this Act.

    (6) Section 142 of the National and Community Service Act 
 of 1990, as added by 

section 335

    (a)

    (2) of this Act.

    (7) Subsection

    (q) of 

section 5 of the Peace Corps Act (22 
 U.S.C. 2504), as added by 

section 335

    (b) of this Act.

    (8) Section 344 of this Act.

    (9) Section 370 of this Act.
            (c) Coordination.--The Director shall coordinate with the Secretary 
of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the 
Peace Corps, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for 
National and Community Service in developing the process for making 
determinations under subsection

    (b) .
            (d) Regulations.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall issue regulations setting 
forth the manner in which applicants for employment in Executive 
agencies may access determinations made under subsection

    (b) and the 
procedures to appeal those determinations.

    (e) Preparation of Certificates of Eligibility.--

    (1) In general.--Executive agencies shall rely on the 
 eligibility determinations made by the Director under 
 subsection

    (b) in preparing lists, registers, and certificates 
 of such eligibility.

    (2) Guidance.--The Director shall issue guidance to 
 Executive agencies on the policies and procedures of the Office 
 of Personnel Management that are established under this 
 section.

    (f) Other Remedies Available to Preference Eligibles Not 
Affected.--Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the right 
of a preference eligible to seek administrative or judicial redress 
under 

section 3330a or 3330b of title 5, United States Code, 
respectively.

SEC. 343. ENHANCEMENT OF SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITIES FOR MILITARY 
 VETERANS.

    (a) Exception to Preference Eligibility.--

Section 2108 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph

    (4) and inserting 
the following:
 ``

    (4) except for the purposes of chapters 43 and 75 of this 
 title, `preference eligible' does not include--
 ``
        (A) a retired member of the Armed Forces unless--
 ``
            (i) the individual is a disabled veteran; 
 or
 ``
            (ii) the individual retired below the 
 rank of major or its equivalent;
 ``
        (B) a veteran who has been discharged or released 
 from active duty for more than 10 years, as of the date 
 on which the individual would be appointed; or
 ``
            (C) a veteran who is an employee who has been in 
 the competitive service for more than two years, as of 
 the date on which the individual would be appointed; 
 and''.

    (b) Veterans' Preference as a Tiebreaker Among Equally Qualified 
Candidates.--

    (1) Registers of eligibles.--

Section 3313 of title 5, 
 United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``

Sec. 3313. Competitive service; registers of eligibles
 ``The names of applicants who have qualified in examinations for 
the competitive service shall be entered on appropriate registers or 
lists of eligibles in the order of their ratings, including points 
added under 

section 3309 of this title. The names of preference 
eligibles shall be entered ahead of others having the same rating.''.

    (2) Alternative ranking and selection procedures.--

Section 3319

    (b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
 the second sentence.
            (c) Veterans Recruitment Appointment Improvements.--

    (1) Definition of recently separated veteran.--

Section 4211

    (6) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
 ``three-year'' and inserting ``10-year''.

    (2) Definition of qualified covered veteran.--

Section 4214

    (a)

    (2)
        (B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to 
 read as follows:
 ``
        (B) The term `qualified covered veteran' means a veteran 
 described in 

section 4212

    (a)

    (3) of this title, but does not 
 include a retired member of the Armed Forces unless the 
 individual qualifies for retirement under chapter 61 of title 
 10.''.

SEC. 344. NONCOMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY FOR HIGH-PERFORMING CIVILIAN 
 EMPLOYEES.

    (a) 

=== Definition. ===
-In this section, the term ``competitive service'' 
has the meaning given the term in 

section 2102 of title 5, United 
States Code.

    (b) Regulations.--Under such regulations as the Director of the 
Office of Personnel Management shall issue, an Executive agency may 
noncompetitively appoint, for other than temporary employment, to a 
position in the competitive service any individual who--

    (1) is certified by the Director as having been a high-
 performing employee in a former position in the competitive 
 service;

    (2) has been separated from the former position described 
 in paragraph

    (1) for less than 6 years; and

    (3) is qualified for the new position in the competitive 
 service, as determined by the head of the Executive agency 
 making the noncompetitive appointment.
            (c) Limitation on Authority.--An individual may not be appointed to 
a position under subsection

    (b) more than once.
            (d) Designation of High-Performing Employees.--The Director of the 
Office of Personnel Management shall, in the regulations issued under 
subsection

    (b) , set forth the criteria for certifying an individual as 
a ``high-performing employee'' in a former position, which shall be 
based on--

    (1) the final performance appraisal of the individual in 
 that former position; and

    (2) a recommendation by the immediate or other supervisor 
 of the individual in that former position.

SEC. 345. FLEXIBILITY FOR TEMPORARY AND TERM APPOINTMENTS.

    (a) Temporary and Term Appointments.--Subchapter I of chapter 31 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``

Sec. 3117. Temporary and term appointments
 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
 the Office of Personnel Management.
 ``

    (2) Temporary appointment.--The term `temporary 
 appointment' means an appointment in the competitive service 
 for a period of not more than 1 year.
 ``

    (3) Term appointment.--The term `term appointment' means 
 an appointment in the competitive service for a period of more 
 than 1 year and not more than 5 years.
 ``

    (b) Appointment.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The head of an Executive agency may make 
 a temporary appointment or term appointment to a position in 
 the competitive service when the need for the services of an 
 employee in the position is not permanent.
 ``

    (2) Extension.--Under conditions prescribed by the 
 Director, the head of an Executive agency may--
 ``
        (A) extend a temporary appointment made under 
 paragraph

    (1) in increments of not more than 1 year 
 each, up to a maximum of 3 total years of service; and
 ``
        (B) extend a term appointment made under 
 paragraph

    (1) in increments determined appropriate by 
 the head of the agency, up to a maximum of 6 total 
 years of service.
 ``
            (c) Appointments for Critical Hiring Needs.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Under conditions prescribed by the 
 Director, the head of an Executive agency may make a 
 noncompetitive temporary appointment, or a noncompetitive term 
 appointment for a period of not more than 18 months, to a 
 position in the competitive service for which a critical hiring 
 need exists, as determined under 

section 3304, without regard 
 to the requirements of sections 3327 and 3330.
 ``

    (2) No extensions.--An appointment made under paragraph

    (1) may not be extended.
 ``
            (d) Regulations.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph

    (2) , the Director 
 may prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
 ``

    (2) Application.--Any regulations prescribed by the 
 Director for the administration of this section shall not apply 
 to the Secretary of Defense in the exercise of the authorities 
 granted under 

section 1105 of the National Defense 
 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 130 
 Stat. 2447).
 ``

    (e) Special Provision Regarding the Department of Defense.--
Nothing in this section shall preclude the Secretary of Defense from 
making temporary and term appointments in the competitive service 
pursuant to 

section 1105 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 130 Stat. 2447).
 ``

    (f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed to affect the authorities granted under 

section 3109.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 31 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to 

section 3116 the following:

``3117. Temporary and term appointments.''.

SEC. 346. CRITERIA FOR GRANTING DIRECT-HIRE AUTHORITY TO AGENCIES.

 

Section 3304

    (b)

    (3)
        (B) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``shortage of candidates'' and all that follows through 
``highly qualified candidates)'' and inserting ``shortage of highly 
qualified candidates''.

SEC. 347. CAFETERIA PLAN FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Cafeteria plan.--The term ``cafeteria plan'' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 125
            (d) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986.

    (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
 the Office of Personnel Management.

    (3) Qualified carrier.--The term ``qualified carrier'' 
 means an insurance company (or consortium of insurance 
 companies) that is licensed to issue disability-income 
 insurance under the laws of 48 of the States and the District 
 of Columbia, taking into account any subsidiaries of such a 
 company (and, in the case of a consortium, considering the 
 member companies and any subsidiaries thereof, collectively).

    (b) Plan Authorized.--The Director shall establish and administer a 
cafeteria plan through which an employee of an Executive agency may 
select certain benefits from a menu of options, including cash, life 
insurance, disability-income insurance, flexible spending arrangements 
for health care, flexible spending arrangements for dependent care, a 
health savings account, enhanced dental benefits, and enhanced vision 
benefits.
            (c) Contribution.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than October 1 of each year, the 
 Director shall--
        (A) identify the amount of the Federal Government's 
 contribution to the cafeteria plan established under 
 subsection

    (b) ; and
        (B) in making the identification required under 
 subparagraph
        (A) , determine the annual adjustment of 
 the Federal Government's contribution based on 
 inflation and other appropriate factors as determined 
 by the Director.

    (2) Director responsibility.--The Director shall ensure 
 that the amount of the Federal Government's contribution for 
 the cafeteria plan described in subsection

    (b) does not 
 increase or decrease Governmentwide spending by Executive 
 agencies on benefits for employees of those agencies.
            (d) Contracting Authority.--The Director--

    (1) may, without regard to subsections

    (b) ,
            (c) , and
            (d) of 
 

section 6101 of title 41, United States Code, or any other 
 statute requiring competitive bidding, enter into contracts 
 with 1 or more qualified carriers for a policy or policies of 
 disability-income insurance, for the cafeteria plan authorized 
 under subsection

    (b) ; and

    (2) shall ensure that each contract entered into under 
 paragraph

    (1) is entered into on the basis of contractor 
 qualifications, price, and reasonable competition.

    (e) No Effect on Eligibility for Other Benefits.--Nothing in this 
section may be construed to affect the eligibility for insurance and 
other benefits under subpart G of part III of title 5, United States 
Code.

    (f) Regulations.--The Director shall, not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, propose for public notice and 
comment regulations to implement the plan authorized by this section, 
including regulations for a disability-income insurance program for 
Federal employees.

    (g) Statutory Proposals.--The Director shall, not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to Congress 
recommendations for legislative proposals that should be made to 
chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code, that are necessary for the 
establishment of the cafeteria plan under this section.

SEC. 348. MODERN BENEFITS PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Civil service.--The term ``civil service'' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 2101 of title 5, United 
 States Code.

    (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
 the Office of Personnel Management.

    (3) Eligible employee.--The term ``eligible employee'' 
 means an employee in the civil service, other than a public 
 safety employee, who has completed less than 5 years of 
 civilian service creditable under 

section 8411 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (4) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the 
 pilot program established by the Director under subsection

    (b)

    (1) .

