1994 US Code
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 129 - NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Sec. 12501 - Findings and purpose

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§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, §2, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3129; Pub. L. 103–82, §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 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, §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, §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) of Pub. L. 101–610 provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter, sections 5091 to 5091n of this title, and section 2452a of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, amending sections 1018c, 1018e, 1070a–6, 1087vv, 1092, and 1092b of Title 20, Education, and section 546 of Title 45, Railroads, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 546 of Title 45] may be cited as the ‘National and Community Service Act of 1990’.”

Section 110 of subtitle B (§§110–118) of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, which provided that such subtitle (enacting former part B (§§12521–12531) of subchapter I of this chapter) be cited as the “Serve-America: The Community Service, Schools and Service-Learning Act of 1990”, was repealed by Pub. L. 103–82, title I, §103(a)(2), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 825.

Section 199 [formerly 120] of subtitle I (§§199–199O) [formerly subtitle C (§§120–136)] of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, as renumbered by Pub. L. 103–82, title I, §101(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 788, provided that: “This subtitle [enacting division I (formerly part C) of subchapter I of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘American Conservation and Youth Service Corps Act of 1990’.”

Section 140 of subtitle D (§§140–150) of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, which provided that such subtitle (enacting former part D (§§12571–12580) of subchapter I of this chapter) be cited as the “National and Community Service Act”, was omitted in the general amendment of part D (now division D) by Pub. L. 103–82, title I, §102(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 816.

Section 301 of title III of Pub. L. 101–610 provided that: “This title [enacting subchapter II of this chapter] may be cited as ‘The Points of Light Foundation Act’.”

Compliance With Buy American Act

Section 501 of Pub. L. 103–82 provided that: “No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act [see Tables for classification] (including the amendments made by this Act) may be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a–10c [41 U.S.C. 10a, 10b, 10b–1], popularly known as the ‘Buy American Act’).”

Sense of Congress; Requirement Regarding Notice

Section 502 of Pub. L. 103–82 provided that:

“(a) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products.—In the case of any equipment or product that may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided under this Act [see Tables for classification] (including the amendments made by this Act), it is the sense of the Congress that entities receiving such assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products.

“(b) Notice to Recipients of Assistance.—In providing financial assistance under this Act (including the amendments made by this Act), the Secretary of Education shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a notice describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the Congress.”

Prohibition of Contracts With Persons Falsely Labeling Products as Made in America

Section 503 of Pub. L. 103–82 provided that: “If it has been finally determined by a court or Federal agency that any person intentionally affixed a label bearing a ‘Made in America’ inscription, or any inscription with the same meaning, to any product sold in or shipped to the United States that is not made in the United States, the person shall be ineligible to receive any contract or subcontract made with funds appropriated to carry out this Act, pursuant to the debarment, suspension, and ineligibility procedures described in sections 9.400 through 9.409 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations.”