42 USC 12501 (National Community Service Act of 1990)

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[Laws in effect as of January 3, 2006]
[CITE: 42USC12501]

TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 129--NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Sec. 12501. Findings and purpose

(a) Findings

The Congress finds the following:
(1) Throughout the United States, there are pressing unmet
human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs.
(2) Americans desire to affirm common responsibilities and
shared values, and join together in positive experiences, that
transcend race, religion, gender, age, disability, region, income,
and education.
(3) The rising costs of postsecondary education are putting
higher education out of reach for an increasing number of citizens.
(4) Americans of all ages can improve their communities and
become better citizens through service to the United States.
(5) Nonprofit organizations, local governments, States, and the
Federal Government are already supporting a wide variety of national
service programs that deliver needed services in a cost-effective
manner.
(6) Residents of low-income communities, especially youth and
young adults, can be empowered through their service, and can help
provide future community leadership.

(b) Purpose

It is the purpose of this chapter to--
(1) meet the unmet human, educational, environmental, and public
safety needs of the United States, without displacing existing
workers;
(2) renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of
community throughout the United States;
(3) expand educational opportunity by rewarding individuals who
participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue
higher education or job training;
(4) encourage citizens of the United States, regardless of age,
income, or disability, to engage in full-time or part-time national
service;
(5) reinvent government to eliminate duplication, support
locally established initiatives, require measurable goals for
performance, and offer flexibility in meeting those goals;
(6) expand and strengthen existing service programs with
demonstrated experience in providing structured service
opportunities with visible benefits to the participants and
community;
(7) build on the existing organizational service infrastructure
of Federal, State, and local programs and agencies to expand full-
time and part-time service opportunities for all citizens; and
(8) provide tangible benefits to the communities in which
national service is performed.

(Pub. L. 101-610, Sec. 2, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3129; Pub. L. 103-82,
Sec. 2(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 787.)

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original ``this
Act'', meaning Pub. L. 101-610, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3127, as
amended, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out
below and Tables.

Amendments

1993--Pub. L. 103-82 amended section generally, substituting
provisions relating to findings and purposes for former provisions
setting forth the purposes of this chapter.

Short Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107-117, div. B, Sec. 1301(a), Jan. 10, 2002, 115 Stat.
2339, provided that: ``This section [enacting subchapter III of this
chapter] may be cited as the `Unity in the Spirit of America Act' or the
`USA Act'.''

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103-304, Sec. 1, Aug. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 1565, provided
that: ``This Act [amending sections 4953, 5024, 12591, 12602, 12615,
12619, 12622, 12651d, 12653, and 12655n of this title and enacting
provisions set out as a note under section 4953 of this title] may be
cited as the `King Holiday and Service Act of 1994'.''

Short Title of 1993 Amendment

Section 1(a) of Pub. L. 103-82 provided that: ``This Act [see Tables
for classification] may be cited as the `National and Community Service
Trust Act of 1993'.''

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102-384, Sec. 1, Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1455, provided
that: ``This Act [amending sections 12511, 12522, 12523, 12525, 12526,
12541, 12550, 12612, 12614, 12615, 12622, 12639, 12651, and 12681 of
this title] may be cited as the `National and Community Service
Technical Amendment Act of 1992'.''

Short Title of 1991 Amendment

Pub. L. 102-10, Sec. 1, Mar. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 29, provided that:
``This Act [enacting section 12645 of this title, amending sections
5091m, 12511, 12521, 12522, 12524, 12527, 12531, 12542 to 12544, 12548,
12553, 12575, 12576, 12602, 12638, and 12651 of this title, and
repealing section 12556 of this title] may be cited as the `National and
Community Service Technical Amendments Act of 1991'.''

Short Title

Section 1(a) o