[Senate Report 111-323]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 609
111th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     111-323

======================================================================



 
                     PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT

                                _______
                                

               September 27, 2010.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Bingaman, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1612]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the Act (H.R. 1612) to amend the Public Lands Corps 
Act of 1993 to expand the authorization of the Secretaries of 
Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to provide service 
opportunities for young Americans; help restore the nation's 
natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and 
scenic resources; train a new generation of public land 
managers and enthusiasts; and promote the value of public 
service, and for other purposes, having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that 
the Act, as amended, do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

SECTION I. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Public Lands Service Corps Act of 
2010''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO SHORT TITLE.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 201 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1701 note; 107 Stat. 848) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCE.

    ``(a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the `Public Lands 
Service Corps Act of 1993'.
    ``(b) References.--Any reference contained in any law, regulation, 
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the `Public 
Lands Corps Act of 1993' shall be considered to be a reference to the 
`Public Lands Service Corps Act of 1993'.''.

SEC. 3. REFERENCE.

    A reference in this Act to ``the Act'' is a reference to the Public 
Lands Service Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.; title II of 
Public Law 91-378).

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT OF 1993.

    (a) Name and Project Description Changes.-- The Act is amended--
          (1) in the title heading, by striking ``PUBLIC LANDS CORPS'' 
        and inserting ``PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS'';
          (2) in section 204 (16 U.S.C. 1723), in the heading, by 
        striking ``PUBLIC LANDS CORPS'' and inserting ``PUBLIC LANDS 
        SERVICE CORPS'';
          (3) in section 210(a)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1729(a)(2)), in the 
        heading, by striking ``Public Lands'';
          (4) by striking ``Public Lands Corps'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``Corps'';
          (5) by striking ``conservation center'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``residential conservation center'';
          (6) by striking ``conservation centers'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``residential conservation centers'';
          (7) by striking ``appropriate conservation project'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``appropriate natural and 
        cultural resources conservation project''; and
          (8) by striking ``appropriate conservation projects'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``appropriate natural and 
        cultural resources conservation projects''.
    (b) Findings.--Section 202(a) (16 U.S.C. 1721(a)) of the Act, as 
amended by subsection (a), is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1)--
                  (A) by striking ``Corps can benefit'' and inserting 
                ``conservation corps can benefit''; and
                  (B) by striking ``the natural and cultural'' and 
                inserting ``natural and cultural'';
          (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) 
        and (5), respectively;
          (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
          ``(2) Participants in conservation corps receive meaningful 
        education and training, and their experience with conservation 
        corps provides preparation for careers in public service.
          ``(3) Young men and women who participate in the 
        rehabilitation and restoration of the natural, cultural, 
        historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic treasures of 
        the United States will gain an increased appreciation and 
        understanding of the public lands and heritage of the United 
        States, and of the value of public service, and are likely to 
        become lifelong advocates for those values.'';
          (4) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by paragraph (2)), by 
        inserting ``, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, 
        and scenic'' after ``Many facilities and natural''; and
          (5) by adding at the end the following:
          ``(6) The work of conservation corps can benefit communities 
        adjacent to public lands and facilities through renewed civic 
        engagement and participation by corps participants and those 
        they serve, improved student achievement, and restoration and 
        rehabilitation of public assets.''.
    (c) Purpose.--Section 202(b) (16 U.S.C. 1721(b)) of the Act is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
          ``(1) to introduce young men and women to public service 
        while furthering their understanding and appreciation of the 
        natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic resources of the United States;
          ``(2) to facilitate training and recruitment opportunities in 
        which service is credited as qualifying experience for careers 
        in the management of such resources;
          ``(3) to instill in a new generation of young men and women 
        from across the United States, including young men and women 
        from diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in 
        resource stewardship and public service by allowing them to 
        work directly with professionals in agencies responsible for 
        the management of the natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of the 
        United States;
          ``(4) to perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate 
        natural and cultural resources conservation projects where such 
        projects are not being performed by existing employees;
          ``(5) to assist State and local governments and Indian tribes 
        in performing research and public education tasks associated 
        with the conservation of natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources;
          ``(6) to expand educational opportunities on public lands and 
        by rewarding individuals who participate in conservation corps 
        with an increased ability to pursue higher education and job 
        training;
          ``(7) to promote public understanding and appreciation of the 
        missions and the natural and cultural resources conservation 
        work of the participating Federal agencies through training 
        opportunities, community service and outreach, and other 
        appropriate means; and
          ``(8) to create a grant program for Indian tribes to 
        establish the Indian Youth Service Corps so that Indian youth 
        can benefit from carrying out projects on. Indian lands that 
        the Indian tribes and communities determine to be 
        priorities.''.
    (d) Definitions.--Section 203 (16 U.S.C. 1722) of the Act is 
amended--
          (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7), (8) through 
        (10), and (11) through (13) as paragraphs (5) through (9), (11) 
        through (13), and (15) through (17), respectively;
          (2) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the 
        following:
          ``(1) Appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
        project.--The term `appropriate natural and cultural resources 
        conservation project' means any project for the conservation, 
        restoration, construction, or rehabilitation of natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic 
        resources.
          ``(2) Consulting intern.--The term `consulting intern' means 
        a consulting intern selected under section 206(a)(2).
          ``(3) Corps and public lands service corps.--The terms 
        `Corps' and `Public Lands Service Corps' mean the Public Lands 
        Service Corps established under section 204(a).
          ``(4) Corps participant.--The term `Corps participant' means 
        an individual enrolled--
                  ``(A) in the Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps; 
                or
                  ``(B) as a resource assistant or consulting 
                intern.'';
          (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1)) the following:
          ``(10) Indian youth service corps.--The term `Indian Youth 
        Service Corps' means a qualified youth or conservation corps 
        established under section 207 that--
                  ``(A) enrolls individuals between the ages of 15 and 
                25, inclusive, a majority of whom are Indians; and
                  ``(B) is established pursuant to a tribal resolution 
                that describes the agreement between the Indian. tribe 
                and the qualified youth or conservation corps to 
                operate an Indian Youth Service Corps program for the 
                benefit of the members of the Indian tribe.'';
          (4) by amending paragraph (12) (as redesignated by paragraph 
        (1)) to read as follows:
          ``(12) Public lands.--The term `public lands' means any land 
        or water (or interest therein) owned or administered by the 
        United States, including those areas of coastal and ocean 
        waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting waters, and 
        submerged lands over which the United States exercises 
        jurisdiction, except that such term does not include Indian 
        lands.'';
          (5) by amending paragraph (13) (as redesignated by paragraph 
        (1)) as follows:
                  (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                          (i) by striking ``full-time,'';
                          (ii) by inserting ``on eligible service 
                        lands'' after ``resource setting''; and
                          (iii) by striking ``16'' and inserting 
                        ``15'';
                  (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                  (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                  (D) by adding at the end the following:
                  ``(D) makes available for audit for each fiscal year 
                for which the qualified youth or conservation corps 
                receives Federal funds under this Act, all information 
                pertaining to the expenditure of the funds, any 
                matching funds, and participant demographics.'';
          (6) by inserting after paragraph 13 (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1)) the following:
          ``(14) Residential conservation centers.--The term 
        `residential conservation centers' means the facilities 
        authorized under section 205.'';
          (7) in paragraph (15) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by 
        striking ``206'' and inserting ``206(a)(1)''; and
          (8) in paragraph (16) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))--
                  (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                  (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following:
                  ``(C) with respect to the National Marine Sanctuary 
                System, coral reefs, and other coastal, estuarine, and 
                marine habitats, and other lands and facilities 
                administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration, the Secretary of Commerce.''.
    (e) Public Lands Service Corps Program.--Section 204 of the Act (16 
U.S.C. 1723), as amended by subsection (a), is amended--
          (1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) and subsections 
        (d) through (f) as subsections (c) and (d) and subsections (f) 
        through (h), respectively;
          (2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Establishment of Public Lands Service Corps.--There is 
established in the Department of the Interior, the Department of 
Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a Public Lands Service 
Corps.
    ``(b) Establishment of Corps Office; Coordinators; Liaison.--
          ``(1) Establishment of offices.--
                  ``(A) Department of the interior.--The Secretary of 
                the Interior shall establish a department-level office 
                to coordinate the Corps activities within the 
                Department of the Interior.
                  ``(B) Department of agriculture.--The Secretary of 
                Agriculture shall establish within the Forest Service 
                an office to coordinate the Corps activities within 
                that agency.
                  ``(C) Department of commerce.--The Secretary of 
                Commerce shall establish within the National Oceanic 
                and Atmospheric Administration an office to coordinate 
                the Corps activities within that agency.
          ``(2) Establishment of coordinators.--The Secretary shall 
        designate a Public Lands Service Corps coordinator for each 
        agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that administers 
        Corps activities.
          ``(3) Establishment of liaison.--The Secretary of the 
        Interior shall establish an Indian Youth Service Corps liaison 
        that will--
                  ``(A) provide outreach to Indian tribes about 
                opportunities for establishing Corps and Indian Youth 
                Service Corps programs; and
                  ``(B) coordinate with the Tribal Liaison of the 
                Corporation for National Service to identify and 
                establish Corps and Indian Youth Service Corps 
                opportunities for Indian youth.'';
          (3) by amending subsection (c) (as redesignated by paragraph 
        (1)) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Participants.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may enroll in the Corps 
        individuals who are--
                  ``(A) hired by an agency under the jurisdiction of 
                the Secretary to perform work authorized under this 
                Act; or
                  ``(B) members of a qualified youth or conservation 
                corps with which the Secretary has entered into a 
                cooperative agreement to perform work authorized under 
                this Act.
          ``(2) Resource assistants and consulting interns.--The 
        Secretary may also enroll in the Corps resource assistants and 
        consulting interns in accordance with section 206(a).
          ``(3) Eligibility requirements.--To be eligible for 
        enrollment as a Corps participant, an individual shall--
                  ``(A) be between the ages of 15 and 25, inclusive; 
                and
                  ``(B) satisfy the requirements of section 137(a)(5) 
                of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
                U.S.C. 12591(a)(5)).
          ``(4) Terms.--Each Corps participant may be enrolled in the 
        Corps for a term of up to 2 years of service, which may be 
        served over a period that exceeds 2 calendar years.
          ``(5) Civil service.--An individual may be enrolled as a 
        Corps participant without regard to the civil service and 
        classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 
        States.
          ``(6) Preference.--The Secretary may establish a preference 
        for the enrollment as Corps participants individuals who are 
        economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.'';
          (4) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by striking ``contracts and''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``subsection (d)'' and 
                        inserting ``subsection (f)'';
                  (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
                  (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
          ``(2) Recruitment.--The Secretary shall carry out, or enter 
        into cooperative agreements to provide, a program to attract 
        eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing Corps opportunities 
        through high schools, colleges, employment centers, electronic 
        media, and other appropriate institutions and means.
          ``(3) Preference.--In entering into cooperative agreements 
