[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3480 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3480

 To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish 
    Encore Service Programs, Encore Fellowship Programs, and Silver 
             Scholarship Programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 11, 2008

  Mr. Dodd (for himself, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. Kennedy) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish 
    Encore Service Programs, Encore Fellowship Programs, and Silver 
             Scholarship Programs, 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 ``Encore Service Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Programs funded under the National and Community 
        Service Act of 1990 have the potential to dramatically increase 
        the number of individuals age 50 or older engaged in national 
        service, applying decades of experience to solving community 
        problems.
            (2) The potential pool of older individuals who could 
        provide national service is enormous and rapidly growing. The 
        population of people age 50 or older, which today is more than 
        94,000,000 individuals, is expected to grow by over 22 percent 
        in the next 10 years, to almost 115,000,000 individuals.
            (3) Studies show that over half of the 78,000,000 
        individuals considered part of the Baby Boomer generation, 
        those turning 50 between 1996 and 2014, are interested in 
        providing meaningful service to their communities.
            (4) Research further shows that older individuals are not 
        adequately connected to national service or work opportunities 
        in the public sector.
            (5) For some individuals age 50 or older, participation in 
        national service can serve as an important pathway and 
        transition experience, leading them into second careers in the 
        public or nonprofit sector.
            (6) Today's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) 
        helps baby boomers anxious to make use of their education, 
        skills, and expertise to protect seniors against fraud, work on 
        a national falls prevention campaign, and volunteer to green 
        the economy. Research shows that individuals enrolled in the 
        program volunteer more hours of service per year than those not 
        in the program.
            (7) The National Senior Volunteer Corps programs, which are 
        national service programs that currently engage older 
        individuals, have deployed millions of individuals in the 
        United States in service to their communities but are currently 
        at capacity and in need of resources to grow.

SEC. 3. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.).

                    TITLE I--ENCORE SERVICE PROGRAM

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 101 (42 U.S.C. 12511) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(30) Encore service program.--The term `Encore Service 
        Program' means a national service program authorized under 
        section 122(a)(15).
            ``(31) Encore service participant.--The term `Encore 
        Service Participant' means an individual age 50 or older who is 
        a participant in an approved Encore Service Program.''.

SEC. 102. ELIGIBILITY.

    Section 122(a) (42 U.S.C. 12572(a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (15) as paragraph (16); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
            ``(15) A service program that engages only individuals age 
        50 or older, or individuals age 50 or older and other 
        individuals in intergenerational service activities, serving in 
        service positions to address a specific community need.''.

SEC. 103. PRIORITY.

    Section 122 (42 U.S.C. 12572) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Encouragement of encore service programs.--The 
        Corporation shall encourage national service programs, in 
        appropriate cases, to establish, using evidence-based 
        approaches, Encore Service Programs, and to apply for 
        assistance under subsection (a) for such programs.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Priority for Certain Encore Service Programs.--In 
establishing priorities regarding the types of national service 
programs to be assisted under subsection (b) or (d) of section 129, the 
Corporation shall give priority to an Encore Service Program that has--
            ``(1) proven success in engaging, or detailed plans to 
        begin engaging, individuals who are age 50 or older in service;
            ``(2) a strong focus on pre-service and in-service training 
        for participants in order to obtain measurable results that 
        meet the needs of the community served; and
            ``(3) a thorough evaluation of benefits to both the 
        participants and the community.
    ``(e) Consultation.--In awarding assistance or approved national 
service positions for Encore Service Programs, the Corporation shall 
consult with organizations and individuals with extensive experience in 
developing and administering robust national service programs that are 
producing measurable results and outstanding experiences for 
participants.
    ``(f) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, by 
2018, 25 percent of individuals participating in national service 
programs specified in this subtitle should be older individuals who are 
age 50 or older.''.

SEC. 104. TERMS OF SERVICE.

