S. 5031: Building Community in America Act

This bill would change federal national and community service programs to place more emphasis on recruiting and training people from groups that are currently underrepresented in those programs.

What the bill changes

• It updates the purpose section of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to explicitly include expanding participation among underrepresented populations.
• It specifically notes young adults who are underrepresented in mentoring, coaching, youth development, and other community-building activities.
• It adds a new priority for certain national service programs to focus on recruiting and training underrepresented participants, including men.

Programs affected

The bill says this recruitment and training priority should apply to programs involving:

• youth coaching or mentoring
• school attendance or after-school support
• conservation corps service positions
• disaster response
• public safety, violence interruption, or reentry support
• skilled trades, apprenticeships, or workforce-related services

Volunteer service program changes

It also amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 so that, when volunteers are assigned, the Director must give priority to projects or programs that prioritize recruiting and training underrepresented participants for those same types of activities.

Overall effect

In practical terms, the bill would direct federal service and volunteer programs to give extra attention to broadening who participates, and to favor projects that make a deliberate effort to bring in people who have been less represented in these programs.

Relevant Companies

None found