        under paragraph (1) or awarding competitive grants to Indian 
        tribes or tribally authorized organizations under section 207, 
        the Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or 
        conservation corps that are located in specific areas where a 
        substantial portion of members are economically, physically, or 
        educationally disadvantaged.'';
          (5) by inserting after subsection (d) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1)) the following:
    ``(e) Training--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a training 
        program based at appropriate residential conservation centers 
        or at other suitable regional Federal or other appropriate 
        facilities or sites to provide training for Corps participants.
          ``(2) Requirements.--In establishing a training program under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                  ``(A) ensure that the duration and comprehensiveness 
                of the training program shall be commensurate with the 
                projects Corps participants are expected to undertake;
                  ``(B) develop department-wide standards for the 
                program that include training in--
                          ``(i) resource stewardship;
                          ``(ii) health and safety;
                          ``(iii) ethics for individuals in public 
                        service;
                          ``(iv) teamwork and leadership; and
                          ``(v) interpersonal communications;
                  ``(C) direct the participating agencies within the 
                Department of the Interior, the Forest Service in the 
                case of the Department of Agriculture, and the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the case of 
                the Department of Commerce, to develop agency-specific 
                training guidelines to ensure that Corps participants 
                are appropriately informed about matters specific to 
                that agency, including--
                          ``(i) the history and organization of the 
                        agency;
                          ``(ii) the mission of the agency; and
                          ``(iii) any agency-specific standards for the 
                        management of natural, cultural, historic, 
                        archaeological, recreational, and scenic 
                        resources; and
                  ``(D) take into account training already received by 
                Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth or 
                conservation corps.'';
          (6) in subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) in the heading, by striking ``In 
                        general.--'' and inserting ``Use of corps; 
                        projects.--'';
                          (ii) by striking ``The Secretary may utilize 
                        the Corps or any qualified youth or 
                        conservation corps to carry out'' and inserting 
                        the following:
                  ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may use the Corps to 
                carry out, with appropriate supervision and 
                training,'';
                          (iii) by striking ``on public lands'' and 
                        inserting ``on eligible service lands''; and
                          (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                  ``(B) Projects.--Appropriate natural and cultural 
                resources conservation projects carried out under this 
                section may include--
                          ``(i) protecting, restoring, or enhancing 
                        ecosystem components to promote species 
                        recovery, improve biological diversity, enhance 
                        productivity and carbon sequestration, and 
                        enhance adaptability and resilience of eligible 
                        service lands and resources to climate change 
                        and other natural and human disturbances;
                          ``(ii) promoting the health of eligible 
                        service lands, including--
                                  ``(I) protecting and restoring 
                                watersheds and forest, grassland, 
                                riparian, estuarine, marine, or other 
                                habitat;
                                  ``(II) reducing the risk of 
                                uncharacteristically severe wildfire 
                                and mitigating damage from insects, 
                                disease, and disasters;
                                  ``(III) controlling erosion;
                                  ``(IV) controlling and removing 
                                invasive, noxious, or nonnative 
                                species; and
                                  ``(V) restoring native species;
                          ``(iii) collecting biological, 
                        archaeological, and other scientific data, 
                        including climatological information, species 
                        populations and movement, habitat status, and 
                        other information;
                          ``(iv) assisting in historical and cultural 
                        research, museum curatorial work, oral history 
                        projects, documentary photography, and 
                        activities that support the creation of public 
                        works of art related to eligible service lands; 
                        and
                          ``(v) constructing, repairing, 
                        rehabilitating, and maintaining roads, trails, 
                        campgrounds and other visitor facilities, 
                        employee housing, cultural and historic sites 
                        and structures, and other facilities that 
                        further the purposes of this Act.'';
                  (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
                paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
                  (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
          ``(2) Visitor services.--The Secretary may--
                  ``(A) enter into or amend an existing cooperative 
                agreement with a cooperating association, educational 
                institution, friends group, or similar nonprofit 
                partner organization for the purpose of providing 
                training and work experience to Corps participants in 
                areas such as sales, office work, accounting, and 
                management, provided that the work experience directly 
                relates to the conservation and management of eligible 
                service lands; and
                  ``(B) allow Corps participants to help promote 
                visitor safety and enjoyment of eligible service lands, 
                and assist in the gathering of visitor use data.
          ``(3) Interpretation.--The Secretary may permit Corps 
        participants to provide interpretation or education services 
        for the public under the direct and immediate supervision of an 
        agency employee--
                  ``(A) to provide orientation and information services 
                to visitors;
                  ``(B) to assist agency employees in the delivery of 
                interpretive or educational programs where audience 
                size, environmental conditions, safety, or other 
                factors make such assistance desirable;
                  ``(C) to present programs that relate the personal 
                experience of the Corps participants for the purpose of 
                promoting public awareness of the Corps, the role of 
                the Corps in public land management agencies, and the 
                availability of the Corps to potential participants; 
                and
                  ``(D) to create nonpersonal interpretive products, 
                such as website content, Junior Ranger program books, 
                printed handouts, and audiovisual programs.'';
          (7) in subsection (g) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))--
                  (A) in the matter preceding the first paragraph, by 
                striking ``those projects which'' and inserting 
                ``priority projects and other projects that''; and
                  (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
          ``(2) will instill in Corps participants a work ethic and a 
        sense of public service;''; and
          (8) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Other Participants.--The Secretary may allow volunteers from 
other programs administered or designated by the Secretary to 
participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this section.
    ``(j) Criminal History Checks.--
          ``(1) In general.--The requirements of section 189D(b) of the 
        National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
        12645g(b)) shall apply to each individual age 18 or older 
        seeking--
                  ``(A) to become a Corps participant;
                  ``(B) to receive funds authorized under this Act; or
                  ``(C) to supervise or otherwise have regular contact 
                with Corps participants in activities authorized under 
                this Act.
          ``(2) Eligibility prohibition.--If any of paragraphs (1) 
        through (4) of section 189D(c) of the National and Community 
        Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645g(c)(1)-(4)) apply to an 
        individual described in paragraph (1), that individual shall 
        not be eligible for the position or activity described in 
        paragraph (1), unless the Secretary provides an exemption for 
        good cause.''.
    (f) Residential Conservation Centers and Program Support.--Section 
205 (16 U.S.C. 1724) of the Act is amended--
          (1) in the section heading, by striking ``CONSERVATION'' and 
        inserting ``RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION'';
          (2) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish residential 
        conservation centers for--
                  ``(A) such housing, food service, medical care, 
                transportation, and other services as the Secretary 
                deems necessary for Corps participants; and
                  ``(B) the conduct of appropriate natural and cultural 
                resources conservation projects under this Act.'';
                  (B) by striking paragraph (2);
                  (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
                paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;
                  (D) in paragraph (2) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
                (C)), in the heading, by striking ``for conservation 
                centers''; and
                  (E) in paragraph (3) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
                (C)), by striking ``a State or local government 
                agency'' and inserting ``another Federal agency, State, 
                local government,'';
          (3) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
                following:
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following:
          ``(2) Temporary housing.--The Secretary may make arrangements 
        with another Federal agency, State, local government, or 
        private organization to provide temporary housing for Corps 
        participants as needed and available.
          ``(3) Transportation.--In project areas where Corps 
        participants can reasonably be expected to reside at their own 
        homes, the Secretary may fund or provide transportation to and 
        from project sites.'';
          (4) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f);
          (5) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Facilities.--The Secretary may, as an appropriate natural and 
cultural resources conservation project, direct Corps participants to 
aid in the construction or rehabilitation of residential conservation 
center facilities, including housing.
    ``(e) Mentors.--The Secretary may recruit from programs, such as 
Federal volunteer and encore service programs, and from veterans 
groups, military retirees, and active duty personnel, such adults as 
may be suitable and qualified to provide training, mentoring, and crew-
leading services to Corps participants.''; and
          (6) in subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (4)), by 
        striking ``that are appropriate'' and all that follows through 
        the period and inserting ``that the Secretary determines to be 
        necessary for a residential conservation center.''.
    (g) Resource Assistants and Consulting Interns.--Section 206 of the 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1725) is amended--
          (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``AND CONSULTING 
        INTERNS'' before the period;
          (2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the 
        following:
      ``(a) Authorization.--
          ``(1) Resource assistants.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may provide 
                individual placements of resource assistants with any 
                agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that 
                carries out appropriate natural and cultural resources 
                conservation projects to carry out research or resource 
                protection activities on behalf of the agency.
                  ``(B) Eligibility.--To be eligible for selection as a 
                resource assistant, an individual shall be at least 17 
                years of age.
                  ``(C) Preference.--In selecting resource assistants 
                for placement under this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
                give a preference to individuals who are enrolled in an 
                institution of higher education or are recent graduates 
                from an institution of higher education, with 
                particular attention given to ensuring full 
                representation of women and participants from 
                Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-
                serving institutions, and Tribal Colleges and 
                Universities.
          ``(2) Consulting interns.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may provide 
                individual placements of consulting interns with any 
                agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that 
                carries out appropriate natural and cultural resources 
                conservation projects to carry out management analysis 
                activities on behalf of the agency.
                  ``(B) Eligibility.--To be eligible for selection as a 
                consulting intern, an individual shall be enrolled in, 
                and have completed at least 1 full year at, a graduate 
                or professional school that has been accredited by an 
                accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of 
                Education.
      ``(b) Use of Existing Nonprofit Organizations.--
          ``(1) In general.--Whenever 1 or more non-profit 
        organizations can provide appropriate recruitment and placement 
        services to fulfill the requirements of this section, the 
        Secretary may implement this section through such 
        organizations.
          ``(2) Expenses.--Participating organizations shall contribute 
        to the expenses of providing and supporting the resource 
        assistants or consulting in- terns from sources of funding 
        other than the Secretary, at a level of not less than 25 
        percent of the total costs (15 percent of which may be from in-
        kind sources) of each participant in the resource assistant or 
        consulting intern program who has been recruited and placed 
        through that organization.
          ``(3) Reporting.--Each participating organization shall be 
        required to submit an annual report evaluating the scope, size, 
        and quality of the program, including the value of work 
        contributed by the resource assistants and consulting interns, 
        to the mission. of the agency.''.
    (h) Technical Amendment.--The Act is amended by redesignating 
sections 207 through 211 (16 U.S.C. 1726 through 1730) as sections 209 
through 213, respectively.
    (i) Indian Youth Service Corps.--The Act is amended by inserting 
after section 206 (16 U.S.C. 1725) the following:

``SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.