    Section 139(b) (42 U.S.C. 12593(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(4) Terms of service for encore service programs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of this title, an individual age 50 or older 
                performing national service in an approved national 
                service position in an Encore Service Program shall 
                agree to participate in the program for a term of 
                service described in one of clauses (i) through (v) of 
                subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Terms of service.--
                            ``(i) Full-time service.--If such an 
                        individual is performing full-time service, the 
                        individual shall agree to participate in the 
                        program for the term described in paragraph 
                        (1).
                            ``(ii) Half-time service.--If such an 
                        individual is performing half-time service, the 
                        individual shall agree to participate in the 
                        program for not less than 900 hours during a 
                        period of not more than 1 year or not more than 
                        2 years, as indicated in the approved 
                        application for the program.
                            ``(iii) Reduced half-time service.--If such 
                        an individual is performing reduced half-time 
                        service, the individual shall agree to 
                        participate in the program for not less than 
                        675 hours during a period of not more than 1 
                        year.
                            ``(iv) Quarter-time service.--If such an 
                        individual is performing quarter-time service, 
                        the individual shall agree to participate in 
                        the program for not less than 450 hours during 
                        a period of not more than 1 year.
                            ``(v) Minimum time service.--If such an 
                        individual is performing minimum time service, 
                        the individual shall agree to participate in 
                        the program for not less than 300 hours during 
                        a period of not more than 1 year.''.

SEC. 105. LIVING ALLOWANCE.

    Section 140(h) (42 U.S.C. 12594(h)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: ``In the case of an individual who began the 
individual's first term of service in a national service program under 
this subtitle after the individual attained the age of 50, and who is 
or has been an Encore Service Participant, the individual may not 
receive, through such assistance or funds, an aggregate amount that is 
more than twice the maximum amount available under subsections (a), 
(d), and (e) for a term of full-time service described in section 
139(b)(1).''.

SEC. 106. EDUCATIONAL AWARD LIMIT AND TERM OF TRANSFERRED AWARDS.

    (a) Educational Award Limit.--Section 146 (42 U.S.C. 12602) is 
amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Limitation on Receipt of National Service Educational 
Awards.--An individual may not receive, through national service 
educational awards, an aggregate amount that is more than the value of 
two such awards for terms of full-time service described in section 
139(b)(1).''.
    (b) Term for Transferred Educational Awards.--Section 146(d) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12602) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Term for transferred educational awards.--For 
        purposes of applying paragraphs (1) and (2)(A) to an individual 
        who is eligible to receive an educational award as a designated 
        individual (as defined in section 148(f)(4)), references to a 
        seven-year period shall be considered to be references to a 20-
        year period that begins on the date the individual who 
        transferred the educational award to the designated individual 
        completed the term of service in the approved national service 
        position that is the basis of the award.''.

SEC. 107. DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNT OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE 
              EDUCATIONAL AWARD.

    Section 147 (42 U.S.C. 12603) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(d) Award for Encore Service Participants.--An individual who is 
an Encore Service Participant and who successfully completes the term 
of service described in section 139(b)(4) that is specified in the 
individual's agreement under such section, shall be provided with a 
national service educational award in an amount that bears the same 
relation to the amount of a full-time national service educational 
award as the number of hours of service provided in the position under 
the agreement bears to the number of hours of service required to be 
provided under section 139(b)(1) to receive a full-time national 
service educational award.''.

SEC. 108. TRANSFER OF THE AWARDS.

    Section 148 (42 U.S.C. 12604) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 
        (g) and (h), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) Transfer of Educational Awards.--
            ``(1) In general.--An individual who is eligible to receive 
        a national service educational award under a program described 
        in paragraph (2) may transfer the award to a designated 
        individual, and subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) shall apply 
        to the designated individual in lieu of the individual who is 
        eligible to receive the national service educational award, 
        except that--
                    ``(A) amounts refunded to the account under 
                subsection (c)(5) on behalf of a designated individual 
                may be used by the Corporation to fund additional 
                placements in the national service program in which the 
                eligible individual who transferred the national 
                service educational award participated for such award; 
                and
                    ``(B) a borrower of a qualified student loan (as 
                defined in subsection (b)(6)) shall be eligible to have 
                the Corporation pay, on behalf of the borrower, the 
                interest that accrues during a period for which the 
                borrower has obtained forbearance in accordance with 
                subsection (e), if the eligible individual successfully 
                completes the eligible individual's required term of 
                service for a national service educational award and 
                transfers the award to the borrower as a designated 
                individual.
            ``(2) Conditions for transfer.--A national service 
        educational award may be transferred under this subsection if--
                    ``(A) the educational award is for service in a 
                national service program that is an Encore Service 
                Program; and
                    ``(B) the eligible individual began the 
                individual's first term of service in the Encore 
                Service Program after the individual attained the age 
                of 50.
            ``(3) Definition of a designated individual.--In this 
        subsection, the term `designated individual' is an individual--
                    ``(A) whom an individual who is eligible to receive 
                a national service educational award under a program 
                described in paragraph (2) designates to receive the 
                educational award; and
                    ``(B) who meets the eligibility requirements of 
                paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a), and 
                subsection (e), of section 146.''.