    (5) Public safety employee.--The term ``public safety 
 employee'' means an employee serving an Executive agency as a 
 law enforcement officer, air traffic controller, firefighter, 
 nuclear materials courier, or customs and border protection 
 officer, as those terms are defined in 

section 8401 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (b) Pilot Program Authorized.--

    (1) In general.--The Director shall establish a pilot 
 program in 3 Executive agencies to offer eligible employees a 
 benefits package described in subsection
            (d) .

    (2) Consultations.--With respect to the pilot program, the 
 Director--
        (A) shall, in establishing the pilot program, 
 consult with benefits experts, actuaries, labor unions, 
 and the participating Executive agencies; and
        (B) may carry out the pilot program without regard 
 to any requirement or limitation under 

section 4703 of 
 title 5, United States Code (as amended by this Act), 
 except that the pilot program shall be considered to be 
 a demonstration project for purposes of subsection

    (a) of such 

section 4703.
            (c) Election of Benefits Package by Employees.--

    (1) New employees.--An eligible employee who is appointed 
 to a position in an Executive agency after the date on which 
 the pilot program is established may elect to be covered by the 
 benefits package in the pilot program or the benefits package 
 otherwise applicable to civil service employees in the 
 Executive agency.

    (2) Recent hires.--An eligible employee who is appointed to 
 a position in an Executive agency during the 5-year period 
 ending on the date on which the pilot program is established 
 may elect to switch coverage to the benefits package in the 
 pilot program.

    (3) Applicability.--An employee who elects the benefits 
 package in the pilot program shall not be eligible for an 
 annuity or annuitant health care benefits under chapter 84 of 
 title 5, United States Code.
            (d) Program Details.--The Director shall ensure that the benefits 
package authorized under this section is of equivalent value to the 
benefits package otherwise applicable to employees in the civil service 
in the applicable Executive agencies and offers the following:

    (1) An enhanced Thrift Savings Plan benefit, including 
 eligibility for a total agency contribution of not less than 10 
 percent of pay, vested immediately.

    (2) Not less than 12 weeks of paid leave for a purpose 
 described in subparagraph
        (A) or
        (B) of 

section 6382

    (a)

    (1) of 
 title 5, United States Code, which shall be in addition to any 
 accrued or accumulated annual or sick leave.

    (3) Immediate eligibility for agency-paid short-term and 
 long-term disability-income insurance that replaces not less 
 than 60 percent of the employee's current salary.

    (4) Not less than 5 weeks of flexible paid time off accrued 
 each year, in lieu of annual and sick leave.

    (5) Such other benefits as the Director may authorize.

    (e) Reports.--Not later than 6 years after the date on which the 
pilot program under this section is established, the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget and the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall each submit to the Director and to Congress a 
report on the pilot program that includes--

    (1) evaluations of the pilot program; and

    (2) recommendations on whether to modify, continue, expand, 
 or terminate the pilot program, or to make the program 
 permanent for all Executive agencies.

    (f) Additional Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
which the pilot program under this section is established, the Director 
shall contract with the National Academy of Public Administration--

    (1) to conduct a study of the pilot program; and

    (2) to submit to the Director, not later than 6 years after 
 the date on which the pilot program is established, a report on 
 the pilot program that includes the elements set forth in 
 subsection

    (e) .

    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the Director to carry 
out this section.

SEC. 349. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FLEXIBILITY FOR THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL 
 MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Limitation on Demonstration Projects.--

Section 4703
            (d) (1) of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking ``demonstration 
project shall'' and all that follows through ``5-year period'' and 
inserting ``demonstration period shall terminate before the end of the 
10-year period''.

    (b) Evaluation of Demonstration Projects.--

Section 4703 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking subsection

    (h) and inserting 
the following:
 ``

    (h)

    (1) The Comptroller General of the United States and the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall, every 5 years, 
each evaluate any demonstration project conducted under this section 
for the impacts of such demonstration project on improving public 
management, which shall, at a minimum, evaluate the following:
 ``
        (A) The effectiveness of the demonstration project in 
 achieving the purpose identified in the project plan.
 ``
        (B) Significant impacts on any other matters important to 
 attracting and maintaining a highly qualified workforce.
 ``
            (C) The cost-effectiveness of the demonstration project.
 ``
            (D) Whether the Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management should continue, cease, or adjust the demonstration 
 project.
 ``
        (E) Whether the Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management should make the demonstration project permanent.
 ``

    (2) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall, 
every 5 years, contract with the National Academy of Public 
Administration--
 ``
        (A) to conduct a study to evaluate any demonstration 
 project conducted under this section for the impacts of such 
 demonstration project on improving public management, including 
 an evaluation of the items contained in paragraph

    (1) ; and
 ``
        (B) to submit to the Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management a report on the results of each such study.
 ``

    (3) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may 
promulgate regulations to make a demonstration project permanent, 
without requesting separate statutory approval therefor, if at least 
one of the two officers evaluating the demonstration project under 
paragraph

    (1) recommends in such evaluation that the demonstration 
project be expanded Governmentwide. In exercising the authority under 
this paragraph, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may 
consider the reports made under paragraph

    (2) .''.

SEC. 350. ADVANCED ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR EXECUTIVE AGENCY HIRING.

    (a) Adoption of Skills-Based Assessment Technology.--The Director 
of the Office of Personnel Management shall support the distribution 
to, and use by, Executive agencies in their hiring processes of 
advanced skills-based assessment technology that the Director of the 
Office of Personnel Management has validated as effective for the 
recruitment, qualification, and assessment of candidates. The Office of 
Personnel Management shall not charge an Executive agency for the use 
of advanced skills-based assessment technology that the Office has 
developed or procured under this subsection.

    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Office of Personnel Management such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section, including for entering into 
licensing arrangements, purchasing technology, providing training, and 
incurring other expenses related to the use and distribution to 
Executive agencies of the technology described in subsection

    (a) .

SEC. 351. COMPETENCY STANDARDS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALISTS.

 

Section 1303

    (b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (5 U.S.C. 1401 
note) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ``, and to establish competency standards for human 
resources employees, including technical knowledge, analytical skills, 
and collaborative skills''.

SEC. 352. EVALUATION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE 
 PERSONNEL SYSTEM.

    (a) Reports Required.--Not later than December 31, 2029, the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Comptroller 
General shall each submit to Congress a report evaluating changes to 
laws, regulations, and policies governing the Federal civil service 
personnel system that address or reflect recommendations contained in 
the final report of the National Commission on Military, National, and 
Public Service required under 

section 555

    (e)

    (1) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 130 Stat. 
2136) (in this section referred to as the ``Commission Report'').

    (b) Additional Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management shall contract with the National Academy of Public 
Administration--

    (1) to conduct a study evaluating changes to laws, 
 regulations, and policies governing the Federal civil service 
 personnel system that address or reflect recommendations 
 contained in the Commission Report; and

    (2) to submit to the Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management, not later than December 31, 2029, a report on such 
 study, which the Director shall submit to Congress.
            (c) Elements.--Each report under subsections

    (a) and

    (b) shall 
include the following:

    (1) A list of all changes to laws, regulations, and 
 policies governing the Federal civil service personnel system 
 that address or reflect recommendations contained in the 
 Commission Report.

    (2) An evaluation of the changes identified under paragraph

    (1) , including assessments of--
        (A) the effectiveness of the changes, especially 
 with respect to enabling Executive agencies to attract 
 and retain highly qualified, younger employees and 
 employees with critical skills;
        (B) the cost of implementing the changes; and
            (C) the challenges associated with implementing the 
 changes.

    (3) Additional recommendations from the Commission Report 
 that should be undertaken to attract and retain a highly 
 qualified workforce that meets the needs of Executive agencies.

    (4) Additional recommendations, as appropriate, to more 
 effectively attract and retain a highly qualified workforce 
 that meets the needs of Executive agencies.
            (d) === Definition. ===
-In this section, the term ``civil service'' has 
the meaning given that term in 

section 2101 of title 5, United States 
Code.

SEC. 353. PROPOSALS FOR MODERN TALENT-MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

    (a) Reports Required.--Not later than December 31, 2034, the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Comptroller 
General shall each submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report setting 
forth detailed proposals for a modern talent-management system to 
replace existing civil service personnel systems.

    (b) Additional Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management shall contract with the National Academy of Public 
Administration--

    (1) to conduct a study of proposals for a modern talent-
 management system to replace existing civil service personnel 
 systems; and

    (2) to submit to the Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management, not later than December 31, 2034, a report on such 
 proposals, which the Director shall submit to the committees of 
 Congress referred to in subsection

    (a) .
            (c) Elements.--Each report under subsections

    (a) and

    (b) shall 
include the following:

    (1) A detailed proposal for a new, comprehensive civil 
 service personnel system designed to replace existing civil 
 service personnel systems in Executive agencies, with 
 particular attention to--
        (A) classification;
        (B) hiring;
            (C) compensation;
            (D) evaluation; and
        (E) promotion.

    (2) Evidence from previous changes to civil service 
 personnel systems that supports the proposed design of the new 
 civil service personnel system.

    (3) Considerations of the views of relevant stakeholders to 
 proposed changes to the existing civil service personnel 
 systems.
            (d) === Definition. ===
-In this section, the term ``civil service'' has 
the meaning given that term in 

section 2101 of title 5, United States 
Code.

SEC. 354. ANNUAL REPORT ON BLENDED FEDERAL WORKFORCE.

 

Section 1103
            (c) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) by striking ``
            (c) (1) '' and inserting 
 ``
            (c) (1)
        (A) ''; and
        (B) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (B)
            (i) The Office of Personnel Management shall collect from 
Executive agencies, other than elements of the intelligence community 
(as defined in 

section 3

    (4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 
U.S.C. 3003

    (4) )), on at least an annual basis the following:
 ``
            (I) The total number of persons employed directly by the 
 Executive agency.
 ``
            (II) The total number of prime contractor employees and 
 subcontractor employees, as those terms are defined in 

section 8701 of title 41, issued credentials allowing access to 
 Executive agency property or computer systems.
 ``
            (III) The total number of employees of Federal grant and 
 cooperative agreement recipients, as those legal instruments 
 are described in sections 6304 and 6305 of title 31, United 
 States Code, who are issued credentials allowing access to 
 Executive agency property or computer systems.
 ``
            (IV) A total count of the workforce, including employees, 
 prime contractor employees, subcontractor employees, grantee 
 employees, and cooperative agreement employees.
 ``
            (ii) The Office of Personnel Management shall compile the data 
collected under clause
            (i) and issue, and post on its website, an 
annual report containing the data.''; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking ``paragraph

    (1) '' and 
 inserting ``paragraph

    (1)
        (A) ''.