    ``(a) Authorization of Cooperative Agreements and Competitive 
Grants.--The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative 
agreements with, or make competitive grants to, Indian tribes and 
qualified youth or conservation corps for the establishment and 
administration of Indian Youth Service Corps programs to carry out 
appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects on 
Indian lands.
    ``(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive assistance under this 
section, an Indian tribe or a qualified youth or conservation corps 
shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require, including--
          ``(1) a description of the methods by which Indian youth will 
        be recruited for and retained in the Indian Youth Service 
        Corps;
          ``(2) a description of the projects to be carried out by the 
        Indian Youth Service Corps;
          ``(3) a description of how the projects were identified; and
          ``(4) explanation of the impact of, and the direct community 
        benefits provided by, the proposed projects.''.
    (j) Guidance.--The Act is amended by inserting after section 207 
(as amended by subsection (i)) the following:

``SEC. 208. GUIDANCE.

    ``Not later than 18 months after funds arc made available to the 
Secretary to carry, out this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidelines 
for the management of programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 
that are authorized under this Act.''.
    (k) Living Allowances and Terms of Service.--Section 209 of the Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1726) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended by 
striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Living Allowances.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide each Corps 
        participant with a living allowance in an amount established by 
        the Secretary.
          ``(2) Cost-of-living differential travel costs.--The 
        Secretary may--
                  ``(A) apply a cost-of-living differential to the 
                living allowances established under paragraph (1); and
                  ``(B) if the Secretary determines reimbursement to be 
                appropriate, reimburse Corps participants for travel 
                costs at the beginning and end of the term of service 
                of the Corps participants.
    ``(b) Terms of Service.--
          ``(1) In general.--Each Corps participant shall agree to 
        participate for such term of service as may be established by 
        the Secretary.
          ``(2) Consultations.--With respect to the Indian Youth 
        Service Corps, the term of service shall be established in 
        consultation with the affected Indian tribe or tribally 
        authorized organization.
    ``(c) Hiring Preference and Future Employment.--The Secretary may--
          ``(1) grant to a Corps participant credit for time served as 
        a Corps participant, which may be used toward future Federal 
        hiring;
          ``(2) provide to a former participant of the Corps or the 
        Indian Youth Service Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a 
        period of not more than 2 years after the date on which the 
        service of the candidate in the Corps or the Indian Youth 
        Service Corps was complete, if the candidate--
                  ``(A) has served a minimum of 960 hours on an 
                appropriate natural or cultural resources conservation 
                project that included at least 120 hours through the 
                Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps; and
                  ``(B) meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards for the position for which the 
                candidate is applying;
          ``(3) provide to a former resource assistant or consulting 
        intern noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more 
        than 2 years after the date on which the individual has 
        completed an undergraduate or graduate degree, respectively, 
        from an accredited institution, if the candidate--
                  ``(A) successfully fulfilled the resource assistant 
                or consulting intern program requirements; and
                  ``(B) meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards for the position for which the 
                candidate is applying; and
          ``(4) provide, or enter into contracts or cooperative 
        agreements with qualified employment agencies to provide, 
        alumni services such as job and education counseling, 
        referrals, verification of service, communications, and other 
        appropriate services to Corps participants who have completed 
        the term of service.''.
    (l) National Service Educational Awards.--Section 210 (16 U.S.C. 
1727) of the Act (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a) (as amended by subsection (a)(4)), in 
        the first sentence--
                  (A) by striking ``participant in the Corps or a 
                resource assistant'' and inserting ``Corps 
                participant''; and
                  (B) by striking ``participant or resource assistant'' 
                and inserting``Corps participant''; and
          (2) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) by striking, ``either participants in the Corps 
                or resource assistants'' and inserting ``Corps 
                participants''; and
                  (B) by striking ``or a resource assistant''.
    (m) Nondisplacement.--Section 211 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1728) (as 
redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended by striking ``activities 
carried out'' and all that follows through the period and inserting 
``Corps participants.''.
    (n) Funding.--Section 212 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1729) (as 
redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) in the second sentence, by striking 
                        ``non-federal sources'' and inserting ``sources 
                        other than the Secretary''; and
                          (ii) by inserting after the second sentence 
                        the following: ``The Secretary may pay up to 90 
                        percent of the costs of a project if the 
                        Secretary determines that the reduction is 
                        necessary to enable participation from a 
                        greater range of organizations or 
                        individuals.''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or Indian Youth 
                Service Corps'' after ``Corps'' each place it appears;
          (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Funds Available Under National and Community Service Act.--To 
carry out this Act, the Secretary shall be eligible to apply for and 
receive assistance under section 121(b) of the National and Community 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).''; and
          (3) in subsection (c)--
                  (A) by striking ``section 211'' and inserting 
                ``section 213''; and
                  (B) by inserting ``or Indian Youth Service Corps'' 
                after ``Corps''.
    (o) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 213 of the Act (16 
U.S.C. 1730) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended--
          (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.'';
          (2) by striking subsection (b); and
          (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

                                Purpose

    The purpose of H.R. 1612 is to improve and expand the 
activities carried out under the Public Lands Corps Act of 
1993.

                          Background and Need

    The Public Lands Corps was established by the Public Lands 
Corps Act of 1993 (Pub. L. 103-82; hereinafter ``the 1993 
Act'') to encourage young adults to carry out a wide range of 
service projects on public lands. The National Park Service has 
supported a wide range of Public Lands Corps projects since 
1997, but the authority was not used by other agencies. In 
2005, the 1993 Act was amended to expand the use of the Corps 
and the opportunities it promised for young people around the 
country. While youth conservation corps have a strong record of 
restoring, maintaining, and improving public lands in a cost-
effective and efficient manner working in partnership with 
Federal land management agencies, the 2005 amendments 
nevertheless had a limited effect on expanding the use of the 
program. However, interest in the program has continued to 
grow.
    Corps programs benefit young men and women by providing 
them with public service, service-learning, job training, and 
work opportunities. It also introduces a diversity of young 
people to careers in natural and cultural resource stewardship 
and public service by working directly with conservation 
professionals in land management agencies. This work also 
promotes the understanding of and appreciation for the 
agencies' missions, and provides potential pathways to Federal 
careers in the public land management agencies, which are in 
need of a new generation of employees.
    H.R. 1612 would expand and strengthen the 1993 Act by 
creating a ``consulting intern'' program for graduate students 
who help agencies carry out management analysis activities, 
facilitating career placement for corps participants, 
emphasizing partnerships and learning opportunities, 
authorizing additional financial and administrative support for 
corps participants, and establishing an Indian Youth Service 
Corps to be managed by tribally authorized organizations. H.R. 
1612 also diversifies the types of projects and activities that 
may be carried out by the corps, including such activities as 
historical and cultural research, museum curatorial work, oral 
history projects, documentary photography, public and web 
information and services, and visitor safety projects.

                          Legislative History

    H.R. 1612 was introduced by Representative Grijalva on 
March 19, 2009, and was passed by the House of Representatives, 
as amended, on March 20, 2010, by a vote of 288 to 116. Senator 
Bingaman introduced a similar bill (S. 1442) on July 10, 2009. 
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a hearing on 
the bills on October 29, 2009 (S. Hrg. 111-223).
    At its business meeting on July 21, 2010, the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources ordered H.R. 1612 favorably 
reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

                        Committee Recommendation

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open 
business session on July 21, 2010, by a voice vote of a quorum 
present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 1612, if amended 
as described herein.

                          Committee Amendment

    During its consideration of H.R. 1612, the Committee 
adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The 
amendment makes a number of technical and conforming amendments 
to H.R. 1612. The amendment also includes new provisions that 
authorize a program to establish an Indian Youth Service Corps 
and reduce the minimum age for participants to 15 years, 
eliminates provisions regarding green building standards, and 
modifies provisions regarding criminal history checks, cost-
sharing, and appropriations. The amendment is explained in 
detail in the section-by-section analysis below.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