SEC. 109. CORPORATION REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Planning for Implementation.--The Corporation shall examine 
national service programs carried out under subtitle C of title I of 
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et 
seq.) and identify and address the barriers to engaging individuals age 
50 or older, in order to carry out the objectives of section 122(d)(1) 
of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12572(d)(1)), including examining--
            (1) how the programs are marketed to individuals age 50 or 
        older versus young adults;
            (2) the extent to which the living allowance described in 
        section 140 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12594) is a factor;
            (3) the extent to which the educational award described in 
        subtitle D of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.) is a factor;
            (4) the correlation between the extent of the pre-service 
        and in-service training provided and the perceived investment 
        by the participants;
            (5) the correlation between the extent of the pre-service 
        and in-service training provided and program impact;
            (6) the extent to which job transition resources and 
        training are provided; and
            (7) the outreach efforts required to carry out the 
        objectives of section 122(d)(1) of that Act.
    (b) Reports to Congress.--
            (1) Report on implementation.--Not later than 90 days after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Corporation shall 
        prepare and submit to Congress a report on implementation of 
        this subtitle, including addressing barriers described in 
        subsection (a)(1) and any necessary recommendations on how to 
        enhance programming to carry out the objectives of section 
        122(d)(1) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
        U.S.C. 12572(d)(1)).
            (2) Annual reporting.--The Corporation shall include, in 
        its annual report to Congress under section 172(b) of the 
        National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
        12632(b)), a detailed description of the Encore Service 
        Programs that have been carried out and the progress of the 
        Corporation in carrying out those objectives.
    (c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Encore Service 
Programs'' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511).

                        TITLE II--ENCORE FELLOWS

SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 101 (42 U.S.C. 12511), as amended by section 101 of this 
Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(32) Encore fellow.--The term `Encore Fellow' means an 
        individual who is age 50 or older and who is a participant in 
        an approved Encore Fellowship Program.
            ``(33) Encore fellowship program.--The term `Encore 
        Fellowship Program' means a program authorized under section 
        198E.''.