SEC. 355. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF 
 THE BLENDED FEDERAL WORKFORCE.

    (a) 

=== Findings ===
-Congress finds the following:

    (1) The implementation of Federal laws and the competent 
 administration of Federal programs require skilled and capable 
 personnel.

    (2) Executive agencies depend on a blended workforce that 
 includes Federal employees, employees of prime contractors and 
 subcontractors performing services to Executive agencies, and 
 employees of State or local governments, nonprofit 
 organizations, or institutions of higher education performing 
 services to Executive agencies under the terms of grants and 
 cooperative agreements (in this section referred to as 
 ``grantees''), all of whom make essential contributions to 
 achieving the missions of the Government in service to the 
 American people.

    (3) Approximately 2,000,000 Federal employees help to 
 execute the laws of the United States, supplemented by an 
 unknown number, estimated to exceed 5,000,000, of employees of 
 prime contractors, subcontractors, and grantees providing 
 services to Executive agencies.

    (4) Policymakers, Executive agencies, and observers have 
 often focused on individual components of the blended 
 workforce, such as employees, without considering all 
 components or considering the entire blended workforce and how 
 all 3 components can work most effectively together.

    (5) Executive agencies inhibit their own workforce planning 
 and risk making decisions that may reduce the overall 
 efficiency and cost effectiveness of the blended workforce by 
 focusing on only 1 component in isolation.

    (6) Establishing artificial limits on headcounts or full-
 time equivalent positions for Federal employees, 
 administrators, and managerial employees of Executive agencies 
 may discourage the employment of interns or entry-level 
 employees to build a balanced employment pipeline and may 
 inadvertently encourage managers to shift work to contractors 
 and grantees for the purpose of complying with such numerical 
 limits, even if those decisions are not justified by an 
 approach to improve the efficiency or cost effectiveness of the 
 Executive agency's work.

    (7) The Government Accountability Office has identified 
 strategic human capital management as a high-risk area for the 
 Federal Government, adding that critical skills gaps ``impede 
 the government from cost-effectively serving the public and 
 achieving results''.

    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

    (1) Executive agencies should manage the entire Federal 
 blended workforce, including employees, contractors, and 
 grantees, using a comprehensive and holistic approach to 
 advance their missions as effectively and cost efficiently as 
 possible, within appropriated budgets and without using 
 artificial numerical limits on headcounts or full-time-
 equivalent positions; and

    (2) Executive agencies should conduct a holistic review of 
 their blended workforce and develop a comprehensive plan to 
 ensure an efficient and cost-effective blended workforce.

Subtitle D--Advancement of Public Service: Students, Recent Graduates, 
 and Critical Skills

SEC. 361. FEDERAL FELLOWSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP CENTER.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Federal 
 Fellowship and Scholarship Center established under subsection

    (b) .

    (2) Civil service.--The term ``civil service'' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 2101 of title 5, United 
 States Code.

    (3) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means an 
 Executive agency or military department.

    (4) Critical skills.--The term ``critical skills'' means 
 any knowledge, skills, abilities, or education that a 
 sponsoring agency determines is necessary to meet critical 
 workforce requirements.

    (5) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
 the Office of Personnel Management.

    (6) Executive director.--The term ``Executive Director'' 
 means the Executive Director of the Center appointed under 
 subsection
            (c) (1) .

    (7) Fellowship.--The term ``fellowship'' means a short-term 
 employment opportunity (other than a post-fellowship service 
 requirement), of not more than 2 years in length, that is 
 intended to provide the recipient with work experience with a 
 covered agency that prepares the recipient for permanent 
 employment with a covered agency.

    (8) Institution of higher education.--The term 
 ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
 term in 

section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 1001).

    (9) Intern.--The term ``intern'' means a student enrolled 
 in an institution of higher education who is providing 
 voluntary services to a covered agency under 

section 3111

    (b) of 
 title 5, United States Code.

    (10) Scholarship.--The term ``scholarship'' means--
        (A) financial support paid by a covered agency 
 towards the cost to an individual of attendance at an 
 institution of higher education that is authorized to 
 participate in a Federal student aid program under 
 title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 1070 et seq.) in a course of study leading to a 
 credential in a critical skill or another program that 
 requires the individual to demonstrate an interest in 
 or agreement to pursue a career in public service; or
        (B) financial support paid by a covered agency 
 towards the cost to an individual of procuring private 
 instruction in a critical skill.

    (11) Sponsoring agency.--The term ``sponsoring agency'' 
 means any covered agency, or any administration, service, 
 board, or bureau part thereof, that operates a fellowship or 
 scholarship program.

    (b) Establishment of Federal Fellowship and Scholarship Center.--
The Director shall establish and maintain a Federal Fellowship and 
Scholarship Center to administer, manage, and promote all fellowship 
and scholarship programs in order to attract individuals to serve in 
the Federal Government in a civilian capacity and facilitate the entry 
of those individuals into the civil service.
            (c) Management of Center.--

    (1) Executive director.--
        (A) Appointment.--The Director shall appoint an 
 individual with appropriate expertise to serve as the 
 Executive Director of the Center, which shall be a 
 position in the Senior Executive Service.
        (B) Term.--The Executive Director shall be 
 appointed for a term of 5 years.

    (2) Assistant to the president for military, national, and 
 public service.--The Director of the Council on Military, 
 National, and Public Service established under 

section 201 
 shall provide strategic guidance to, and facilitate interagency 
 cooperation with, the Executive Director.

    (3) Regulations.--The Executive Director shall issue any 
 regulations necessary to implement and manage the Center.
            (d) Functions of the Center.--The Center shall--

    (1) establish, maintain, and operate an online platform 
 accessible to the public that contains information regarding 
 every fellowship and scholarship opportunity available, 
 including information on how individuals may apply for the 
 opportunity;

    (2) approve, promote, and facilitate fellowship and 
 scholarship programs at the request of a sponsoring agency to 
 meet workforce requirements of the sponsoring agency, 
 especially in critical skill areas;

    (3) develop a standard application for fellowships and 
 scholarships for use by applicants and sponsoring agencies, 
 which may be supplemented by additional requirements of a 
 sponsoring agency; and

    (4) ensure that an individual who successfully completes a 
 fellowship or scholarship program is able to utilize the 
 noncompetitive eligibility for employment in the competitive 
 service provided under 

section 370

    (b) .

    (e) Virtual Student Federal Service.--

    (1) In general.--The Executive Director shall establish and 
 operate a Virtual Student Federal Service, an online platform 
 through which Executive agencies may solicit for interns to 
 work approximately 10 hours per week during the academic school 
 year.

    (2) Intern responsibilities.--An intern appointed by an 
 Executive agency under paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) shall communicate with and submit work to the 
 Executive agency electronically; and
        (B) shall not be required to travel.

    (3) Agency responsibilities.--An Executive agency 
 sponsoring an opportunity through the Virtual Student Federal 
 Service shall provide the Center with relevant information 
 about the intern services needed by the Executive agency.

    (f) Responsibilities and Authorities of Sponsoring Agencies.--The 
head of a sponsoring agency--

    (1) shall establish the terms of each fellowship or 
 scholarship program, including eligibility requirements, 
 compensation, and length of service requirements;

    (2) shall provide the Center with the necessary information 
 on existing fellowship and scholarship programs to enable the 
 Center to fulfill its responsibilities to promote and 
 facilitate those programs through the online platform and 
 application process described in paragraphs

    (1) and

    (3) , 
 respectively, of subsection
            (d) ;

    (3) shall select recipients of fellowships and scholarships 
 in a timely manner from among the applicants identified by the 
 Center;

    (4) with respect to a scholarship awarded to an individual, 
 may pay the scholarship--
        (A) directly to the individual; or
        (B) to the institution of higher education in which 
 the individual is enrolled, if applicable; and

    (5) shall comply with requests from the Center for 
 information about the status of the fellowship and scholarship 
 programs of the sponsoring agency.

    (g) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Executive Director shall submit to Congress 
a report on the establishment of the Center, including--

    (1) the status of the online platform established under 
 subsection
            (d) (1) ;

    (2) the participation of sponsoring agencies;

    (3) the number of applicants; and

    (4) any additional information the Director requires.

    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 362. PUBLIC SERVICE CORPS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Terms defined in 

section 361.--The terms ``civil 
 service'', ``Center'', ``covered agency'', ``Director'', and 
 ``Executive Director'' have the meanings given those terms in 
 

section 361.

    (2) Other terms.--
        (A) Institution of higher education.--The term 
 ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 101 of the Higher Education 
 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
        (B) Public service corps host; psc host.--The term 
 ``Public Service Corps host'' or ``PSC host'' means an 
 institution of higher education that has been selected 
 by the Center to host Public Service Corps members.
            (C) Public service corps host program; psc host 
 program.--The term ``Public Service Corps host 
 program'' or ``PSC host program'' means a program 
 operated by a PSC host under this section.
            (D) Public service corps member; psc member.--The 
 term ``Public Service Corps member'' or ``PSC member'' 
 means a student at a Public Service Corps host who is 
 awarded a Public Service Corps scholarship.
        (E) Public service corps scholarship.--The term 
 ``Public Service Corps scholarship'' means a 
 scholarship provided to an individual in exchange for a 
 commitment from the individual to serve in the civil 
 service upon--
            (i) completion of requirements established 
 by the sponsoring agency; and
            (ii) graduation from the PSC host.
        (F) Sponsoring agency.--The term ``sponsoring 
 agency'' means a covered agency that funds a Public 
 Service Corps scholarship for an individual.

    (b) Establishment.--The Director shall establish within the Center 
a Public Service Corps Program.
            (c) Selection of Public Service Corps Hosts.--

    (1) Selection.--The Executive Director shall select a PSC 
 host through a competitive process using criteria established 
 by the Executive Director, which shall include a demonstrated 
 commitment by the institution of higher education concerned to 
 foster public service careers.