    Section 1 provides the short title for the Act.
    Section 2 amends the short title of the 1993 Act and 
provides for references to the original short title to be 
considered references to the amended short title.
    Section 3 provides that ``the Act'' in the Public Lands 
Service Corps Act of 2010 refers to the Public Lands Service 
Corps Act of 1993.
    Section 4(a) of the Act makes several conforming amendments 
to the 1993 Act.
    Subsections (b), (c), and (d) amend the findings, purposes, 
and definitions, respectively, in the 1993 Act.
    Subsection (e) amends section 204 of the 1993 Act to add a 
Public Lands Service Corps program in the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration in the Department of Commerce to 
create Federal offices and coordinators for Corps activities, 
to establish an Indian Youth Service Corps liaison in the 
Department of the Interior, and to provide that individuals may 
enroll in the Corps for no more than a total of 2 years. It 
also eliminates explicit contracting authority for the Corps, 
emphasizing the use of cooperative agreements with qualified 
youth or conservation corps as the primary mechanism for 
carrying out the program; adds provisions for recruitment and 
training programs for Corps members; describes and expands the 
types of projects that may be carried out through the Corps; 
and clarifies that volunteers from other programs, such as the 
Retired Senior Volunteer Program, may participate in Corps 
projects. Finally, it adds a requirement for certain Corps 
participants, recipients of Corps program funding, and 
supervisors to submit to a criminal history check in accordance 
with section 189D(b) of the National and Community Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 12645g(b)), and precludes any individual under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary or that is formally connected to 
the Corps from enrolling, receiving funds, or having regular 
contact with Corps participants during their program activities 
if that individual refuses to submit to--or makes a false 
statement in connection with--a criminal history check, is 
registered--or is required to be registered--on a State sex 
offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry, or has 
been convicted of murder (as described in 18 U.S.C. 1111).
    Subsection (f) amends section 205 of the 1993 Act to 
clarify that the Secretaries may provide temporary housing and 
transportation for Corps participants, and may recruit mentors, 
supervisors, and others to help train and lead the Corps.
    Subsection (g) amends section 206 of the 1993 Act to add a 
``consulting intern'' program to the Corps to carry out 
management analysis for agencies in the three participating 
Departments. This provision builds on the National Park 
Service's successful use of consulting interns from business 
and public management graduate schools to help develop business 
plans for units of the National Park System.
    Subsection (h) is a technical amendment, which renumbers 
sections of the 1993 Act.
    Subsections (i) adds a new section 207 to the 1993 Act to 
authorize the Secretaries to enter into cooperative agreements 
and make competitive grants to Indian tribes to establish an 
Indian Youth Service Corps to focus on carrying out appropriate 
natural and cultural resources conservation projects on Indian 
lands.
    Subsection (j) adds a new section 208 to the 1993 Act to 
require the Secretaries to issue guidelines for the management 
of the Corps programs under their jurisdiction.
    Subsection (k) clarifies that the Secretaries may reimburse 
Corps participants for the cost of travel to and from the Corps 
program and modifies the Federal hiring provisions of the 1993 
Act.
    Subsections (l) and (m) make conforming changes to the 
National Service Educational Awards and non-displacement 
provisions of the 1993 Act, respectively.
    Subsection (n) amends the funding provisions of the 1993 
Act to permit qualified youth and conservation corps to use 
other Federal funds, such as those from the Corporation for 
National and Community Service, to meet their cost-sharing 
requirements, and to permit the Secretaries to reduce the cost-
sharing requirements from 25% to not less than 10% under 
certain circumstances.
    Subsection (o) amends the authorization of appropriations 
for the Corps. Originally, the 1993 Act implicitly authorized 
the appropriation of such sums as were necessary to carry out 
the Act. However, no funds were appropriated, and the 1993 Act 
subsequently was amended to explicitly authorize $12,000,000. 
Only a fraction of that amount has ever been appropriated, and 
H.R. 1612 would further amend the Act to return to a more 
simple authorization of such sums as are necessary to carry out 
the Act.

                   Cost and Budgetary Considerations

    The following estimate of costs of this measure has been 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:

H.R. 1612--Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2010

    Summary: H.R. 1612 would amend the Public Lands Corps Act 
of 1993, which governs programs that assist and employ young 
adults to work on lands managed by the Department of the 
Interior (DOI), the Forest Service, and other federal agencies. 
Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates 
that implementing the legislation would cost $136 million over 
the 2011-2015 period. Enacting H.R. 1612 would not affect 
revenues or direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures do not apply.
    H.R. 1612 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 1612 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 
(natural resources and environment).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                   -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      2011      2012      2013      2014      2015     2011-2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Authorization Level.....................        35        35        35        35        35         175
Estimated Outlays.................................        12        22        32        35        35         136
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 
1612 will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2011 and 
that the amounts estimated to be necessary will be appropriated 
for each year. Estimated outlays are based on historical 
spending patterns for the Public Lands Corps.
    In addition to changing the name of the Public Lands Corps 
(PLC) to the Public Lands Service Corps (PLSC), H.R. 1612 
would:
           Expand the program to include the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);
           Assist Indian tribes and related youth 
        groups with operation of an Indian Youth Service Corps;
           Require DOI to establish a department-level 
        office to coordinate PLSC programs among its various 
        bureaus;
           Emphasize that training for participants 
        should be provided at federal residential centers;
           Authorize federal appropriations to be used 
        for transportation subsidies; and
           Eliminate the PLC program's current 
        authorization ceiling of $12 million a year.

Public Lands Corps under current law

    The Public Lands Corps is a network of young men and women, 
most of whom are recruited by federal land management agencies 
through nonprofit organizations such as the Student 
Conservation Association and more than 100 local conservation 
service corps.
    Several agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, the 
National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), use 
members of the corps and students from other programs to build 
trails, perform maintenance, and carry out other projects in 
exchange for benefits such as training, living allowances, and 
medical care.
    Existing corps programs vary by agency and funding source. 
Currently, only some agencies receive specific appropriations. 
For example, the Forest Service receives appropriations for 
some PLC projects, but the funding (less than $3 million in 
2010) may only be used for hazardous fuels reduction. The NPS 
also receives funding for PLC projects, but usually that 
funding is derived from recreation fees that the agency is able 
to use without appropriation action. In addition, for the first 
time in 2010, the agency received $5 million to expand youth 
activities at parks. Other agencies work with student 
conservation groups using funds from their annual operating 
budgets.

Public Lands Service Corps under H.R. 1612

    H.R. 1612 would significantly expand PLC programs and 
change the corps' name to the Public Lands Service Corps. Under 
H.R. 1612, participants could receive classroom education, job 
training, transportation subsidies, housing during their time 
in the program, and hiring preferences upon completion of their 
tenure. The legislation also would expand the types of 
activities in which PLSC members could participate.
    In addition, H.R. 1612 would authorize DOI to provide 
grants and other assistance to Indian tribes and related youth 
organizations for a new Indian Youth Service Corps. Finally, 
the act would require criminal history checks for program 
applicants aged 18 or older.
    The effect of H.R. 1612 on discretionary spending is 
uncertain, largely because total costs would depend on how the 
Administration chooses to implement the legislation and on how 
much funding the Congress would provide in appropriation acts. 
Based on information provided by the affected agencies, CBO 
expects that all of those agencies, including the newly added 
NOAA, would take advantage of the authorities provided by the 
legislation.
    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the land management 
agencies and NOAA would, over the next five years, implement 
H.R. 1612 by expanding their use of federal-nonprofit 
partnerships. We expect that the affected agencies would need a 
total of about $35 million annually for this purpose. Such 
funding would allow agencies that have smaller programs 
(including the USFWS and BLM) to expand their programs, 
primarily by working with nonprofit corps in areas such as 
wildlife refuges and national monuments. The funding would also 
enable the Forest Service to expand the scope of its corps 
programs to encompass more activities such as trail 
construction and facility maintenance. This level of funding 
also would allow the NPS to expand its existing program--the 
largest of any of the agencies. Finally, this funding would 
allow DOI to provide grants to Indian tribes and other 
organizations for youth projects on tribal lands.
    The estimated annual cost of $35 million also includes 
funds to operate an office at DOI to coordinate the 
department's activities and to provide participants with extra 
training, allowances, and transportation subsidies, Finally, 
the estimate includes costs to provide criminal background 
checks on participants as required by the legislation. Some of 
the affected agencies already obtain such checks on 
participants that they hire directly, but most do not for 
participants hired through local youth groups. Amounts paid to 
those groups for public lands projects would probably have to 
increase by the amount needed for the background checks. The 
cost of preparing those checks is about $125 a person.
    CBO estimates that funding for the PLSC would grow after 
the first five years as agencies use the enhanced authorities 
contained in the legislation to recruit participants directly 
to their programs. CBO estimates that implementing the expanded 
program would require a significant increase in funding after 
2015.
    This estimate is based on information provided by the NPS, 
the Forest Service, BLM, and nonprofit organizations that 
operate local conservation corps.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1612 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or 
tribal governments.
    Previous CBO estimate: On October 6, 2009, CBO transmitted 
a cost estimate for H.R. 1612 as ordered reported by the House 
Committee on Natural Resources on June 10, 2009. The two 
versions of the legislation are similar, but as reflected in 
the estimate, implementing the Senate version would cost more 
because it would require an Indian grant program and security 
checks on participants for all programs.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Deborah Reis; Impact 
on state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrell; 
Impact on the private sector: Marin Randall.
    Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                      Regulatory Impact Evaluation

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out H.R. 1612.
    The Act is not a regulatory measure in the sense of 
imposing Government-established standards or significant 
economic responsibilities on private individuals and 
businesses.
    No personal information would be collected in administering 
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal 
privacy.
    Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the 
enactment of H.R. 1612, as ordered reported.

                   Congressionally Directed Spending

    H.R. 1612, as ordered reported, does not contain any 
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, 
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate.

                        Executive Communications

    The views of the Department of Agriculture and the 
Department of the Interior were included in testimony received 
by the Committee at the October 29, 2009, subcommittee hearing 
on S. 1442 and H.R. 1612, which is printed below:

 Statement of Robert G. Stanton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy 
           and Program Management, Department of the Interior

    Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear 
before your committee to present the views of the Department of 
the Interior on S. 1442, a bill that would amend the Public 
Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization of the 
Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce to 
provide service-learning opportunities on public lands, help 
restore the Nation's natural, cultural, historic, 
archaeological, recreational and scenic resources, train a new 
generation of public land managers and enthusiasts, and promote 
the value of public service.
    The Department strongly supports S. 1442. This bill would 
strengthen and facilitate the use of the Public Land Corps 
(PLC) program, helping to fulfill the vision that Secretary 
Salazar has for promoting ways to engage young people across 
America to serve their community and their country. On April 2, 
2009, the Department testified in support of the House 
companion bill, H.R. 1612. While we are strongly supportive of 
S. 1442, there are a few areas where we would like to suggest 
some changes. We commit to working with the committee to 
address these recommendations.


                engaging america's youth through service


    While there are other Federal programs that promote 
service, expanding the use of the Public Land Corps could be a 
particularly important part of our overall strategy for 
increasing opportunities and incentives for young people to 
become involved because this program serves other high-priority 
goals as well. Through it, we could reconnect young people with 
their natural environment and cultural heritage; make progress 
on energy conservation and the use of alternative sources of 
energy; and provide education, training, and career-building 
experiences--and a pathway to careers in Federal land 
management agencies, which are in serious need of new, younger 
employees.
    Secretary Salazar created the Youth in Natural Resources 
program during his tenure at the Colorado Department of Natural 
Resources as a way to educate thousands of young people about 
Colorado's natural resources, and he saw firsthand what a 
difference it made in their lives. From the day he was 
nominated as Secretary of the Interior, he has emphasized that 
it would be one of his top priorities to find more ways to 
introduce young Americans from all backgrounds to the beauty of 
our national parks, refuges, and public lands and to promote an 
ethic of volunteerism and conservation in the younger 
generation. Enactment of this legislation could pave the way to 
meeting one of the Secretary's top priority goals--to develop a 
21st Century Youth Civilian Conservation Corps.


