H.R. 5308: Service Starts At Home Act

This bill, titled the Service Starts At Home Act, aims to promote student engagement in local government and community service through the provision of grants and scholarships. The main components of the bill can be summarized as follows:

Grants to Support Local Government Internships

The bill establishes a program under which the Secretary of Education is responsible for awarding grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities, including local governments, for the purpose of funding paid internships for secondary school students and undergraduate students. The specifics include:

• The Secretary must implement this grant program within one year after the bill's enactment.
• Eligible entities must apply for these grants, providing necessary information as required by the Secretary.
• Entities receiving grants are expected to:
  • Identify paid internships suitable for students within local government units.
  • Establish selection processes for student applicants.
  • Determine pay rates and other conditions for the internships.
  • Cover all associated costs of the internships.
• Entities are required to collaborate with higher education institutions to ensure the educational quality of the internships, as well as to accommodate students facing challenges such as childcare or transportation.
• The bill allocates $50 million annually for the grant program from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Scholarships for Volunteer Service Programs

The bill also introduces a scholarship program, funded through allocations to states, which will enable scholarships for students who engage in volunteer service. Key aspects of this section include:

• The Secretary will allocate funds to states based on the enrollment of students in public schools.
• States will need to apply for these allocations and use the funds to award scholarships competitively to eligible students committed to volunteer work.
• To qualify for the scholarships, students must demonstrate a significant commitment to volunteer service, completing at least 100 hours of service in the past year, among other requirements.
• Scholarship amounts will vary based on the number of volunteer service hours completed, ranging from $1,000 for 100 hours to $3,000 for over 250 hours of service.
• States can also reserve up to 20% of federal funds for a supplemental scholarship program, offering competitive awards directly to students who have not received state scholarships.
• The total funding for the scholarship program is set at $100 million per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Recognition of Community Service Achievements

The bill states that the Secretary should establish a program to recognize educational institutions (elementary, secondary, and higher education) for their achievements in community service and volunteer contributions.

Definitions and Implementation

This section defines key terms used in the bill, such as eligible entity, volunteer service work, and others, which help clarify the context for the implementation of the grant and scholarship programs.

Overall Goal

The broad goal of this legislation is to foster a culture of civic engagement among young people by providing them with financially supported opportunities to engage in government work and community service. By supporting these initiatives, the bill aims to enhance students' awareness and understanding of local government processes while promoting community service.

Relevant Companies

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