    (2) Standards; consistency.--The Executive Director shall--
        (A) develop standards for PSC hosts; and
        (B) ensure consistency among PSC host programs.

    (3) Application requirements for psc hosts.--An institution 
 of higher education that desires to become a PSC host shall 
 apply to the Center at such time and in such manner as required 
 under the regulations issued under subsection
            (i) .

    (4) PSC interaction with other training programs.--A PSC 
 host that also supports a Senior Reserve Officers' Training 
 Corps program under 

section 2102 of title 10, United States 
 Code, or a Defense Civilian Training Corps established under 
 chapter 113 of title 10, United States Code, shall--
        (A) establish joint leadership training 
 opportunities;
        (B) offer joint courses; and
            (C) permit PSC members, members of the Senior 
 Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, and members 
 of the Defense Civilian Training Corps program to 
 enroll in coursework from either of the other 2 
 programs, on a space-available basis.

    (5) Integration of state, local, and tribal government 
 service programs.--A PSC host shall consider the establishment 
 of public service scholarship programs with State, local, and 
 Tribal governments that are similar to the PSC host program, 
 with the goal of integrating PSC members and State, local, and 
 Tribal scholarship students in PSC programs on campus.
            (d) Selection of Public Service Corps Members.--

    (1) Application.--A student interested in a PSC scholarship 
 shall submit an application to the sponsoring agency at such 
 time and in such manner as the Executive Director may require.

    (2) Selection.--A sponsoring agency shall select each 
 student to whom the sponsoring agency will offer a PSC 
 scholarship.

    (3) Eligibility.--An applicant may receive a PSC 
 scholarship only if the applicant is enrolled in or admitted to 
 a PSC host.

    (4) Scholarships.--
        (A) Duration.--A sponsoring agency may offer a 
 scholarship with a duration of 2 years, 3 years, or 4 
 years to a PSC member.
        (B) Socioeconomic diversity.--To ensure 
 socioeconomic diversity, a sponsoring agency shall 
 reserve a portion of the scholarships offered by the 
 agency for students who meet the eligibility 
 requirements for a Federal Pell Grant under 

section 401 
 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a).

    (e) Requirements for Public Service Corps Members.--

    (1) Contract.--A sponsoring agency shall enter into a 
 contract with a PSC member in accordance with paragraph

    (2) .

    (2) Requirements.--A contract entered into under paragraph

    (1) shall include--
        (A) a requirement that the PSC member be enrolled 
 full-time as a student at a PSC host;
        (B) any conditions imposed by the sponsoring agency 
 on the scholarship, including--
            (i) whether the PSC member must complete a 
 specific academic program, major, certificate, 
 or coursework relevant to the needs of the 
 sponsoring agency; and
            (ii) the consequences if the PSC member 
 does not comply with the terms and conditions 
 of the scholarship;
            (C) any obligations imposed by the sponsoring 
 agency on the PSC member to participate in structured 
 academic and experiential leadership training, a 
 community service project, or an internship with a 
 Federal, State, local, or Tribal entity;
            (D) a requirement that the PSC member serve in the 
 civil service for a 4-year period upon--
            (i) completion of requirements established 
 by the sponsoring agency; and
            (ii) graduation from the PSC host; and
        (E) any other terms or conditions as determined by 
 the sponsoring agency.

    (f) Responsibilities and Authorities of Sponsoring Agencies.--

    (1) Selection of scholarship recipients.--A sponsoring 
 agency shall interview and select scholarship recipients in 
 accordance with procedures established by the Executive 
 Director.

    (2) Amount of scholarship.--
        (A) Minimum.--The annual amount of a scholarship 
 offered by a sponsoring agency may not be less than the 
 maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant under 

section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 1070a) that a student eligible for a Federal Pell Grant 
 may receive in the aggregate (without regard to whether 
 the funds are provided through discretionary or 
 mandatory appropriations), for the award year for which 
 the PSC scholarship is offered.
        (B) Relation to eligibility for other federal 
 student assistance.--The eligibility of an individual 
 for Federal student assistance provided under title IV 
 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et 
 seq.) shall not be affected by receipt of a PSC 
 scholarship.
            (C) Other benefits.--Other benefits that may be 
 accrued, such as pay for internships or travel 
 allowances, shall not count toward the minimum amount 
 of the scholarship required under subparagraph
        (A) .

    (3) Coordination of internship opportunities.--A sponsoring 
 agency shall coordinate internship opportunities for a PSC 
 member during the term of the scholarship of the PSC member.

    (4) Security clearances.--A sponsoring agency shall 
 coordinate, sponsor, and manage the process for a PSC member to 
 obtain any necessary security clearances.

    (g) Public Service Employment.--

    (1) Noncompetitive appointments for internships.--An 
 covered agency may noncompetitively appoint, for temporary 
 employment, a PSC member for the purpose of completing an 
 internship.

    (2) Other noncompetitive appointments.--A sponsoring agency 
 may noncompetitively appoint to the competitive service, for 
 other than temporary employment, a PSC member who has--
        (A) satisfactorily completed the requirements of 
 the PSC scholarship; and
        (B) graduated from the PSC host.

    (3) Service commitment.--
        (A) In general.--If a sponsoring agency makes an 
 offer of employment to a PSC member sponsored by the 
 sponsoring agency after the PSC member satisfactorily 
 completes the requirements of a PSC scholarship and 
 graduates from a PSC host, the PSC member shall accept 
 the offer.
        (B) No offer by sponsoring agency.--If a sponsoring 
 agency does not make an offer of employment to a PSC 
 member described in subparagraph
        (A) , the PSC member--
            (i) shall be eligible for noncompetitive 
 appointment to the competitive service by a 
 covered agency during the 3-year period 
 beginning on the date on which the PSC member 
 graduated from the PSC host; and
            (ii) may fulfill the service commitment of 
 the PSC member described in subsection

    (e)

    (2)
            (D) through employment with any covered 
 agency.

    (h) Failure To Complete Scholarship Requirements.--

    (1) Liability for restitution in case of noncompletion or 
 declination of employment.--A PSC member who does not complete 
 the required course of instruction, fails to graduate in 
 accordance with the terms of the Public Service Corps 
 scholarship, or fails to complete the 4-year service commitment 
 described in subsection

    (e)

    (2)
            (D) shall, subject to paragraph

    (2) of this subsection, repay the amount of the scholarship to 
 the sponsoring agency.

    (2) Waiver of liability.--The Executive Director may, in 
 extraordinary circumstances, waive some or all of the liability 
 for the 4-year service commitment under subsection
            (d) (4)
        (B) or 
 the requirements of paragraph

    (1) of this subsection.
            (i) Regulations.--The Director and the Executive Director shall 
jointly issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section.

    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 363. PUBLIC SERVICE ACADEMY GRANTS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Enrollment of needy students.--The term ``enrollment of 
 needy students'' has the meaning given the term in 

section 312
            (d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058
            (d) ).

    (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
 ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
 term in 

section 101

    (a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 1001

    (a) ).

    (3) Public service.--The term ``public service'' means 
 civilian employment in the Federal Government or a State, 
 local, or Tribal government in the United States.

    (4) Public service academy.--The term ``public service 
 academy'' means a leadership development program at an 
 institution of higher education that is designed to prepare 
 students for public service through curricular, 
 extracurricular, experiential learning, and internship 
 programs.

    (5) Public service academy cost.--The term ``public service 
 academy cost'' means the cost of developing and administering a 
 public service academy at an institution of higher education.

    (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Education.

    (b) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall establish and 
administer a program to issue grants to not more than 50 institutions 
of higher education, on a competitive basis, to support the development 
of public service academies--

    (1) to attract postsecondary students to careers in public 
 service;

    (2) to promote public service as a career path for younger 
 Americans;

    (3) to prepare future generations with skills needed in all 
 levels of public service; and

    (4) to support the Federal Government and State, local, and 
 Tribal governments in their efforts to attract exceptional 
 talent from the Nation's recent graduates.
            (c) Grant Application.--An institution of higher education seeking 
a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require. Such application shall include--

    (1) a plan for the development of a public service academy, 
 including an account of existing curricular, extracurricular, 
 experiential learning, and internship programs at the 
 institution of higher education that would be included in the 
 public service academy, as well as new curricular, 
 extracurricular, experiential learning, and internship programs 
 that would be established with grant funds;

    (2) an assessment of anticipated costs for the public 
 service academy in each of the first 4 years of operation, 
 including the potential sources of non-Federal funds to be used 
 for the public service academy; and

    (3) information regarding the enrollment of needy students 
 at the institution of higher education.
            (d) Selection by Competitive Process.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall issue grants under 
 this section pursuant to a competitive process and shall 
 establish rules for evaluating applicants and awarding grants 
 under this section.

    (2) Reservation of funds for certain institutions.--Of the 
 funds made available for grants under this section, the 
 Secretary shall reserve not less than 50 percent for grants to 
 institutions of higher education that have enrollments of needy 
 students.

    (3) Equitable geographic distribution of grants.--To the 
 extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure an equitable 
 geographic distribution of grants awarded under this section.

    (e) Duration and Amount of Federal Grants.--

    (1) Duration.--A grant under this section shall be awarded 
 for a period of not more than 4 years.

    (2) Certain costs excluded.--A grant under this section 
 shall not include funds for the cost of any curricular, 
 extracurricular, experiential learning, and internship programs 
 maintained or sponsored by the institution of higher education 
 at the time an application for a grant under this section is 
 made.

    (3) Amount of grant.--The amount of the grant may not 
 exceed--
        (A) 75 percent of the public service academy cost 
 in the first year; and
        (B) 50 percent of the public service academy cost 
 in each of the second, third, and fourth years.

    (f) Permissible Uses.--An institution of higher education receiving 
a grant under this section may use funds from the grant--

    (1) to develop, expand, and modify curricula to prepare 
 students for careers in public service, including experiential 
 learning components of curricula;

    (2) to create and administer classroom activities, thesis 
 projects, individual or team projects, internships, degree or 
 certificate programs, or community service activities related 
 to promoting public service and preparing students for careers 
 in public service;

    (3) to collaborate with government entities, nonprofit 
 organizations, or consortia of such entities and organizations 
 to provide students with public service-related work 
 experiences and introduce students to potential careers upon 
 their graduation;

    (4) to provide scholarships for students who participate in 
 the public service academy; and

    (5) to evaluate the effectiveness of the public service 
 academy as it relates to leading participants into careers with 
 local, State, or Federal Government agencies.