                background on public land corps program


    The Department regards the Public Land Corps program as an 
important and successful example of civic engagement and 
conservation. Authorized by the National and Community Service 
Trust Act in 1993, the program uses non-profit organizations 
such as the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and other 
service and conservation corps organizations affiliated with 
the Corps Network as the primary partners in administering the 
Public Land Corps program. In addition, other non-profit youth 
organizations such as the YMCA also participate, as do local 
high schools and job-training youth organizations. The youth 
organizations assist the National Park Service (NPS) in its 
efforts to attract diverse participants to the parks by 
recruiting youth 16-25 years of age from all socioeconomic, 
cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
    The National Park Service makes extensive use of the PLC 
program. Projects are funded through recreational fee revenue, 
with the typical project receiving $25,000 from NPS plus a 25 
percent match from a partner organization. NPS spent $4.1 
million on the program in FY 2008, which funded about 1,500 
young men and women working on 178 projects at 99 park units. 
Most PLC projects at parks are designed to address maintenance 
and ecological restoration needs. The NPS also conducts other 
youth service and conservation projects at larger parks which 
are funded out of the parks' own budgets.
    NPS also spent more than $3 million on the Youth 
Conservation Corps program which is a summer employment program 
for 15-18 year old youth. NPS in fiscal year 2008 employed 833 
youth to work on conservation projects across the country. The 
YCC program has been administered by the National Park Service 
since 1974.
    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS) have a long history of employing youth 
service and conservation corps participants from the SCA, Youth 
Conservation Corps and other organizations for a wide array of 
projects related to public lands resource enhancement and 
facility maintenance. Though most corps are affiliated with the 
nationwide Corps Network, they are often administered at the 
state, rather than national level. For example, the FWS and SCA 
have partnered for over 20 years to offer work and learning 
opportunities to students. In FY 2007, 122 Conservation Interns 
served at 45 FWS sites in 24 states, contributing more than 
80,000 hours of work.
    The BLM has engaged the services of SCA interns for many 
years under a longstanding national assistance agreement, then 
under individual state agreements. In 2006, the last year of 
BLM's national agreement, a total of 116 SCA members served at 
16 BLM sites in eight states. The interns participated in a 
variety of conservation service activities such as recreation 
and river management, historic building restoration and 
maintenance, seed collection, and invasive species control. 
BLM's Salem Oregon District, for example, hires a mixture of 
Northwest Youth Corps, Clackamas County, and Columbia River 
Youth Corps members each year to perform a variety of 
activities such as trail maintenance and construction.
    The FWS manages 587 units of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System that cover over 150 million acres, as well as 70 
National Fish Hatcheries, which would directly benefit from 
programs authorized under S. 1442. National Wildlife Refuges 
and National Fish Hatcheries enjoy strong relationships with 
the local communities in which they are located, and are 
involved in many community-based projects that help maintain 
sustainable landscapes. The FWS's work is also supported by 
over 200 non-profit Friends organizations that assist in 
offering quality education programs, mentoring, and work 
experience for youth.
    In 2007, the FWS employed 496 Youth Conservation Corps 
enrollees and 177 individuals through the Student Conservation 
Association program. Last year, over 39,000 volunteers 
contributed their time and talents to a variety of programs 
including support for youth education projects. Over the past 
two years the FWS has provided funding for a YCC program 
involving the Mescalero Apache youth at the Mescalero Tribal 
Hatchery in New Mexico. The FWS has working relationships with 
numerous colleges and universities for students interested in 
pursuing careers in fish and wildlife management.


               the public lands service corps act of 2009


    S. 1442 would make several administrative and programmatic 
changes that, in our view, would strengthen and improve the 
Public Land Corps Act. These changes would encourage broader 
agency use of the program, make more varied opportunities 
available for young men and women, and provide more support for 
participants during and after their service. Appropriately, S. 
1442 would change the program's name to Public Lands Service 
Corps, reflecting the emphasis on ``service'' that is the 
hallmark of the program. President Obama is committed to 
providing young people with greater opportunities and 
incentives to serve their community and country. Through an 
enhanced Public Lands Service Corps, we would be taking a 
critical first step that direction.
    Key changes that the legislation would make to existing law 
include:
           Adding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, which administers national marine 
        sanctuaries, as an agency authorized to use the 
        program;
           Establishing an Indian Youth Corps so Indian 
        Youth can benefit from Corps programs based on Indian 
        lands, carrying out projects that their tribes and 
        communities determine to be priorities;
           Authorizing a departmental-level office at 
        the Department of the Interior to coordinate Corps 
        activities within the three land management bureaus;
           Requiring each of the three relevant 
        departments to undertake or contract for a recruiting 
        program for the Corps;
           Requiring each of the three relevant 
        departments to establish a training program for Corps 
        members, and identifying specific components the 
        training must include;
           Identifying more specific types of projects 
        that could be conducted under this authority;
           Allowing participants in other volunteer 
        programs to participate in PLC projects;
           Allowing agencies to make arrangements with 
        other Federal, state, or local agencies, or private 
        organizations, to provide temporary housing for Corps 
        members;
           Providing explicit authority for the 
        establishment of residential conservation centers, and 
        authorizing the Secretary to seek the assistance of the 
        Secretary of Energy in identifying and using solar and 
        other green building technologies that may be adapted 
        for these facilities;
           Authorizing agencies to recruit experienced 
        volunteers from other programs to serve as mentors to 
        Corps members;
           Adding ``consulting intern'' as a new 
        category of service employment under the PLC program;
           Allowing agencies to apply a cost-of-living 
        differential in the provision of living allowances and 
        to reimburse travel expenses;
           Allowing agencies to provide noncompetitive 
        hiring status for Corps members for two years after 
        completing service, rather than only 120 days, if 
        certain terms are met;
           Allowing agencies to provide job and 
        education counseling, referrals, and other appropriate 
        services to Corps members who have completed their 
        service; and
           Eliminating the $12 million authorization 
        ceiling for the program.
    We believe that the Department's program would benefit from 
enactment of this legislation. As noted above, most PLC 
projects at national parks are designed to address maintenance 
and ecological restoration needs, and those types of projects 
would continue to be done under S. 1442. However, this 
legislation specifies a broader range of potential projects, 
making it likely that Corps members could become involved in 
such varied activities as historical and cultural research, 
museum curatorial work, oral history projects and programs, 
documentary photography, public information and orientation 
services that promote visitor safety, and activities that 
support the creation of public works of art. Participants might 
assist employees in the delivery of interpretive or educational 
programs and create interpretive products such as website 
content, Junior Ranger program books, printed handouts, and 
audiovisual programs.
    PLC participants would also be able to work for a park 
partner organization where the work might involve sales, office 
work, accounting, and management, so long as the work 
experience is directly related to the protection and management 
of public lands. The NPS and the FWS have a large number of 
partner organizations that would be potential sponsors of young 
people interested in the type of work they might offer.
    An important change for the Department is the addition of 
specific authority for agencies to pay transportation expenses 
for non-residential Corps members. Transportation costs may be 
a limiting factor in program participation of economically 
disadvantaged young people.
    Another important change is the addition of ``consulting 
intern'' as a new category of service employment under the PLC 
program, expanding on the use of mostly college-student 
``resource assistants,'' provided for under existing law. The 
consulting interns would be graduate students who would help 
agencies carry out management analysis activities. NPS has 
successfully used business and public management graduate 
student interns to write business plans for parks for several 
years, and this addition would bring these interns under the 
PLC umbrella.
    The Public Lands Service Corps would also offer agencies 
the ability to hire successful corps members non-competitively 
at the end of their appointment, which would provide the agency 
with an influx of knowledgeable employees as well as career 
opportunities for those interested in the agencies' mission. 
Refuges and hatcheries, for example, are uniquely qualified to 
connect with local communities since the Service has so many 
refuges across the country that are located near smaller 
communities and can directly engage urban, inner city, and 
rural youth. For example, partnering academic institutions 
could offer educational programs to enhance the students' work 
experience, thereby providing orientation and exposure to a 
broad range of career options.
    The legislation would also give the Department's other 
bureaus that would utilize this program the authority to expand 
the scope of existing corps programs to reflect modern day 
challenges, such as climate change and add incentives to 
attract new participants, especially from underrepresented 
populations.
    An expanded Public Lands Service Corps program would 
provide more opportunities for thousands of young Americans to 
participate in public service while we address the critical 
maintenance, restoration, repair and rehabilitation needs on 
our public lands and gain a better understanding of the impacts 
of climate change on these treasured landscapes.


                     recommended changes to s. 1442


    While we are very supportive of S. 1442, there are a few 
areas we would like to suggest some changes. We would be happy 
to work with the committee to develop technical amendments and 
changes in the following areas:
     Cost sharing for nonprofit organizations 
contributing to expenses of resource assistants and consulting 
interns: Under current law in the case of resource assistants, 
and under S. 1442 in the case of consulting interns, sponsoring 
organizations are required to cost-share the expenses of 
providing and supporting these individuals from ``private 
sources of funding''--25 percent for resource assistants and 10 
percent for consulting interns. The administration recommends 
leveling this cost-requirement to 25 percent for both 
categories of participants with an additional provision to give 
agencies the ability to reduce the non-Federal contribution to 
no less than 10 percent, but only when the Secretary determines 
it is necessary to enable a greater range of organizations, 
such as smaller, community-based organizations that draw from 
low-income and rural populations, to participate in the PLSC 
program.
     Benefits for consulting interns: The Department 
recommends clarifying amendments to include consulting interns 
as the third type of corps member who are eligible for living 
allowances; national service educational awards and forbearance 
in the collection of Stafford loans. This change would allow 
all three types of corps members--PLSC participants, resource 
assistants, and consulting interns--to be treated equally for 
purposes of eligibility for living allowances and education 
benefits. We also suggest clarifying language to ensure that 
members of qualifying conservation and youth corps are treated 
as Corps participants. Existing law and the bill as introduced 
differentiate between Corps participants, who are hired 
directly by the agencies, and youth who are sponsored by other 
organizations.
     Hiring Preference: It is unclear whether resource 
assistance would qualify for the provision of credit for time 
served with the Public Lands Service Corps for future federal 
hiring. We recommend that this language be clarified to ensure 
resource assistants are made eligible for these benefits.
    Second, S. 1442 provides that former PLSC members would be 
eligible for noncompetitive hiring status for up to two years. 
The Administration opposes eligibility for up to two years 
because the service requirements for this program are minimal. 
Therefore, we recommend making eligibility status one year, 
which is consistent with other Government-wide, non-competitive 
appointment authorities based on service outside of the Federal 
government.
    The Department further suggests including language to 
ensure that time these former Corps members (both types) spent 
as full-time students does not accrue against the time period 
they have to use their noncompetitive hiring status. That way, 
college students who served in the Corps during the summer, for 
example, would be able to use their time period of 
noncompetitive status after they graduate from college.
    While we support the noncompetitive hiring authority for 
all the different types of PLSC participants, we recommend 
including language to ensure that the participants have 
documented work experience within a legitimate program in order 
to be eligible for this authority. In the case of youth serving 
on PLSC projects though outside organizations, this could be 
achieved by specifying that the participants need to achieve 
the requisite hours of work within qualified youth or 
conservation corps programs as defined in Section 203 of the 
Act.
     Agreements with Partners on Training and Employing 
Corps Members: Finally, we recommend striking the provision in 
S. 1442 that would allow PLSC members to receive federally 
funded stipends and other PLSC benefits while working directly 
for non-Federal third parties. The need for this language is 
unclear, since agencies already have flexibility in how they 
coordinate work with cooperating associations, educational 
institutes, friends groups, or similar non-profit partnership 
organizations. Yet, the language could raise unanticipated 
concerns over accountability, liability, and conflicts of 
interest. For example, this language could allow an individual 
to receive a federally funded stipend under a PLSC agreement, 
and then perform work for a different nonfederal group (such as 
a cooperating association) that is subject to agency oversight 
under different agreements. This language could blur the lines 
of responsibility that have been established in response to IG 
concerns over the management of cooperating associations and 
friends groups.
    Mr. Chairman, that concludes my remarks. I would be happy 
to answer any questions you or the other members of the 
subcommittee have.
                              ----------                              


