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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