H.R. 5308

[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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