SEC. 202. SUPPORT.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle H (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 198E. ENCORE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Statement of Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to 
provide for Encore Fellowship Programs, in order to--
            ``(1) address the need for increased professional capacity 
        in public agencies and nonprofit private organizations that are 
        engaged in meeting unmet human, educational, environmental, or 
        public safety needs; and
            ``(2) address the need for compelling learning and service 
        opportunities to assist experienced individuals age 50 and 
        older in shifting from their mid-life careers to suitable and 
        rewarding careers in the public or nonprofit sector that 
        benefit society and provide continued income to the 
        individuals.
    ``(b) Assistance Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Corporation may make grants under 
        this section to eligible entities to pay for the Federal share 
        of the cost of carrying out Encore Fellowship Programs.
            ``(2) Programs.--The Fellowship Programs shall--
                    ``(A) recruit individuals age 50 or older who meet 
                the requirements of subsection (f)(2) to serve as 
                Encore Fellows;
                    ``(B) provide specialized preplacement training and 
                additional training for the Encore Fellows;
                    ``(C) provide other activities designed to foster 
                transitions to second careers in the public or 
                nonprofit sector by the Encore Fellows; and
                    ``(D) place the Encore Fellows in professional 
                positions with employers that will serve as sponsoring 
                organizations for the programs, that meet the 
                requirements of subsection (f)(1).
            ``(3) Permissible subgrants.--The entities may carry out 
        the programs directly or through subgrants to other eligible 
        entities.
    ``(c) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section, an entity shall--
            ``(1) be a State Commission, or national nonprofit 
        organization, with demonstrated experience in establishing and 
        carrying out a project to recruit, train, and place 
        participants or volunteers, and that is qualified to receive 
        assistance under section 121;
            ``(2) demonstrate the ability to disseminate information 
        about the Encore Fellowship Program that promotes the concept 
        of mid-life transitions to public or nonprofit sector work;
            ``(3) demonstrate the expertise and capacity to provide 
        meaningful management and leadership training opportunities; 
        and
            ``(4) demonstrate knowledge of public or nonprofit sector 
        professional needs and capacity to help meet the needs through 
        an Encore Fellowship Program.
    ``(d) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an entity shall submit an application to the Corporation at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Corporation may require.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An entity that receives a grant (or, as 
applicable, a subgrant) under this section may use the assistance made 
available through the grant (or subgrant) to assist with the activities 
described in subsection (b)(2). The entity may use the assistance for 
the allowances described in subsection (g).
    ``(f) Selection Criteria.--
            ``(1) Sponsoring organization.--The recipient of a grant 
        under subsection (b) shall develop criteria for the selection 
        of sponsoring organizations, who shall--
                    ``(A) be public agencies or private nonprofit 
                organizations;
                    ``(B) be engaged in meeting unmet human, 
                educational, environmental, or public safety needs;
                    ``(C) demonstrate need and capacity for the 
                professional skills of Encore Fellows;
                    ``(D) agree to sponsor Encore Fellows in full-time 
                professional positions for a period of not less than 9 
                months and not more than 1 year;
                    ``(E) demonstrate experience in establishing and 
                implementing, or detailed plans to begin establishing 
                and implementing, meaningful professional development 
                opportunities; and
                    ``(F) agree to collaborate on, and participate in, 
                the provision of specialized preplacement training and 
                additional training for the participants, and provision 
                of other activities designed to foster transitions to 
                second careers in the public or nonprofit sector by 
                participants.
            ``(2) Participants.--The recipient of a grant under 
        subsection (b) shall develop criteria for the selection of 
        participants, who shall--
                    ``(A) be individuals age 50 or older;
                    ``(B) intend to engage in work that meets unmet 
                human, educational, environmental, or public safety 
                needs upon completion of their fellowships;
                    ``(C) demonstrate professional qualifications or 
                experience; and
                    ``(D) agree to participate in the Encore Fellowship 
                Program involved on a full-time basis for not less than 
                9 months and not more than 1 year.
    ``(g) Provision of Living Allowance and Related Matters.--
            ``(1) Living allowance.--An entity that receives a grant 
        (or, as applicable, a subgrant) under this section for an 
        Encore Fellowship Program shall provide to each Encore Fellow 
        in the program a living allowance for a fiscal year in an 
        amount equal to 200 percent of the average subsistence 
        allowance provided to VISTA volunteers under section 105 of the 
        Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955) for 
        that fiscal year.
            ``(2) Permissible salary and benefits.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An Encore Fellow may receive a 
                salary in excess of the maximum living allowance 
                authorized in paragraph (1), and employment benefits, 
                subject to subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Provision by sponsoring organization.--The 
                sponsoring organization shall pay 100 percent of the 
                amount of the salary that exceeds the amount of the 
                maximum living allowance, and 100 percent of the cost 
                of the benefits.
            ``(3) Ineligibility for national service educational 
        award.--An Encore Fellow shall be ineligible for a national 
        service education award under subtitle D.
    ``(h) Matching Funds Requirements.--The Federal share of the cost 
of carrying out an Encore Fellowship Program that receives assistance 
under this section, whether the assistance is provided directly or as a 
subgrant from the original recipient of the assistance, may not exceed 
70 percent of such cost. The provisions of section 121(e)(2) shall 
apply to the program, for purpose of providing for the remaining share 
of the cost.
    ``(i) Limit on Administrative Cost.--Not more than 6 percent of the 
amount of assistance provided to the recipient of a grant (or subgrant) 
under this section for a fiscal year may be used to pay for 
administrative costs incurred by--
            ``(1) the recipient of the grant (or subgrant); and
            ``(2) sponsoring organizations for Encore Fellowship 
        Programs carried out or supported by the assistance.
    ``(j) Evaluation.--The Corporation shall evaluate the programs 
carried out under this section, and include the results of the 
evaluations in the Corporation's annual report to Congress under 
section 172(b).''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 501(a)(2) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(2)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(other than section 198E)'' after ``H of 
        title I'' each place it appears; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Encore fellowship programs.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 
                198E, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as 
                may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.''.
    (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 is amended in the items relating to 
subtitle H of title I, by adding at the end the following:

``Sec. 198E. Encore Fellowship Programs.''.

