[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9997 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9997

To establish a pilot program to address critical workforce integration 
                   and national security imperatives.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 30, 2026

  Mr. Neguse (for himself, Ms. Houlahan, and Mr. Kiley of California) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
  Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Armed 
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a pilot program to address critical workforce integration 
                   and national security imperatives.

    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 ``National Guard for National Service 
Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS CRITICAL WORKFORCE INTEGRATION AND 
              NATIONAL SECURITY IMPERATIVES.

    (a) In General.--After the conclusion of the study under subsection 
(b), the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service shall 
establish a pilot program, informed by the study under subsection (b), 
to address critical workforce integration and national security 
imperatives through activities conducted by the National Guard Bureau 
and under the national service laws, which shall include the following:
            (1) Critical infrastructure protection.--Activities to 
        proactively safeguard essential systems and assets that are 
        vital for the functioning of the society and economy of the 
        United States, including systems of transportation, energy, 
        communications, and water management.
            (2) Cybersecurity capacity-building.--Activities related to 
        the training and deployment of participants and members of the 
        National Guard to assist local and Tribal governments, 
        elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher 
        education, and nonprofits in strengthening their security 
        protocols and resilience.
            (3) Disaster preparedness and community resilience.--
        Activities to expand efforts in community preparedness and 
        resilience to reduce risks to civilian life and strategic 
        infrastructure due to major disasters and ensure their ability 
        to be resilient should an event occur.
            (4) Workforce development and financial security.--
        Activities to establish a nationwide employment and training 
        pipeline that--
                    (A) connects part-time National Guard and Reserve 
                service members with structured career pathways through 
                programs established under the national service laws;
                    (B) addresses economic insecurity; and
                    (C) ensures workforce stability.
    (b) Feasibility Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the 
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community 
Service shall jointly conduct a feasibility study regarding--
            (1) the actions and procedural modifications that would be 
        necessary to develop a dedicated nationwide employment and 
        training pipeline for members of a reserve component to 
        participate in programs carried out under the national service 
        laws;
            (2) modifications necessary to the terms of service for a 
        participant under the national service laws to accommodate 
        training schedules and deployment of military service members;
            (3) quantifiable benefits anticipated with respect to the 
        establishment of such a pipeline;
            (4) financial and administrative costs of the 
        implementation of the pilot program under subsection (a);
            (5) the percentage of members of a reserve component who 
        lack access to stable, full-time employment;
            (6) the expected levels of participation by military 
        service members seeking employment and training opportunities 
        in programs carried out under the national service laws;
            (7) the framework for the design and operationalization of 
        such a pipeline; and
            (8) whether a dedicated nationwide employment and training 
        pipeline to participation in programs carried out under the 
        national service laws is an effective tool for enhancing 
        employment and upskilling opportunities for military spouses 
        and dependents.
    (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            (1) National guard.--The term ``national guard'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 101 of title 32, United 
        States Code.
            (2) National service laws.--The term ``national service 
        laws'' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the 
        National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511).
            (3) Participant.--The term ``participant'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 101 of the National and Community 
        Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511).
                                 <all>