    (g) Annual Grantee Report.--A recipient of a grant under this 
section shall submit to the Secretary on an annual basis a 
comprehensive report on the public service academy supported by the 
grant and the use of the grant funds to support the academy. The 
Secretary shall provide guidance on what information shall be included 
in the report.

    (h) Congressional Reports.--The Secretary shall--

    (1) not later than 12 months after the date of the 
 enactment of this Act and every 12 months thereafter, submit to 
 Congress a report on the results or outcomes of all public 
 service academies provided grants under this section and the 
 potential need for additional funding for such academies; and

    (2) in the fourth annual report submitted under paragraph

    (1) , include a recommendation to Congress about whether the 
 grant program under this section should receive continued 
 funding.
            (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 364. PUBLIC SERVICE CADET PROGRAM AT MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES.

    (a) Plan for Public Service Cadet Program.--The Superintendent of 
each military service academy, in consultation with the Secretaries of 
the military departments and the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management, shall develop a plan to create a program for the 
instruction of and preparation for public service of certain cadets at 
such service academy, in accordance with subsection

    (b) .

    (b) Elements of Plan.--The plan described in subsection

    (a) shall--

    (1) provide for the appointment of cadets to a public 
 service cadet program representing at least 5 percent of the 
 total incoming class at each academy, with no corresponding 
 decline in enrollment of military cadets or midshipmen;

    (2) require that each graduate of the public service cadet 
 program accept an appointment to the Federal civil service and 
 commit to serve in the Federal civil service for a period of 5 
 years after such appointment;

    (3) provide a process for any graduate who does not serve 
 in a position in the Federal civil service or who resigns from 
 a position in the Federal civil service before the expiration 
 of the 5-year service commitment to pay back the cost of the 
 graduate's education at the military service academy, 
 consistent with requirements of military cadets or midshipmen, 
 along with a process for the Superintendent to issue a waiver 
 to all or part of such requirement;

    (4) specify the training, curricular, and other 
 requirements for public service cadets;

    (5) address the applicability of the Uniform Code of 
 Military Justice or alternative disciplinary procedures to 
 public service cadets; and

    (6) provide a detailed plan for implementing the public 
 service cadet program, including the amount of time needed to 
 implement the plan.
            (c) Submittal to Congress.--Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Superintendent of each military 
service academy shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives the plan developed by such 
Superintendent under this section.

SEC. 365. COMPENSATION FOR FEDERAL INTERNS.

    (a) Federal Agency Interns.--

Section 3111 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b)

    (1) , by inserting before the semicolon 
 the following: ``, but only insofar as the institution provides 
 academic credit to the student for the voluntary service''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (f) An agency may provide reimbursement for transportation and 
subsistence expenses for any student who provides voluntary service 
under subsection

    (b) , pursuant to regulations issued by the Office of 
Personnel Management.''.

    (b) Legislative Branch Interns.--Part 3 of title IV of the 
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (2 U.S.C. 4101) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 432. INTERNS IN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Intern.--The term `intern' means, with respect to a 
 legislative branch office, an individual who serves in the 
 legislative branch office for not more than 120 days in a 12-
 month period and whose service is primarily for the educational 
 experience of the individual.
 ``

    (2) Legislative branch office.--The term `legislative 
 branch office' means each of the following:
 ``
        (A) An employing office, as defined in 

section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 
 U.S.C. 1301).
 ``
        (B) The Government Accountability Office.
 ``
            (C) The Government Publishing Office.
 ``

    (b) In General.--The head of each legislative branch office shall 
pay an intern who serves in the legislative branch office not less than 
the minimum wage rate established under 

section 6 of the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206), unless--
 ``

    (1) the intern is a student who is participating in a 
 program established by the institution at which the intern is 
 enrolled; and
 ``

    (2) the institution provides academic credit to the 
 student for the voluntary service of the intern.
 ``

    (3) Benefit exclusion.--Interns compensated under this 
 subsection shall be excluded from the operation of the 
 following provisions of title 5, United States Code:
 ``
        (A) Chapter 84 (relating to the Federal Employees 
 Retirement System).
 ``
        (B) Chapter 87 (relating to life insurance).
 ``
            (C) Chapter 89 (relating to health insurance).
 ``
            (c) Senate Allowance.--There is established for the Senate an 
allowance which shall be available for the compensation of interns who 
serve in the offices of Senators during a calendar year.''.
            (c) Federal Judiciary Interns.--

    (1) Compensation.--The Director of the Administrative 
 Office of the United States Courts shall issue regulations to 
 provide for the compensation of all interns serving in the 
 judicial branch.

    (2) Intern defined.--In this subsection, the term 
 ``intern'' means an individual--
        (A) who serves in a court of the United States or 
 the Administrative Office of the United States Courts 
 for not more than 120 days during a 12-month period; 
 and
        (B) whose service is primarily for the educational 
 experience of the individual.
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section 
and the amendments made by this section.

SEC. 366. ESTABLISHMENT OF PATHWAYS PROGRAM.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' means--
        (A) an Executive agency, as defined in 

section 105 
 of title 5, United States Code; and
        (B) the Government Publishing Office.

    (2) Civil service.--The term ``civil service'' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 2101 of title 5, United 
 States Code.

    (3) Competitive service.--The term ``competitive service'' 
 has the meaning given the term in 

section 2102 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (4) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
 the Office.

    (5) Excepted service.--The term ``excepted service'' has 
 the meaning given the term in 

section 2103 of title 5, United 
 States Code.

    (6) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of 
 Personnel Management.

    (b) Establishment.--

    (1) In general.--The Director shall establish the Pathways 
 Program.

    (2) === Purpose ===
-The purpose of the Pathways Program is to 
 promote employment opportunities in the Federal workforce for 
 students and recent graduates by excepting participants in the 
 Program from competitive service hiring requirements for 
 certain positions in the civil service.

    (3) Sub-programs.--The Pathways Program shall consist of an 
 Internship Program and a Recent Graduates Program.
            (c) Regulations.--The Director shall issue regulations for the 
Pathways Program, which shall include--

    (1) a description of the positions that agencies may fill 
 through the Pathways Program because conditions of good 
 administration necessitate excepting those positions from the 
 competitive hiring rules;

    (2) rules governing whether, to what extent, and in what 
 manner agencies must provide public notice of job opportunities 
 in the Pathways Program;

    (3) a description of opportunities for career development, 
 training, and mentorship for participants in the Pathways 
 Program;

    (4) requirements that managers assess the performance of 
 participants in the Pathways Program to identify the 
 individuals who should be considered for conversion to career 
 civil service positions;

    (5) a description of oversight by the Office of the use of 
 the Pathways Program by agencies to ensure that--
        (A) the Pathways Program serves as a supplement to, 
 and not a substitute for, the competitive hiring 
 process; and
        (B) agencies are using the Pathways Program in 
 order to develop talent for careers in the civil 
 service;

    (6) a description of plans by the Office to evaluate--
        (A) the effectiveness of agencies in recruiting and 
 retaining talent using the Pathways Program; and
        (B) the satisfaction of the students and graduates 
 participating in the Pathways Program; and

    (7) standard naming conventions across agencies, so that 
 students and recent graduates can clearly understand and 
 compare the available career pathway opportunities in the 
 Federal Government.
            (d) Internship Program.--

    (1) In general.--The Internship Program shall provide a 
 student in high school, a community college, a 4-year 
 institution of higher education, a trade school, a career or 
 technical education program, or another qualifying educational 
 institution or program, as determined by the Director, with 
 paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal 
 careers while still in school.

    (2) Principles and policies.--The following principles and 
 policies shall govern the Internship Program:
        (A) A participant in the Internship Program shall 
 be a student enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in a 
 qualifying educational institutions or program, as 
 determined by the Director.
        (B) Subject to such exceptions as may be provided 
 by regulation, an agency shall provide an intern with 
 meaningful developmental work and set clear 
 expectations regarding the work experience of the 
 intern.
            (C) A student employed by a third-party internship 
 provider but placed in an agency may, to the extent 
 permitted by regulation, be treated as a participant in 
 the Internship Program.
            (D) An agency shall participate in the Internship 
 Program for the primary purpose of developing and 
 evaluating entry-level talent for future permanent 
 employment with the Federal Government.

    (e) Recent Graduates Program.--

    (1) In general.--The Recent Graduates Program shall provide 
 an individual who has recently graduated from a qualifying 
 educational institution or program with developmental 
 experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote a 
 possible career in the civil service.

    (2) Principles and policies.--The following principles and 
 policies shall govern the Recent Graduates Program:
        (A)
            (i) Except as provided in clause
            (ii) , a 
 participant in the Recent Graduates Program shall have 
 obtained a qualifying degree, or completed a qualifying 
 career or technical education program, as determined by 
 the Director, during the 3-year period preceding 
 application to the Recent Graduates Program.
            (ii) In the case of a veteran who, due to the 
 military service obligation of the veteran, would be 
 precluded from participating in the Recent Graduates 
 Program because the veteran is unable to apply during 
 the 3-year period required under clause
            (i) , that 
 clause shall be applied by substituting ``6-year 
 period'' for ``3-year period''.
        (B) Responsibilities assigned to a recent graduate 
 shall be consistent with--
            (i) the qualifications, educational 
 background, and career interests of the 
 graduate;
            (ii) the purpose of the Recent Graduates 
 Program; and
            (iii) the needs of agencies.

    (f) Appointment and Conversion.--The following requirements shall 
apply to an appointment in the Pathways Program:

    (1) An appointment to the Pathways Program shall be under 
 the excepted service.

    (2) An appointment to the Recent Graduates Program may not 
 exceed 2 years, unless extended by the employing agency for a 
 period of not more than 120 days.

    (3) An appointment to the Pathways Program shall not confer 
 any right to further Federal employment in the competitive 
 service or the excepted service upon the expiration of the 
 appointment, except that an agency--
        (A) may convert a participant noncompetitively to a 
 term, career, or career-conditional appointment after 
 the participant satisfies requirements to be 
 established by the Director; and
        (B) may noncompetitively convert a participant who 
 was initially converted to a term appointment under 
 this section to a career or career-conditional 
 appointment before the term appointment expires.