Statement of Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest 
                   Service, Department of Agriculture

    Good afternoon Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Barrasso and 
members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to 
testify before you today on S. 1442, the Public Lands Service 
Corps Act of 2009.


                              introduction


    On April 2, 2009, the Department testified in strong 
support of H.R. 1612 at a hearing on the House of 
Representatives version of the current bill. The Department 
strongly supports S. 1442. This bill would strengthen and 
facilitate the use of the Public Lands Corps program, helping 
to fulfill the vision that Secretary Vilsack has for 
reconnecting people to the land by promoting ways to engage 
youth across America to serve their community and their 
country. We have much work to do in restoring our forests, some 
of which can be achieved through the robust partnerships that 
this bill creates.


                 public lands service corps act of 2009


    S. 1442 would strengthen and improve the Public Land Corps 
Act by making several administrative and programmatic changes 
that would encourage broader agency use of the program, as well 
as foster opportunities that are more varied for young men and 
women. The amendment would also enhance participant support for 
Corps enrollees during and after their service. Appropriately, 
S. 1442 would change the program's name to Public Lands Service 
Corps, reflecting an emphasis on ``service.''
    Most projects implemented by the Forest Service's 
Volunteer,\1\ Youth\2\ and Hosted Programs\3\ in the national 
forests and grasslands are designed to address needs for 
maintenance and ecological restoration, while providing a 
service-learning opportunity for the enrolled youth. We fully 
expect those types of projects would continue to be completed 
under S. 1442. However, this amendment specifies a broader 
range of potential projects, making it likely that Corps 
members would become involved with the varied activities of the 
Forest Service mission including the Deputy Areas for Forestry 
Research and Development, National Forest Systems, State and 
Private Forestry and Business Operations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Youth aged 15 to 18 e.g. YCC
    \2\Domestic and international
    \3\Conservation partnerships with non-governmental organizations
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


      forest service history and involvement with corps and youth


    Beginning in 1933 with Camp Roosevelt, the first Civilian 
Conservation Corps (CCC) camp located on the George Washington 
National Forest, the Forest Service has had a long and robust 
association with youth and young adult conservation corps. 
Indeed, the Forest Service Job Corps Program, authorized by 
Congress in 1964, is modeled after the CCC of the 1930(s). The 
Forest Service operates this program pursuant to an agreement 
with the Secretary of Labor.\4\ Since enactment of the Youth 
Conservation Corps Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-378), the Forest 
Service has sponsored the Youth Conservation Corps for young 
men and women age 16 through 18, who complete service-learning 
projects on National Forest System lands. Many current agency 
employees, inspired by their service-learning and association 
with the Forest Service, initiated their career aspirations 
through involvement with the Youth Conservation Corps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\Under the authority of Title 1-C of the Workforce Investment Act 
(WIA), which generally authorizes the Job Corps program, the Department 
of Labor transfers funds to the Forest Service to operate its Job Corps 
Centers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Department regards the Public Land Corps program as an 
important and successful example of civic engagement and 
conservation service for the Nation's youth. National Forest 
System lands are a place for Public Lands Service Corps 
participants to learn and practice an array of conservation, 
preservation, interpretation and cultural resource skills. 
Indeed, in forty-two states and Puerto Rico the Forest Service 
has already benefited greatly over the years from the service 
and volunteer work on National Forest System lands.
    One example, the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC), 
headquartered in Taos, NM, annually enrolls nearly 150 at-risk 
youth and has a long-standing partnership with the Carson 
National Forest. Through the Collaborative Forest Restoration 
Program (CFRP), authorized by Public Law 106-393, and designed 
to involve citizens and youth in the management and care of 
national forests and grasslands, 30 RMYC Corps members recently 
completed a three-year thinning project on the Carson National 
Forest. The purpose of the project was to reduce the risk of 
catastrophic wildfire, thereby making the area safer for homes 
and people. Throughout the project, Corps members received 
tangible training and experience. Many of the enrollees could 
go on to careers in forestry, wildlife and natural resource 
management.
    Our second example is from the summer of 2009. The Wyoming 
Conservation Corps (WCC), housed within the University of 
Wyoming's School of Environment and Natural Resources, engaged 
more than 40 young people to clear dead trees from trails and 
campgrounds on the Medicine Bow National Forest. The service 
work was performed to make trails and campgrounds safer for 
visitor use and enjoyment. Following their experience with WCC, 
many of these young people expressed an interest in pursuing 
careers in land and natural resource management.
    A third example is the Northwest Youth Corps. For over 20 
years, the non-profit, community-based organization in Eugene, 
OR, has been a partner with the Forest Service, Bureau of Land 
Management, and other natural resource and land management 
agencies. This collaboration has provided service-learning 
opportunities for over 10,000 youth.


                      implementation and expertise


    S. 1442 would grant the Secretary the discretion to 
establish residential conservation centers to include housing, 
food service, medical care, transportation, and other services 
associated with residential living arrangements. The Forest 
Service is uniquely situated to play a key role in the 
coordination and management of the residential conservation 
centers for the Public Lands Service Corps through its Job 
Corps Program. The Forest Service Job Corps Program would 
likely be the coordinating office for Public Lands Service 
Corps residential conservation centers in the Forest Service.
    The Forest Service Job Corps Program has the institutional 
capacity to operate residential facilities successfully. 
However, there are a number of implementation issues that need 
to be considered in establishing new residential conservation 
centers. These include the costs of operating and maintaining 
the facilities, potential liability issues, and questions about 
the impact on contract and labor laws and the need for a 
structured behavior management program to ensure the health and 
safety of students and staff. In implementing the residential 
living centers authorized by the act, we intend to work closely 
with the Department of Labor to ensure that any new 
responsibilities and activities undertaken by the Forest 
Service Job Corps Program will neither divert Job Corps 
resources nor detract from carrying out the existing Job Corps 
program mission. In addition, we would appreciate the 
opportunity to work with the sponsors and the Subcommittee to 
address these implementation issues in the bill.


                               conclusion


    In conclusion, the Department of Agriculture welcomes S. 
1442, which would increase the opportunity for Public Lands 
Service Corps members to leverage their education and work 
experience in obtaining permanent, full-time employment with 
Federal agencies. By completing service-learning projects in 
the Public Lands Corps, a skilled cadre of young and diverse 
natural resource professionals would be available to meet some 
of the staffing needs of agencies. Mr. Chairman and Members of 
the Committee this concludes my prepared statement. I am happy 
to answer any questions that you or Members of the Committee 
may have.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
the Act H.R. 1612 as ordered reported, are shown as follows 
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black 
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in 
which no change is proposed is shown in roman):

                     PUBLIC LANDS CORPS ACT OF 1993


         (Title II of the Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970)


          (Public Law 91-378, as amended by Public Law 103-82)


                         (16 U.S.C. 1721-1729)


       TITLE II--[PUBLIC LANDS CORPS] PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS

[SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    [This title may be cited as the ``Public Lands Corps Act of 
1993''.]

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCE.

    (a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Public 
Lands Service Corps Act of 1993''.
    (b) References.--Any reference contained in any law, 
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United 
States to the ``Public Lands Corps Act of 1993'' shall be 
considered to be a reference to the ``Public Lands Service 
Corps Act of 1993''.

SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
          (1) Conserving or developing natural and cultural 
        resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally 
        important lands and waters through the use of the 
        Nation's young men and women in a [Public Lands Corps 
        can benefit] conservation corps can benefit those men 
        and women by providing them with education and work 
        opportunities, furthering their understanding and 
        appreciation of [the natural and cultural] natural and 
        cultural resources, and providing a means to pay for 
        higher education or to repay indebtedness they have 
        incurred to obtain higher education while at the same 
        time benefiting the Nation's economy and its 
        environment.
          (2) Participants in conservation corps receive 
        meaningful education and training, and their experience 
        with conservation corps provides preparation for 
        careers in public service.
          (3) Young men and women who participate in the 
        rehabilitation and restoration of the natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic treasures of the United States will gain an 
        increased appreciation and understanding of the public 
        lands and heritage of the United States, and of the 
        value of public service, and are likely to become life-
        long advocates for those values.
          [(2)](4) Many facilities and natural, cultural, 
        historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic 
        resources located on eligible service lands are in 
        disrepair or degraded and in need of labor intensive 
        rehabilitation, restoration, and enhancement work which 
        cannot be carried out by Federal agencies at existing 
        personnel levels.
          [(3)](5) Youth conservation corps have established a 
        good record of restoring and maintaining these kinds of 
        facilities and resources in a cost effective and 
        efficient manner, especially when they have worked in 
        partnership arrangements with government land 
        management agencies.
          (6) The work of conservation corps can benefit 
        communities adjacent to public lands and facilities 
        through renewed civic engagement and participation by 
        corps participants and those they serve, improved 
        student achievement, and restoration and rehabilitation 
        of public assets.
        [(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title to--
          [(1) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate 
        conservation projects on eligible service lands where 
        such projects will not be performed by existing 
        employees;
          [(2) assist governments and Indian tribes in 
        performing research and public education tasks 
        associated with natural and cultural resources on 
        eligible service lands;
          [(3) expose young men and women to public service 
        while furthering their understanding and appreciation 
        of the Nation's natural and cultural resources;
          [(4) expand educational opportunities by rewarding 
        individuals who participate in national service with an 
        increased ability to pursue higher education or job 
        training; and
          [(5) stimulate interest among the Nation's young men 
        and women in conservation careers by exposing them to 
        conservation professionals in land managing agencies.]
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
          (1) to introduce young men and women to public 
        service while furthering their understanding and 
        appreciation of the natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of 
        the United States;
          (2) to facilitate training and recruitment 
        opportunities in which service is credited as 
        qualifying experience for careers in the management of 
        such resources;
          (3) to instill in a new generation of young men and 
        women from across the United States, including young 
        men and women from diverse backgrounds, the desire to 
        seek careers in resource stewardship and public service 
        by allowing them to work directly with professionals in 
        agencies responsible for the management of the natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic resources of the United States;
          (4) to perform, in a cost-effective manner, 
        appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
        projects where such projects are not being performed by 
        existing employees;
          (5) to assist State and local governments and Indian 
        tribes in performing research and public education 
        tasks associated with the conservation of natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic resources;
          (6) to expand educational opportunities on public 
        lands and by rewarding individuals who participate in 
        conservation corps with an increased ability to pursue 
        higher education and job training;
          (7) to promote public understanding and appreciation 
        of the missions and the natural and cultural resources 
        conservation work of the participating Federal agencies 
        through training opportunities, community service and 
        outreach, and other appropriate means; and
          (8) to create a grant program for Indian tribes to 
        establish the Indian Youth Service Corps so that Indian 
        youth can benefit from carrying out projects on Indian 
        lands that the Indian tribes and communities determine 
        to be priorities.

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this title:
          [(1) Appropriate conservation project.--The term 
        ``appropriate conservation project'' means any project 
        for the conservation, restoration, construction or 
        rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, or scenic resources.
          [(2) Corps and public lands corps.--The terms 
        ``Corps'' and ``Public Lands Corps'' mean the Public 
        Lands Corps established under section 204.]
          (1) Appropriate natural and cultural resources 
        conservation project.--The term ``appropriate natural 
        and cultural resources conservation project'' means any 
        project for the conservation, restoration, 
        construction, or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, 
        historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic 
        resources.
          (2) Consulting intern.--The term ``consulting 
        intern'' means a consulting intern selected under 
        section 206(a)(2).
          (3) Corps and public lands service corps.--The terms 
        ``Corps'' and ``Public Lands Service Corps'' mean the 
        Public Lands Service Corps established under section 
        204(a).
          (4) Corps participant.--The term ``corps 
        participant'' means an individual enrolled--
                  (A) in the Corps or the Indian Youth Service 
                Corps; or
                  (B) as a resource assistant or consulting 
                intern.
          [(3)](5) Eligible service lands.--The term ``eligible 
        service lands'' means public lands, Indian lands, and 
        Hawaiian home lands.
          [(4)](6) Hawaiian home lands.--The term ``Hawaiian 
        home lands'' means all lands given the status of 
        Hawaiian home lands under section 204 of the Hawaiian 
        Homes Commission Act, 1920 (42 Stat. 110), or under the 
        corresponding provision of the Constitution of the 
        State of Hawaii adopted under section 4 of the Act 
        entitled ``An Act to provide for the admission of the 
        State of Hawaii into the Union'', approved March 18, 
        1959 (Public Law 86-3; 73 Stat. 5).
          [(5)](7) Indian.--The term ``Indian'' means a person 
        who--
                  (A) is a member of an Indian tribe; or
                  (B) is a ``Native'', as defined in section 
                3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
                (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)).
          [(6)](8) Indian lands.--The term ``Indian lands'' 
        means--
                  (A) any Indian reservation;
                  (B) any public domain Indian allotments;
                  (C) any former Indian reservation in the 
                State of Oklahoma;
                  (D) any land held by incorporated Native 
                groups, regional corporations, and village 
                corporations under the Alaska Native Claims 
                Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
                  (E) any land held by dependent Indian 
                communities within the borders of the United 
                States whether within the original or 
                subsequently acquired territory thereof, and 
                whether within or without the limits of a 
                State.
          [(7)](9) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' 
        means an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized 
        group or community, including any Native village, 
        Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation, as 
        defined in subsection (c), (g), or (j), respectively, 
        of section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
        (43 U.S.C. 1602 (c), (g), or (j)), that is recognized 
        as eligible for the special programs and services 
        provided by the United States under Federal law to 
        Indians because of their status as Indians.
          (10) Indian youth service corps.--The term ``Indian 
        Youth Service Corps'' means a qualified youth or 
        conservation corps established under section 207 that--
                  (A) enrolls individuals between the ages of 
                15 and 25, inclusive, a majority of whom are 
                Indians; and
                  (B) is established pursuant to a tribal 
                resolution that describes the agreement between 
                the Indian tribe and the qualified youth or 
                conservation corps to operate an Indian Youth 
                Service Corps program for the benefit of the 
                members of the Indian tribe.
          [(8)](11) Priority project.--The term ``priority 
        project'' means an [appropriate conservation project] 
        appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
        projects conducted on eligible service lands to further 
        1 or more of the purposes of the Healthy Forests 
        Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), as 
        follows:
                  (A) To reduce wildfire risk to a community, 
                municipal water supply, or other at-risk 
                Federal land.
                  (B) To protect a watershed or address a 
                threat to forest and rangeland health, 
                including catastrophic wildfire.
                  (C) To address the impact of insect or 
                disease infestations or other damaging agents 
                on forest and rangeland health.
                  (D) To protect, restore, or enhance forest 
                ecosystem components to--
                          (i) promote the recovery of 
                        threatened or endangered species;
                          (ii) improve biological diversity; or
                          (iii) enhance productivity and carbon 
                        sequestration.
          [(9) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' means 
        any lands or waters (or interest therein) owned or 
        administered by the United States, except that such 
        term does not include any Indian lands.]
          (12) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' means 
        any land or water (or interest therein) owned or 
        administered by the United States, including those 
        areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and 
        their connecting waters, and submerged lands over which 
        the United States exercises jurisdiction, except that 
        such term does not include Indian lands.
          [(10)](13) Qualified youth or conservation corps.--
        The term ``qualified youth or conservation corps'' 
        means any program established by a State or local 
        government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, 
        or by a nonprofit organization that--
                  (A) is capable of offering meaningful, [full-
                time,] productive work for individuals between 
                the ages of [16] 15 and 25, inclusive, in a 
                natural or cultural resource setting on 
                eligible service lands;
                  (B) gives participants a mix of work 
                experience, basic and life skills, education, 
                training, and support services; [and]
                  (C) provides participants with the 
                opportunity to develop citizenship values and 
                skills through service to their community and 
                the United States[.]; and
                  (D) makes available for audit for each fiscal 
                year for which the qualified youth or 
                conservation corps receives Federal funds under 
                this Act, all information pertaining to the 
                expenditure of the funds, any matching funds, 
                and participant demographics.
          (14) Residential conservation centers.--The term 
        ``residential conservation centers'' means the 
        facilities authorized under section 205.
          [(11)](15) Resource assistant.--The term ``resource 
        assistant'' means a resource assistant selected under 
        section [206] 206(a)(1).
          [(12)]](16) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' 
        means--
                  (A) with respect to National Forest System 
                land, the Secretary of Agriculture; [and]
                  (B) with respect to Indian lands, Hawaiian 
                home lands, or land administered by the 
                Department of the Interior, the Secretary of 
                the Interior[.]; and
                  (C) with respect to the National Marine 
                Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other 
                coastal, estuarine, and marine habitats, and 
                other lands and facilities administered by the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration, the Secretary of Commerce. 
          [(13)](17) State.--The term ``State'' means any State 
        of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands 
        of the United States, American Samoa, and the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

SEC. 204. [PUBLIC LANDS CORPS] PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM.