                       TITLE III--SILVER SCHOLARS

SEC. 301. SILVER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle H of title I (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.), 
as amended by section 202 of this Act, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``SEC. 198F. SILVER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Corporation is authorized to award grants 
to eligible entities, to enable the entities to provide volunteers 
participating in service projects in accordance with this section with 
scholarships that may be used by the volunteers or by individuals 
designated by the volunteers.
    ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section, an entity shall be a public agency or private nonprofit 
organization with experience in administering service programs, 
(including the programs described in or administered under title II of 
the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5000 et seq.)).
    ``(c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an entity shall submit to the Corporation an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Corporation may reasonably require.
    ``(d) Criteria and Priorities for Grants.--The Corporation shall 
establish criteria and priorities for awarding grants under this 
section.
    ``(e) Requirements for Scholarship.--An entity that receives a 
grant under subsection (a) shall use the funds made available through 
the grant to award a scholarship described in subsection (a) to 
recipients, each of whom--
            ``(1) is, or has been designated for the scholarship by, a 
        volunteer who--
                    ``(A) has performed not less than 500 hours of 
                volunteer service, of a type specified by the 
                Corporation under subsection (f)(1), during a 12-month 
                period that is--
                            ``(i) after the volunteer at issue has 
                        attained age 55; and
                            ``(ii) after the date of the enactment of 
                        this section; or
                    ``(B) has performed not less than 250 hours but 
                less than 500 hours of volunteer service of that type 
                during such a 12-month period, based on compelling 
                personal circumstances; and
            ``(2) has received, during the 5-year period preceding the 
        date that the scholarship is awarded, fewer than 2 scholarships 
        under this section.
    ``(f) Services, Criteria, and Priorities for Scholarships.--The 
Corporation shall--
            ``(1) specify the types of volunteer service a volunteer 
        may engage in to meet term of service requirements for a 
        scholarship under this section, which shall include--
                    ``(A) tutoring or mentoring in a school, after-
                school program, or other community-based educational 
                setting; and
                    ``(B) assisting persons with special needs, 
                including persons who are homebound, to continue living 
                independently; and
            ``(2) establish criteria and priorities for eligible 
        entities to use in awarding scholarships under this section.
    ``(g) Amount of Scholarship.--The entities shall award the 
scholarships--
            ``(1) in an amount of not more than $1,000; or
            ``(2) in a amount that is prorated based on the 
        individual's hours of service, for an individual who meets the 
        requirements of subsection (e) with a term of service described 
        in subsection (e)(2)(B).
    ``(h) Use of Scholarships.--A scholarship awarded under this 
section may be used--
            ``(1) by the volunteer or the person designated by the 
        volunteer, in accordance with subsection (e);
            ``(2) only for qualified tuition and related expenses, as 
        defined in section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
        and only under such conditions as are set forth by the 
        Corporation through regulation; and
            ``(3) not later than 20 years after the date of the award 
        of the scholarship, to allow time for `an individual' 
        designated under subsection (e)(1) to use the scholarship.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the funds appropriated 
to carry out this section--
            ``(1) not more than 15 percent shall be used for 
        administrative purposes by the Corporation;
            ``(2) not less than 50 percent shall be made available for 
        grants under subsection (a) and used to award scholarships to 
        volunteers who have met the term of service requirements for 
        the scholarships by providing tutoring or mentoring described 
        in subsection (f)(1)(A);
            ``(3) not less than 10 percent shall be made available for 
        such grants and used to award scholarships to volunteers who 
        have met the requirements by providing assistance described in 
        subsection (f)(1)(B); and
            ``(4) not more than 10 percent shall be made available for 
        such grants and used for administrative purposes by the 
        eligible entities receiving the grants.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 501(a)(2), as amended 
by section 202(b) of this Act, is further amended--
            (1) by striking ``section 198E'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``sections 198E and 198F''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Silver scholarship program.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 
                198F, $20,000,000 for the first fiscal year beginning 
                after the date of the enactment of section 198F and 
                such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year 
                thereafter.''.
    (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of the Act is further 
amended in the items relating to subtitle H of title I, by adding at 
the end the following:

``Sec. 198F. Silver scholarship programs.''.

                  TITLE IV--EXPANSION OF SENIOR CORPS

SEC. 401. EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.

    (a) Foster Grandparent Program.--Section 211 of the Domestic 
Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5011) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``sixty'' and inserting 
        ``55''; and
            (2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``125'' and inserting 
        ``200''.
    (b) Senior Companion Program.--Section 213(a) of the Domestic 
Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5013(a)) is amended by 
striking ``60'' and inserting ``55''.
    (c) General Provisions.--Section 223 of the Domestic Volunteer 
Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5023) is amended by striking ``sixty'' 
and inserting ``55''.

SEC. 402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 502 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 
U.S.C. 5082) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$45,000,000'' and all 
        that follows and inserting ``$136,700,000 for fiscal year 2009, 
        and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal 
        year.'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$85,000,000'' and all 
        that follows and inserting ``$228,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        year 2009, and such sums as may be necessary for each 
        succeeding fiscal year.''; and
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$40,000,000'' and all 
        that follows and inserting ``$92,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        year 2009, and such sums as may be necessary for each 
        succeeding fiscal year.''.
                                 <all>