Several new bills introduced that would support afterschool and summer learning opportunities

While Congress is on recess this month leading up to the election in early November,  three new bills were introduced over the past few months that could increase access to  quality afterschool or summer learning programs. The focus of the bills range from providing support to AmeriCorps members who can serve in afterschool and summer programs; to funds for affordable housing providers offering afterschool programs to their residents; to grants for libraries that stay open to offer enrichment programming and meals during the summer months.

Promoting Service through AmeriCorps (PSA) Act of 2024

Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Representatives Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Rep Garret Graves (R-La.) introduced the bipartisan Promoting Service through AmeriCorps (PSA) Act of 2024  (S. 5053/H.R. 9569) in September. Since the mid 1990’s, over 1.2 million Americans have served their communities through AmeriCorps programs, addressing a range of social service, educational, environmental, and public safety needs. AmeriCorps engages more than 200,000 national service participants in results-driven service at more than 50,000 locations across the country each year, an estimated third of which are afterschool or summer learning program. AmeriCorps also expands opportunity and enables participants, especially young Americans, to gain marketable job skills and pursue higher education, which increases their employability and earning potential. Engaging in a culture of service and volunteering early in their careers also often leads to former AmeriCorps members to stay involved in national, community, or public service within the nonprofit or government sectors. The Promoting Service through AmeriCorps Act reauthorizes the AmeriCorps programs authorized by The National and Community Service Act of 1990 and The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. The legislation also modernizes the administration of AmeriCorps to strengthen and expand opportunities to serve, while improving AmeriCorps member experience to promote recruitment and retention. Specifically, the bill:

• Increases the flexibility of the Segal Education Award to expand workforce development opportunities through service and strengthen the pathway from AmeriCorps to post-secondary education.

• Standardizes administrative flexibilities, eligibility requirements, and benefits across AmeriCorps programs to better support members during and after their service terms.

• Creates more opportunities to serve by authorizing positions with shorter terms of service and codifying an expanded age eligibility range for NCCC.

• Establishes an Office of Alumni Engagement to strengthen recruitment and foster a common identity among current and former AmeriCorps members.

• Reauthorizes the national service laws for the period of 2025 to 2029.

Summer Meals and Learning Act

In August, Congressman Joe Morelle (D-Ore.) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced the Summer Meals and Learning Act (S. 4876/H.R. 9222) which establishes a grant program to keep school libraries open that serve as summer meal sites, helping to close the achievement gap. The legislation would provide access to summer support helping students thrive year-round by establishing a new grant program to be run by the Department of Education that would provide grants to state libraries to allow schools to keep their libraries open for students during the summer months for schools that:

• Have a summer lunch program; and
• Have at least 50% of students reading below grade level or are at risk of reading below grade levels.

The bill is based on Oregon’s successful grant program run at the state level.

Affordable Housing Resident Services Act

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D.Calif.) re-introduced the Affordable Housing Resident Services Act (H.R. 9553) in September. The legislation would provide funding to owners of affordable housing properties to offer supportive services for their residents. The Affordable Housing Resident Services Act will establish the Affordable Housing Residents Services Grant Program within the Department of Health and Human Services to provide funding for supportive services to their residents over five years. Specifically, owners of affordable housing properties would be able to use up to 25 percent of this grant funding to fund a service coordinator at the property to provide supportive services to residents. The grant funding would mainly be used to provide the supportive services at affordable housing properties, including:

• Afterschool programs for children and teenagers
• Educational opportunities for youth and adult residents
• Mental health, alcohol and addiction treatment
• Self-sufficiency resources
• Resources on future home ownership
• Financial literacy training
• Elderly care
• Assistance to residents with disabilities
• Other community services

These bills could be acted on during a lame duck session of Congress, or could be reintroduced in the 119th Congress next year.