    (g) Definition of Federal Internship Program.--

Section 3111a
            (c) (1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by redesignating subparagraphs
        (B) ,
            (C) , and
            (D) as 
 subparagraphs
            (C) ,
            (D) , and
        (E) , respectively; and

    (2) by inserting after subparagraph
        (A) the following:
 ``
        (B) the Internship Program established under 
 

section 366
            (d) of the Inspired to Serve Act of 2025;''.

SEC. 367. ENHANCED HIRING FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES AND POST-
 SECONDARY STUDENTS.

    (a) Recent Graduate Hiring Authority.--

Section 3115

    (e) of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking all that follows 
 ``exceed'' and inserting the following: ``exceed the greater 
 of--
 ``
        (A) the number equal to 15 percent of the number 
 of individuals that the agency head appointed during 
 the previous fiscal year to permanent employment; or
 ``
        (B) the number equal to 1 percent of the average 
 number of permanent employees in the agency during the 
 previous fiscal year.''; and

    (2) by striking paragraph

    (2) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (2) Temporary cap increase.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Under a regulation prescribed 
 under subsection

    (f) , the Director shall increase the 
 limit on the number of individuals that may be 
 appointed by the head of an agency under paragraph

    (1) of this subsection during a fiscal year as necessary to 
 meet the target under 

section 368 of the Inspired to 
 Serve Act of 2025 (relating to aggregate number of 
 hires of recent college graduates and post-secondary 
 students).
 ``
        (B) Duration.--The increased limit under 
 subparagraph
        (A) shall terminate not later than 
 September 30, 2034.''.

    (b) Post-Secondary Student Hiring Authority.--

Section 3116 of title 
5, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection
            (d) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking all that follows 
 ``exceed'' and inserting the following: ``exceed the 
 greater of--
 ``
        (A) the number equal to 15 percent of the number 
 of individuals that the agency head appointed during 
 the previous fiscal year to permanent employment; or
 ``
        (B) the number equal to 1 percent of the average 
 number of permanent employees in the agency during the 
 previous fiscal year.''; and
        (B) by striking paragraph

    (2) and inserting the 
 following:
 ``

    (2) Temporary cap increase.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Under a regulation prescribed 
 under subsection

    (g) , the Director shall increase the 
 limit on the number of individuals that may be 
 appointed by a head of an agency under paragraph

    (1) of 
 this subsection during a fiscal year as necessary to 
 meet the target under 

section 368 of the Inspired to 
 Serve Act of 2025 (relating to aggregate number of 
 hires of recent college graduates and post-secondary 
 students).
 ``
        (B) Duration.--The increased limit under 
 subparagraph
        (A) shall terminate not later than 
 September 30, 2031.''; and

    (2) in subsection

    (e)

    (2) , by striking ``640'' and inserting 
 ``400''.

SEC. 368. AGGREGATE NUMBER OF HIRES OF RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES AND 
 POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS.

    (a) Targets.--The Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
shall ensure that the aggregate number of applicants hired into term or 
permanent positions in the competitive service at Federal agencies 
under 

section 366 of this Act (relating to the Pathways Program), 

section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580; Public Law 114-238), and sections 3115 
and 3116 of title 5, United States Code (as amended by 

section 367 of 
this Act)--

    (1) by September 30, 2029, is not less than 30,000; and

    (2) by September 30, 2034, is not less than 50,000.

    (b) Pro Rata Share Determination.--The Director shall determine the 
pro rata share, for each fiscal year, of the obligation of each Federal 
agency to meet the targets under subsection

    (a) , based on the number of 
positions in the competitive service at the agency as compared with the 
total number of positions in the competitive service across all 
agencies.
            (c) Shortfall Determination.--Each fiscal year, the Director shall 
determine the progress of each Federal agency in achieving the targets 
under subsection

    (a) by subtracting the number of applicants hired into 
term or permanent positions in the competitive service at the agency 
during the preceding fiscal year under the provisions of law set forth 
in subsection

    (a) from the pro rata share of the agency determined 
under subsection

    (b) .

SEC. 369. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO HIRE RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES AND 
 POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS WITH CRITICAL SKILLS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
 the Office of Personnel Management.

    (2) Internship program.--The term ``internship program'' 
 has the meaning given the term in 

section 3111a
            (c) (1) of title 
 5, United States Code, as amended by 

section 366

    (g) of this 
 Act.

    (b) Demonstration Project.--

    (1) === Purpose ===
-The Director shall, pursuant to 

section 4703 
 of title 5, United States Code, carry out a demonstration 
 project described in paragraph

    (2) of this subsection for the 
 purpose of--
        (A) assessing the sufficiency of hiring authorities 
 to meet the hiring needs of Executive agencies in 
 positions that require critical skills; and
        (B) determining whether changes are needed in 
 methods of establishing qualification requirements for, 
 recruitment for, and appointment to, positions 
 described in subparagraph
        (A) .

    (2) Project described.--Under the demonstration project 
 under paragraph

    (1) , an Executive agency shall appoint--
        (A) students to internship programs for the purpose 
 of acquiring critical skills that address the needs of 
 the Executive agency; or
        (B) recent graduates to full-time positions in the 
 Executive agency that require critical skills described 
 in subparagraph
        (A) .
            (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
which the demonstration project under this section terminates, the 
Director shall submit to Congress a report on the project, including 
the assessment and determination of the Director under subsection

    (b)

    (1) .
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the 
demonstration project under this section.

SEC. 370. NONCOMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL DEVELOPMENTAL 
 POSITIONS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Competitive service.--The term ``competitive service'' 
 has the meaning given the term in 

section 2102 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (2) Fellowship.--The term ``fellowship'' means a short-term 
 employment opportunity (other than a post-fellowship service 
 requirement), of not more than 2 years in length, that is 
 intended to provide the recipient with work experience with an 
 Executive agency or a military department that prepares the 
 recipient for permanent employment with an Executive agency or 
 a military department.

    (3) Internship.--The term ``internship'' has the meaning 
 given the term ``internship program'' in 

section 3111a of title 
 5, United States Code.

    (4) Scholarship.--The term ``scholarship'' means--
        (A) financial support paid by an Executive agency 
 or a military department towards an individual's cost 
 of attendance at an institution of higher education 
 that is authorized to participate in a Federal student 
 aid program under title IV of the Higher Education Act 
 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) in a course of study 
 leading to a credential in a critical skill or another 
 program that requires the student to demonstrate an 
 interest in or agreement to pursue a career in public 
 service; or
        (B) financial support paid by an Executive agency 
 towards an individual's cost of procuring private 
 instruction in a critical skill.

    (5) Third-party internship or fellowship.--The term 
 ``third-party internship or fellowship'' means an internship or 
 a fellowship in the Federal Government that is facilitated and 
 organized through a nongovernmental, third-party organization 
 that has a formal arrangement with 1 or more Executive 
 agencies, or with the legislative branch, to provide such 
 internships or fellowships.

    (b) Appointment in Competitive Service.--The head of any Executive 
agency or military department may appoint in the competitive service 
any individual who has been certified by the Office of Personnel 
Management, within the 12-month period preceding the appointment, as 
having successfully completed any internship, scholarship, or 
fellowship program, or a third-party internship or fellowship.
            (c) Documentation.--The Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management, through the Executive Director of the Federal Fellowship 
and Scholarship Center established under 

section 361, shall issue such 
documentation as is necessary to certify individuals under subsection

    (b) as eligible for noncompetitive appointments in the competitive 
service.

SEC. 371. FACILITATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEE RESKILLING.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Competitive service; excepted service.--The terms 
 ``competitive service'' and ``excepted service'' have the 
 meanings given the terms in sections 2102 and 2103, 
 respectively, of title 5, United States Code.

    (2) Federal reskilling program.--The term ``Federal 
 reskilling program'' means a program approved by the Director 
 of the Office of Personnel Management to provide an employee 
 serving in a position in the competitive service or the 
 excepted service with technical skill or expertise that will 
 enable such employee to continue work in the Federal Government 
 in a different position in the competitive or excepted service 
 that requires such skill or expertise.

    (b) Reentry at Same or Higher Class and Grade.--Any employee who 
successfully completes a Federal reskilling program and transfers to a 
position in the Federal Government in the competitive or excepted 
service that requires technical skill or expertise provided to the 
employee in such Federal reskilling program shall, notwithstanding the 
classification requirements set out in chapter 51 of title 5, United 
States Code, serve in the new position at a class and grade at or 
higher than the class and grade of the position from which the employee 
transferred.
            (c) Guidance and Regulations.--Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
Personnel Management shall issue--

    (1) guidance on the approval process for Federal reskilling 
 programs; and

    (2) regulations ensuring the rights of participants 
 described in subsection

    (b) .

SEC. 372. CIVILIAN CYBERSECURITY RESERVE PILOT PROJECT.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Appropriate agency head.--The term ``appropriate agency 
 head'' means--
        (A) in the case of the Department of Homeland 
 Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
        (B) in the case of the National Security Agency, 
 the director of the National Security Agency.

    (2) Competitive service.--The term ``competitive service'' 
 has the meaning given that term in 

section 2102 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (3) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means the 
 Department of Homeland Security or the National Security 
 Agency.

    (4) Uniformed services.--The term ``uniformed services'' 
 has the meaning given that term in 

section 2101 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (b) 

=== Purpose ===
-The purpose of this section is to establish a 
Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve as a pilot project to provide to the 
Federal Government trained and qualified civilian personnel who have 
previously served with the Federal Government or in the uniformed 
services and possess cybersecurity expertise, in order to address 
cybersecurity needs of the United States to protect the national 
security of the United States.
            (c) Pilot Project.--

    (1) In general.--Each appropriate agency head may carry out 
 a pilot project to establish a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve 
 at the covered agency.

    (2) Noncompetitive appointment.--Under a pilot project 
 authorized under paragraph

    (1) , the appropriate agency head may 
 noncompetitively appoint members of the Civilian Cybersecurity 
 Reserve to temporary positions in the competitive service.
            (d) Eligibility; Application and Selection.--

    (1) In general.--Under a pilot project authorized under 
 subsection
            (c) , the appropriate agency head shall establish 
 criteria for--
        (A) individuals to be eligible for the Civilian 
 Cybersecurity Reserve in the covered agency; and
        (B) the application and selection processes for the 
 Reserve.

