[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5308 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5308
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out grant programs to
encourage student participation in local government and volunteer
service, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 11, 2025
Mr. Conaway introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out grant programs to
encourage student participation in local government and volunteer
service, and for other purposes.
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 ``Service Starts At Home Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT INTERNSHIPS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out a program under which the
Secretary makes grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to
support paid internships within units of local government for secondary
school students and students who are qualified undergraduates at
institutions of higher education in the State in which the entity is
located.
(b) Application.--To be considered for a grant under subsection
(a), an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
(c) Local Government Internship Program.--Each eligible entity that
receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use such grant to carry out
a program under which the entity--
(1) identifies appropriate paid internship opportunities
within units of local government for secondary school students
and students who are undergraduates at institutions of higher
education in the State in which the entity is located;
(2) establishes a process for the selection of students to
fill such internships;
(3) determines hourly rates of pay and other terms and
conditions applicable to such internships; and
(4) pays the costs incurred in providing such internships.
(d) Accommodations and Educational Standards.--In carrying out the
internship program under subsection (c), an eligible entity shall--
(1) work with institutions of higher education to ensure
that the work performed by interns has educational value and
meets applicable educational standards; and
(2) seek to provide reasonable employment-related
accommodations to interns who have childcare needs,
transportation difficulties, or other such challenges, which
may include accommodations such as flexible work schedules for
interns and allowing interns to telework to the extent
determined practicable by the eligibility entity concerned.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.
SEC. 3. SCHOLARSHIP FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAMS.
(a) Funding.--
(1) State programs.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
carry out a program under which the Secretary makes
allocations to States, in accordance with subparagraph
(B), to carry out the scholarship program under
subsection (b).
(B) Allocations to states.--From the amount
appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal
year and not reserved under paragraph (2), each State
that has an application approved by the Secretary under
subparagraph (C) shall be allocated an amount in
proportion to number of students enrolled in the public
elementary schools and secondary schools in the State
for the previous school year relative to the total
number of students enrolled in the public elementary
schools and secondary schools for such school year in
every State that has an application approved by the
Secretary under such subparagraph.
(C) State application.--To be eligible to receive
an allocation under subparagraph (B), a State shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
(2) Federal program.--From the amount appropriated to carry
out this section for each fiscal, the Secretary may reserve not
more than 20 percent to carry out the Federal supplemental
scholarship program under subsection (c).
(b) State Administered Scholarship Program.--
(1) In general.--Each State that receives an allocation
under subsection (a)(2) shall use such allocation to carry out
a program under which the State awards scholarships, on a
competitive basis, to eligible students who demonstrate a
commitment to volunteer service work.
(2) Application.--A student who seeks a scholarship under
this subsection shall submit an application to the State at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the State may require.
(3) Student eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a
scholarship under this subsection a student shall meet the
following criteria:
(A) First-time applicant.--In the case of a first-
time applicant for a scholarship under this subsection,
the student shall--
(i) be enrolled--
(I) in a secondary school and be in
the final year of a program of study
leading to a regular high school
diploma; or
(II) in an institution of higher
education; and
(ii) have completed at least 100 hours of
volunteer service work in the preceding school
year (or another one-year period determined by
the Secretary).
(B) Renewal applicant.--In the case of a student
who received a scholarship under this subsection for an
academic year and is seeking a scholarship for a
subsequent academic year, the student shall--
(i) be enrolled in an institution of higher
education;
(ii) be in good academic standing (as
determined by the institution); and
(iii) have completed at least 100 hours of
volunteer service work in the preceding school
year (or another one-year period determined by
the Secretary).
(4) Renewal process.--Subject to the availability of funds
for such purpose, a State that receives an allocation under
subsection (a) shall--
(A) award a scholarship to each renewal applicant
who meets the requirements described in paragraph
(3)(B); and
(B) establish a streamlined process under which
renewal applicants can apply for such scholarships with
minimal documentation required.
(5) Priority.--In awarding scholarships under this
subsection, a State shall--
(A) in accordance with paragraph (4), first award
scholarships to renewal applicants described in
paragraph (3)(B); and
(B) from any funds remaining after awarding such
scholarships, award scholarships to first-time
applicants described in paragraph (3)(A).
(6) Use of funds.--A scholarship received by a student
under this subsection may be used by such student only to pay
the student's costs of attendance at an institution of higher
education.
(7) Duration.--Each scholarship under this subsection shall
be awarded for a period of one academic year. A student may
receive a scholarship under this subsection for a total period
of not more than 4 academic years.
(8) Amount.--The amount of each scholarship under this
subsection shall be--
(A) $1,000, for a student who completed at least
100 hours, but less than 138 hours, of volunteer
service work in the preceding school year (or another
one-year period determined by the Secretary);
(B) $1,500, for a student who completed at least
138 hours, but less than 175 hours, of volunteer
service work in the preceding school year (or another
one-year period determined by the Secretary);
(C) $2,000, for a student who completed at least
175 hours, but less than 213 hours, of volunteer
service work in such period;
(D) $2,500, for a student who completed at least
213 hours, but less than 250 hours, of volunteer
service work in such period; and
(E) $3,000, for a student who completed at least
250 hours of volunteer service work in such period.
(c) Federal Supplemental Scholarship Program.--
(1) In general.--From amounts reserved under subsection
(a)(2), the Secretary may carry out a program under which the
Secretary awards supplementary funds, on a competitive basis,
directly to eligible students for volunteer service work.
(2) Amount.--The amount of supplementary funds awarded to
each student under paragraph (1) shall be determined by the
Secretary.
(3) Priority.--In awarding scholarships under this
subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize the award of funds
to students who have not received a scholarship under
subsection (b).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.
SEC. 4. RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVEMENT IN COMMUNITY SERVICE.
The Secretary shall carry out a program to recognize elementary
schools, secondary schools, local educational agencies, and
institutions of higher education based on their overall volunteer
achievement and contributions to community service.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ESEA definitions.--The terms ``elementary school'',
``local educational agency'', ``regular high school diploma'',
``secondary school'', ``Secretary'', and ``State'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of attendance''
has the meaning given that term in section 472 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
State or a unit of local government.
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(5) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of local
government'' means--
(A) a county, municipality, town, township,
village, parish, borough, or other unit of general
government below the State level; or
(B) a governing body of an Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization.
(6) Volunteer service work.--The term ``volunteer service
work''--
(A) means unpaid acts of volunteer service
conducted for or on behalf of a government or other
nonprofit organization, which may include a community-
based organization, faith-based organization, school,
national service program, civic or fraternal service
organization, local government agency, or other such
organization; and
(B) does not include acts of proselytizing,
conducting worship services, religious instruction,
political lobbying, court ordered service, or service
conducted primarily for the benefit of the family of a
student eligible for a scholarship under section 3.
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