    (2) Requirements for individuals.--The criteria established 
 under paragraph

    (1)
        (A) with respect to an individual shall 
 include--
        (A) previous employment by the Federal Government 
 or within the uniformed services; and
        (B) cybersecurity expertise.

    (3) Agreement required.--An individual may become a member 
 of the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve only if the individual 
 enters into an agreement with the appropriate agency head to 
 become such a member. The agreement shall set forth the rights 
 and obligations of the individual and the covered agency.

    (4) Exception for continuing military service 
 commitments.--A member of the Selected Reserve under 

section 10143 of title 10, United States Code, may not be a member of 
 the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve.

    (e) Components of the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve.--The 
appropriate agency head may consider, in carrying out a pilot project 
authorized under subsection
            (c) , developing different components of the 
Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve in the covered agency, one with an 
obligation to respond when called into activation at the direction of 
the appropriate agency head and one that is not compelled to so 
respond, with appropriate corresponding differing benefits for each 
such component.

    (f) Security Clearances.--The appropriate agency head shall ensure 
that all members of the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve in the covered 
agency have an active security clearance in accordance with Executive 
Order 12968 (50 U.S.C. 3161 note; relating to access to classified 
information) and Executive Order 13467 (50 U.S.C. 3161 note; relating 
to reforming processes related to suitability for Government 
employment, fitness for contractor employees, and eligibility for 
access to classified national security information).

    (g) Project Guidance.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, each appropriate agency head may 
 issue guidance establishing and implementing a pilot project 
 authorized under subsection
            (c) at the covered agency.

    (2) Penalties.--In developing guidance under paragraph

    (1) , 
 an appropriate agency head may provide for penalties for 
 individuals who do not respond to activation when called, such 
 as loss of security clearance, recoupment of pay or benefits 
 earned as a member of the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve, or 
 recoupment of civilian service creditable under 

section 8411 of 
 title 5, United States Code.

    (h) Evaluation.--Not later than 5 years after the pilot project 
authorized under subsection
            (c) is established in each covered agency, 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall--

    (1) conduct a study evaluating the pilot project at that 
 agency; and

    (2) submit to Congress--
        (A) a report on the results of the study; and
        (B) a recommendation with respect to whether the 
 pilot project should be modified, extended in duration, 
 or established as a permanent program.
            (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to each appropriate agency head such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 373. EXPANSION OF CYBER TALENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

    (a) Expansion of Cyber Talent Management System.--Subject to 
subsection

    (b) , the head of any Executive agency, as defined in 

section 105 of title 5, United States Code, may exercise the authorities under 

section 2208 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 658) to the 
same extent as the Secretary of Homeland Security may exercise such 
authorities.

    (b) Coordination by Secretary of Homeland Security.--The Secretary 
of Homeland Security shall coordinate with the heads of Executive 
agencies to facilitate the exercise of authorities under subsection

    (a) .

SEC. 374. PERSONNEL POLICY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES 
 WITH EMPLOYEES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
 MATHEMATICS FIELDS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management, in consultation with the heads of the agencies specified in 
subsection

    (b) , shall develop and implement a personnel policy 
demonstration project to assess innovative approaches to new personnel 
policies for employees, that may include implementing--

    (1) more flexible job classifications;

    (2) competency-based hiring;

    (3) market-based pay;

    (4) promotion based on experience, skill, and performance; 
 and

    (5) streamlined personnel transfers between agencies.

    (b) Agencies.--The agencies referred to in subsection

    (a) are--

    (1) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

    (2) the Department of Energy;

    (3) the National Science Foundation;

    (4) the Department of Commerce;

    (5) the Department of the Interior;

    (6) the Environmental Protection Agency; and

    (7) not more than 2 additional agencies, which the Director 
 of the Office of Personnel Management may designate, that have 
 significant numbers of employees in positions that require 
 skills in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
            (c) Participation.--The head of each agency referred to in 
subsection

    (b) may determine whether the agency will participate in the 
personnel demonstration project under this section, and, if the agency 
head determines that the agency will so participate, whether the 
project will apply to current employees of that agency, current 
employees of 1 or more components of that agency, newly hired employees 
of that agency, or newly hired employees of 1 or more components of 
that agency.
            (d) Duration and Size of Project.--

    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (2) , the 
 demonstration project under this section shall be carried out 
 for a 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
 Act.

    (2) Extension.--The Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management may extend the demonstration project under this 
 section for an additional 10-year period.

    (3) Total number of employees.--The total number of Federal 
 employees included in the demonstration project in any 1-year 
 period may not exceed 10 percent of the total number of Federal 
 civilian employees in all Executive agencies (as defined in 
 

section 105 of title 5, United States Code) in the preceding 1-
 year period.

    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 375. DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSAL FOR SIMPLIFIED PERSONNEL SYSTEM FOR 
 VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a 
legislative proposal to establish, under title 38, United States Code, 
a single personnel system that--

    (1) applies to all positions in the Veterans Health 
 Administration;

    (2) applies best practices from the private sector to human 
 capital management; and

    (3) supports pay and benefits that are competitive with pay 
 and benefits for health care delivery systems in the private 
 sector.

    (b) Matters To Consider.--In developing the proposal under 
subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall--

    (1) draw from, in addition to other resources, the 
 applicable research and conclusions of the Commission on Care 
 established under 

section 202 of the Veterans Access, Choice, 
 and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 
 1701 note), including recommendation number 15 of the 
 Commission as set forth in the final report of the Commission 
 submitted under subsection

    (b)

    (3)
        (B) of such section, dated 
 June 30, 2016, and titled, ``Final Report of the Commission on 
 Care''; and

    (2) consult with the heads of other Federal agencies that 
 operate health care delivery systems, employees of the Veterans 
 Health Administration, and labor unions that represent 
 employees of the Veterans Health Administration.
            (c) Availability of Proposal.--The Secretary shall make the 
proposal developed under subsection

    (a) available for use by other 
Federal agencies that operate health care delivery systems.
            (d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a report containing the proposal 
developed under subsection

    (a) .

SEC. 376. PORTABILITY OF HEALTH CARE LICENSURE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Portability of Licensure for Federal Health Care 
Professionals.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding 
the licensure of health care providers, a health care professional 
described in subsection

    (b) may practice, at any location in any State, 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other 
territory or possession of the United States, the health profession or 
professions for which the health care professional has a license 
described in subsection

    (b)

    (2) , regardless of where such health care 
professional or the patient involved is located, if the practice is 
within the scope of the authorized Federal duties of such health care 
professional.

    (b) Individuals Described.--A health care professional described in 
this subsection is a Federal employee--

    (1) who is credentialed and privileged at a Federal health 
 care institution;

    (2) who has a current license to practice medicine, 
 osteopathic medicine, dentistry, psychology, nursing, therapy, 
 or another health profession; and

    (3) who is performing authorized duties for the Federal 
 Government to practice the health profession described in 
 paragraph

    (2) for which such license was issued.
            (c) Definition of License.--As used in this section, the term 
``license'' means a grant of permission by an official agency of a 
State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or 
any other territory or possession of the United States to provide 
health care independently as a health care professional and includes, 
in the case of such care furnished in a foreign country by any person 
who is not a national of the United States, a grant of permission by an 
official agency of that foreign country for that person to provide 
health care independently as a health care professional.

 TITLE IV--STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL MOBILIZATION

SEC. 401. MODERNIZATION OF THE SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM.

    (a) 

=== Purpose ===
-

Section 1 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 
U.S.C. 3801) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) by striking ``armed strength'' and inserting 
 ``military strength, including a sufficient number of 
 personnel with the capabilities required to mobilize 
 the Department of Defense during a national 
 emergency,''; and
        (B) by striking ``insure'' and inserting 
 ``ensure'';

    (2) in subsection
            (c) , by inserting ``which is not for the 
 sole purpose of providing replacements for combat,'' after 
 ``just,''; and

    (3) in subsection
            (d) , by striking ``as expressed in the 
 National Defense Act of 1916, as amended''.

    (b) Solemnity of Military Service.--

Section 3 of such Act (50 
U.S.C. 3802) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (c) Regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection

    (a) shall 
include methods to convey, to every person required to register, the 
solemn obligation for military service in the event of a military 
draft.''.
            (c) Maintaining the Health of the Selective Service System.--

Section 10

    (a) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 3809

    (a) ) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph:
 ``

    (5)
        (A) The Director shall periodically conduct exercises of all 
mobilization plans, systems, and processes to evaluate and test the 
effectiveness of such plans, systems, and processes.
 ``
        (B) Once every four years, such exercise--
 ``
            (i) shall include the full range of internal and 
 interagency procedures to ensure functionality and 
 interoperability; and
 ``
            (ii) may be included as part of the annual mobilization 
 exercise under 

section 10208 of title 10, United States Code.
 ``
            (C) The Director shall conduct a public awareness campaign in 
conjunction with each exercise to communicate the purpose of such 
exercise to the public.''.
            (d) Due Process for Failure To Register.--

Section 12 of such Act 
(50 U.S.C. 3811) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (f) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (2) , by inserting before the 
 period at the end ``or proof of registration in 
 accordance with subsection

    (g) '';
        (B) in paragraph

    (3) --
            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
 ``compliance'' and inserting ``compliance or 
 proof of registration''; and
            (ii) in the second sentence, by inserting 
 before the period at the end ``or proof of 
 registration''; and
            (C) in paragraph

    (4) , in the second sentence--
            (i) by striking ``thereunder'' and 
 inserting ``thereunder, or failure to provide 
 proof of registration in accordance with 
 subsection

    (g) ,''; and
            (ii) by inserting before the period at the 
 end ``or has registered in accordance with 
 subsection

    (g) ''; and

    (2) by striking paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) of subsection

    (g) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (1)
        (A) the requirement for such person to register has 
 terminated or become inapplicable to such person; and
 ``
        (B) such person shows, by a preponderance of the 
 evidence, that such failure was not a knowing failure; or
 ``

    (2) such person so registered not later than 30 days 
 after receiving notice of such requirement, regardless of the 
 person's age at the time of registration.''.

    (e) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Military Selective 
Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 4 (50 U.S.C. 3803)--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) by striking ``his acceptability in all 
 respects, including his'' and inserting ``such 
 person's acceptability in all respects, 
 including''; and
            (ii) by striking ``he may prescribe'' and 
 inserting ``the President may prescribe'';
        (B) in subsection
            (c) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking ``Any 
 enlisted member'' and inserting ``Any person 
 who is an enlisted member''; and
            (ii) in paragraphs

    (3) ,

    (4) , and

    (5) , by 
 striking ``in which he resides'' and inserting 
 ``in which such person resides'';
            (C) in subsection

    (g) , by striking ``coordinate 
 with him'' and inserting ``coordinate with the 
 Director''; and
            (D) in subsection

    (k)

    (1) , by striking ``finding by 
 him'' and inserting ``finding by the President'';

    (2) in 

section 5
            (d) (50 U.S.C. 3805
            (d) ), by striking ``he 
 may prescribe'' and inserting ``the President may prescribe'';

    (3) in 

section 6 (50 U.S.C. 3806)--
        (A) in subsection
            (c) (2)
            (D) , by striking ``he may 
 prescribe'' and inserting ``the President may 
 prescribe'';
        (B) in subsection
            (d) (3) , by striking ``he may deem 
 appropriate'' and inserting ``the President considers 
 appropriate''; and
            (C) in subsection

    (h) , by striking ``he may 
 prescribe'' each place it appears and inserting ``the 
 President may prescribe'';

    (4) in 

section 10 (50 U.S.C. 3809)--
        (A) in subsection

    (b) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (3) --
            (I) by striking ``He shall create'' 
 and inserting ``The President shall 
 create''; and
            (II) by striking ``upon his own 
 motion'' and inserting ``upon the 
 President's own motion'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (4) , by striking ``his 
 status'' and inserting ``such individual's 
 status''; and
            (iii) in paragraphs

    (4) ,

    (6) ,

    (8) , and

    (9) , 
 by striking ``he may deem'' each place it 
 appears and inserting ``the President 
 determines''; and
        (B) in subsection
            (c) , by striking ``vested in 
 him'' and inserting ``vested in the President'';

    (5) in 

section 12 (50 U.S.C. 3811), by striking ``present 
 himself'' each place it appears and inserting ``appear'';

    (6) in 

section 13

    (b) (50 U.S.C. 3812

    (b) ), by striking 
 ``regulation if he'' and inserting ``regulation if the 
 President'';

    (7) in 

section 15 (50 U.S.C. 3813)--
        (A) in subsection

    (b) , by striking ``his'' each 
 place it appears and inserting ``the registrant's''; 
 and
        (B) in subsection
            (d) , by striking ``he may deem'' 
 and inserting ``the President considers'';

    (8) in 

section 16

    (g) (50 U.S.C. 3814

    (g) )--
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``who as his 
 regular and customary vocation'' and inserting ``who, 
 as such person's regular and customary vocation,''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) by striking ``one who as his customary 
 vocation'' and inserting ``a person who, as 
 such person's customary vocation,''; and
            (ii) by striking ``he is a member'' and 
 inserting ``such person is a member'';

    (9) in 

section 18

    (a) (50 U.S.C. 3816

    (a) ), by striking ``he 
 is authorized'' and inserting ``the President is authorized'';

    (10) in 

section 21 (50 U.S.C. 3819)--
        (A) by striking ``he is sooner'' and inserting 
 ``sooner'';
        (B) by striking ``he'' each subsequent place it 
 appears and inserting ``such member''; and
            (C) by striking ``his consent'' and inserting 
 ``such member's consent'';

    (11) in 

section 22

    (b) (50 U.S.C. 3820

    (b) ), in paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) , by striking ``his'' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``the registrant's''; and

    (12) except as otherwise provided in this section--
        (A) by striking ``he'' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``such person'';
        (B) by striking ``his'' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``such person's''; and
            (C) by striking ``him'' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``such person''.

    (f) Conforming Amendment Regarding Federal Employees.--Subsection

    (a) of 

section 3328 of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
 ``

    (a) A person required to register under 

section 3 of the Military 
Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3803) but who failed to so register 
shall be ineligible for appointment to a position in an Executive 
agency unless--
 ``

    (1)
        (A) such requirement has terminated or become 
 inapplicable to such person; and
 ``
        (B) the head of such Executive agency determines, by a 
 preponderance of the evidence, that such failure was not a 
 knowing failure; or
 ``

    (2) such person so registered not later than 30 days 
 after receiving notice of such requirement, regardless of the 
 person's age at the time of registration.''.

    (g) Partially Delayed Effective Date.--The amendments made by 
subsections
            (c) and

    (f) of this section shall take effect one year 
after the date of the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 402. REPORT ON EXEMPTIONS AND DEFERMENTS FOR A POSSIBLE MILITARY 
 DRAFT.

 Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the Selective Service System, in coordination with 
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall 
submit to Congress a report providing a review of exemptions and 
deferments from registration, training, and service under the Military 
Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) and of proposed 
revisions to those exemptions and deferments, taking into account 
amendments to the Military Selective Service Act under 

section 401
            (d) of this Act to require registration of all United States citizens and 
persons residing in the United States.

SEC. 403. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR NATIONAL MOBILIZATION; PERSONNEL 
 REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Lead Official for National Mobilization.--The President shall 
designate an employee of the National Security Council to serve as lead 
national mobilization official, whose duties and responsibilities shall 
include coordinating the planning and execution of any national effort 
to mobilize government and industry to respond to a national emergency.

    (b) Executive Agent for National Mobilization.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall designate a senior official within the Office of the 
Secretary of Defense as the Executive Agent for National Mobilization. 
The Executive Agent for National Mobilization shall be responsible 
for--

    (1) developing, managing, and coordinating policy and plans 
 that address the full spectrum of military mobilization 
 readiness, including full mobilization of personnel from 
 volunteers to draftees in the event of a draft activation;

    (2) providing Congress and the Selective Service System 
 with updated requirements and timelines for obtaining draft 
 inductees in the event of a national emergency requiring mass 
 mobilization and activation of the draft; and

    (3) providing Congress with a plan, developed in 
 coordination with the Selective Service System, to induct large 
 numbers of volunteers who may respond to a national call for 
 volunteers during an emergency.
            (c) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
Congress a plan for obtaining draft inductees as part of a mobilization 
timeline for the Selective Service System. The plan shall include a 
description of resources, locations, and capabilities of the Armed 
Forces required to train, equip, and integrate drafted personnel into 
the total force, addressing scenarios that would include 300,000, 
600,000, and 1,000,000 new volunteer and drafted personnel. The plan 
may be provided in classified form.

SEC. 404. CRITICAL SKILLS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

    (a) 

=== Findings ===
-Congress makes the following findings:

    (1) The Department of Defense needs a workforce of skilled 
 individuals to meet the national security challenges facing the 
 United States.

    (2) As the Department develops tools to bring individuals 
 with critical skills into civilian and military service, it 
 must identify the type and number of critically skilled 
 personnel that are needed.

    (b) Critical Skills and Skilled Individuals.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through 
 the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 
 shall develop and maintain a list of the critical skills and 
 numbers of skilled individuals needed for the Department of 
 Defense, the Armed Forces, and the National Guard.

    (2) Critical skills.--For purposes of this section, 
 critical skills are those skills for which the Department has a 
 critical need, such as medical, dental, and nursing skills, 
 language skills, cyber skills, and science, technology, 
 engineering, and mathematics skills.
            (c) Responsibility.--

    (1) In general.--The Under Secretary of Defense for 
 Personnel and Readiness shall ensure that the list developed 
 under subsection

    (b) is updated annually in accordance with 
 paragraph

    (2) .

    (2) Coordination.--The Under Secretary shall develop, 
 maintain, and update the list of critical skills in close 
 consultation with each military department, through its 
 Assistant Secretaries for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, with 
 the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, with the Director of 
 the Selective Service System, and with the Council on Military, 
 National, and Public Service established under 

section 201.

    (3) Implementation.--The Under Secretary shall implement 
 the list of critical skills under this section not later than 
 January 1, 2025.

SEC. 405. INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVE FOR CRITICAL SKILLS.

    (a) Individual Ready Reserve.--Chapter 1005 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after 

section 10144 the following 
new section:
``

Sec. 10144a. Ready Reserve: Individual Ready Reserve for Critical 
 Skills
 ``

    (a) In General.--For the purpose of recruiting personnel with the 
requisite critical skills, the Secretary of each military department, 
under the direction of the President, may establish and maintain an 
Individual Ready Reserve for Critical Skills within the Ready Reserve 
of each of the reserve components under the jurisdiction of such 
Secretary.
 ``

    (b) Membership Requirements.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
outline the requirements for membership in the Individual Ready Reserve 
for Critical Skills, including providing guidance on--
 ``

    (1) a means for each armed force to establish qualifying 
 critical skills for inclusion in its Individual Ready Reserve 
 for Critical Skills;
 ``

    (2) the standards and process for selection of 
 individuals who are not otherwise in a reserve status to 
 qualify for Individual Ready Reserve for Critical Skills of an 
 armed force;
 ``

    (3) requirements for screening and re-evaluation of 
 members in the Individual Ready Reserve for Critical Skills;
 ``

    (4) the training and obligations required for members in 
 the Individual Ready Reserve for Critical Skills; and
 ``

    (5) the use of allowances and nonmonetary incentives to 
 retain members in the Individual Ready Reserve for Critical 
 Skills.
 ``
            (c) Mobilization.--
 ``

    (1) Active duty.--A member of the Individual Ready 
 Reserve for Critical Skills may be ordered to active duty 
 without the consent of the member in accordance with 

section 12304, or in accordance with any other provision of law 
 authorizing activation of Individual Ready Reserve members.
 ``

    (2) Eligibility for benefits.--A member of the Individual 
 Ready Reserve for Critical Skills who is mobilized under 
 paragraph

    (1) shall be eligible for benefits available to 
 members of the Selected Reserve.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendments.--

Section 12304

    (a) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended--

    (1) by striking ``or any member'' and inserting ``any 
 member''; and

    (2) by inserting ``, or any member in the Individual Ready 
 Reserve for Critical Skills'' after ``under their respective 
 jurisdictions,''.
            (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
 <all>