    [(a) Establishment of Public Lands Corps.--There is hereby 
established in the Department of the Interior and the 
Department of Agriculture a Public Lands Corps.]
    (a) Establishment of Public Lands Service Corps.--There is 
established in the Department of the Interior, the Department 
of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a Public Lands 
Service Corps.
    (b) Establishment of Corps Office; Coordinators; Liaison.--
          (1) Establishment of offices.--
                  (A) Department of the interior.--The 
                Secretary of the Interior shall establish a 
                department-level office to coordinate the Corps 
                activities within the Department of the 
                Interior.
                  (B) Department of agriculture.--The Secretary 
                of Agriculture shall establish within the 
                Forest Service an office to coordinate the 
                Corps activities within that agency.
                  (C) Department of commerce.--The Secretary of 
                Commerce shall establish within the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an 
                office to coordinate the Corps activities 
                within that agency.
          (2) Establishment of coordinators.--The Secretary 
        shall designate a Public Lands Service Corps 
        coordinator for each agency under the jurisdiction of 
        the Secretary that administers Corps activities.
          (3) Establishment of liaison.--The Secretary of the 
        Interior shall establish an Indian Youth Service Corps 
        liaison that will--
                  (A) provide outreach to Indian tribes about 
                opportunities for establishing Corps and Indian 
                Youth Service Corps programs; and
                  (B) coordinate with the Tribal Liaison of the 
                Corporation for National Service to identify 
                and establish Corps and Indian Youth Service 
                Corps opportunities for Indian youth.
    [(b) Participants.--The Corps shall consist of individuals 
between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who are enrolled as 
participants in the Corps by the Secretary of the Interior or 
the Secretary of Agriculture. To be eligible for enrollment in 
the Corps, an individual shall satisfy the criteria specified 
in section 137(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 
1990. The Secretaries may enroll such individuals in the Corps 
without regard to the civil service and classification laws, 
rules, or regulations of the United States. The Secretaries may 
establish a preference for the enrollment in the Corps of 
individuals who are economically, physically, or educationally 
disadvantaged.]
    (c) Participants.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may enroll in the 
        Corps individuals who are--
                  (A) hired by an agency under the jurisdiction 
                of the Secretary to perform work authorized 
                under this Act; or
                  (B) members of a qualified youth or 
                conservation corps with which the Secretary has 
                entered into a cooperative agreement to perform 
                work authorized under this Act.
          (2) Resource assistants and consulting interns.--The 
        Secretary may also enroll in the Corps resource 
        assistants and consulting interns in accordance with 
        section 206(a).
          (3) Eligibility requirements.--To be eligible for 
        enrollment as a Corps participant, an individual 
        shall--
                  (A) be between the ages of 15 and 25, 
                inclusive; and
                  (B) satisfy the requirements of section 
                137(a)(5) of the National and Community Service 
                Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12591(a)(5)).
          (4) Terms.--Each Corps participant may be enrolled in 
        the Corps for a term of up to 2 years of service, which 
        may be served over a period that exceeds 2 calendar 
        years.
          (5) Civil service.--An individual may be enrolled as 
        a Corps participant without regard to the civil service 
        and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the 
        United States.
          (6) Preference.--The Secretary may establish a 
        preference for the enrollment as Corps participants 
        individuals who are economically, physically, or 
        educationally disadvantaged.
    [(c)](d) Qualified Youth or Conservation Corps.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to enter 
        into [contracts and] cooperative agreements with any 
        qualified youth or conservation corps to perform 
        [appropriate conservation projects] appropriate natural 
        and cultural resources conservation projects referred 
        to in [subsection (d)] subsection (f) of this section.
          [(2) Preference.--
                  [(A) In general.--For purposes of entering 
                into contracts and cooperative agreements under 
                paragraph (1), the Secretary may give 
                preference to qualified youth or conservation 
                corps located in a specific area that have a 
                substantial portion of members who are 
                economically, physically, or educationally 
                disadvantaged to carry out projects within the 
                area.
                  [(B) Priority projects.--In carrying out 
                priority projects in a specific area, the 
                Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, give preference to qualified youth 
                or conservation corps located in that specific 
                area that have a substantial portion of members 
                who are economically, physically, or 
                educationally disadvantaged.]
          (2) Recruitment.--The Secretary shall carry out, or 
        enter into cooperative agreements to provide, a program 
        to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing 
        Corps opportunities through high schools, colleges, 
        employment centers, electronic media, and other 
        appropriate institutions and means.
          (3) Preference.--In entering into cooperative 
        agreements under paragraph (1) or awarding competitive 
        grants to Indian tribes or tribally authorized 
        organizations under section 207, the Secretary may give 
        preference to qualified youth or conservation corps 
        that are located in specific areas where a substantial 
        portion of members are economically, physically, or 
        educationally disadvantaged.
    (e) Training.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        training program based at appropriate residential 
        conservation centers or at other suitable regional 
        Federal or other appropriate facilities or sites to 
        provide training for Corps participants.
          (2) Requirements.--In establishing a training program 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                  (A) ensure that the duration and 
                comprehensiveness of the training program shall 
                be commensurate with the projects Corps 
                participants are expected to undertake;
                  (B) develop department-wide standards for the 
                program that include training in--
                          (i) resource stewardship;
                          (ii) health and safety;
                          (iii) ethics for individuals in 
                        public service;
                          (iv) teamwork and leadership; and
                          (v) interpersonal communications;
                  (C) direct the participating agencies within 
                the Department of the Interior, the Forest 
                Service in the case of the Department of 
                Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration in the case of the 
                Department of Commerce, to develop agency-
                specific training guidelines to ensure that 
                Corps participants are appropriately informed 
                about matters specific to that agency, 
                including--
                          (i) the history and organization of 
                        the agency;
                          (ii) the mission of the agency; and
                          (iii) any agency-specific standards 
                        for the management of natural, 
                        cultural, historic, archaeological, 
                        recreational, and scenic resources; and
                  (D) take into account training already 
                received by Corps participants enrolled from 
                qualified youth or conservation corps.
    [(d)](f) Projects To Be Carried Out.--
          (1) [In general.--]Use of corps; projects.--[The 
        Secretary may utilize the Corps or any qualified youth 
        or conservation corps to carry out]
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary may use the 
                Corps to carry out, with appropriate 
                supervision and training, [appropriate 
                conservation projects] appropriate natural and 
                cultural resources conservation projects which 
                the Secretary is authorized to carry out under 
                other authority of law [on public lands] on 
                eligible service lands.
                  (B) Projects.--Appropriate natural and 
                cultural resources conservation projects 
                carried out under this section may include--
                          (i) protecting, restoring, or 
                        enhancing ecosystem components to 
                        promote species recovery, improve 
                        biological diversity, enhance 
                        productivity and carbon sequestration, 
                        and enhance adaptability and resilience 
                        of eligible service lands and resources 
                        to climate change and other natural and 
                        human disturbances;
                          (ii) promoting the health of eligible 
                        service lands, including--
                                  (I) protecting and restoring 
                                watersheds and forest, 
                                grassland, riparian, estuarine, 
                                marine, or other habitat;
                                  (II) reducing the risk of 
                                uncharacteristically severe 
                                wildfire and mitigating damage 
                                from insects, disease, and 
                                disasters;
                                  (III) controlling erosion;
                                  (IV) controlling and removing 
                                invasive, noxious, or nonnative 
                                species; and
                                  (V) restoring native species;
                          (iii) collecting biological, 
                        archaeological, and other scientific 
                        data, including climatological 
                        information, species populations and 
                        movement, habitat status, and other 
                        information;
                          (iv) assisting in historical and 
                        cultural research, museum curatorial 
                        work, oral history projects, 
                        documentary photography, and activities 
                        that support the creation of public 
                        works of art related to eligible 
                        service lands; and
                          (v) constructing, repairing, 
                        rehabilitating, and maintaining roads, 
                        trails, campgrounds and other visitor 
                        facilities, employee housing, cultural 
                        and historic sites and structures, and 
                        other facilities that further the 
                        purposes of this Act.
          (2) Visitor services.--The Secretary may--
                  (A) enter into or amend an existing 
                cooperative agreement with a cooperating 
                association, educational institution, friends 
                group, or similar nonprofit partner 
                organization for the purpose of providing 
                training and work experience to Corps 
                participants in areas such as sales, office 
                work, accounting, and management, provided that 
                the work experience directly relates to the 
                conservation and management of eligible service 
                lands; and
                  (B) allow Corps participants to help promote 
                visitor safety and enjoyment of eligible 
                service lands, and assist in the gathering of 
                visitor use data.
          (3) Interpretation.--The Secretary may permit Corps 
        participants to provide interpretation or education 
        services for the public under the direct and immediate 
        supervision of an agency employee--
                  (A) to provide orientation and information 
                services to visitors;
                  (B) to assist agency employees in the 
                delivery of interpretive or educational 
                programs where audience size, environmental 
                conditions, safety, or other factors make such 
                assistance desirable;
                  (C) to present programs that relate the 
                personal experience of the Corps participants 
                for the purpose of promoting public awareness 
                of the Corps, the role of the Corps in public 
                land management agencies, and the availability 
                of the Corps to potential participants; and
                  (D) to create nonpersonal interpretive 
                products, such as website content, Junior 
                Ranger program books, printed handouts, and 
                audiovisual programs.
          [(2)](4) Projects on indian lands.--[Appropriate 
        conservation projects] Appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation projects may also be carried out 
        under this title on Indian lands with the approval of 
        the Indian tribe involved and on Hawaiian home lands 
        with the approval of the Department of Hawaiian Home 
        Lands of the State of Hawaii.
          [(3)](5) Disaster prevention or relief project.--The 
        Secretary may authorize [appropriate conservation 
        projects] appropriate natural and cultural resources 
        conservation projects and other appropriate projects to 
        be carried out on Federal, State, local, or private 
        land as part of a Federal disaster prevention or relief 
        effort.
      [(e)](g) Preference for Certain Projects.--In selecting 
[appropriate conservation projects] appropriate natural and 
cultural resources conservation projects to be carried out 
under this title, the Secretary shall give preference to [those 
projects which] priority projects and other projects that--
          (1) will provide long-term benefits to the public;
          [(2) will instill in the enrollee involved a work 
        ethic and a sense of public service;]
          (2) will instill in Corps participants a work ethic 
        and a sense of public service;
          (3) will be labor intensive;
          (4) can be planned and initiated promptly; and
          (5) will provide academic, experiential, or 
        environmental education opportunities.
    [(f)](h) Consistency.--Each [appropriate conservation 
project] appropriate natural and cultural resources 
conservation project carried out under this title on eligible 
service lands shall be consistent with the provisions of law 
and policies relating to the management and administration of 
such lands, with all other applicable provisions of law, and 
with all management, operational, and other plans and documents 
which govern the administration of the area.
    (i) Other Participants.--The Secretary may allow volunteers 
from other programs administered or designated by the Secretary 
to participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this 
section.
    (j) Criminal History Checks.--
          (1) In general.--The requirements of section 189D(b) 
        of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
        U.S.C. 12645g(b)) shall apply to each individual age 18 
        or older seeking--
                  (A) to become a Corps participant;
                  (B) to receive funds authorized under this 
                Act; or
                  (C) to supervise or otherwise have regular 
                contact with Corps participants in activities 
                authorized under this Act.
          (2) Eligibility prohibition.--If any of paragraphs 
        (1) through (4) of section 189D(c) of the National and 
        Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645g(c)(1)-
        (4)) apply to an individual described in paragraph (1), 
        that individual shall not be eligible for the position 
        or activity described in paragraph (1), unless the 
        Secretary provides an exemption for good cause.

SEC. 205. [CONSERVATION] RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS AND PROGRAM 
                    SUPPORT.

    (a) Establishment and Use.--
          [(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish and use 
        conservation centers owned and operated by the 
        Secretary for--
                  [(A) use by the Public Lands Corps; and
                  [(B) the conduct of appropriate conservation 
                projects under this title.]
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may establish 
        residential conservation centers for--
                  (A) such housing, food service, medical care, 
                transportation, and other services as the 
                Secretary deems necessary for Corps 
                participants; and
                  (B) the conduct of appropriate natural and 
                cultural resources conservation projects under 
                this Act.
          [(2) Assistance for conservation centers.--The 
        Secretary may provide to a conservation center 
        established under paragraph (1) any services, 
        facilities, equipment, and supplies that the Secretary 
        determines to be necessary for the conservation 
        center.]
          [(3)](2) Standards[ for conservation centers].--The 
        Secretary shall--
                  (A) establish basic standards of health, 
                nutrition, sanitation, and safety for all 
                [conservation centers] residential conservation 
                centers established under paragraph (1); and
                  (B) ensure that the standards established 
                under subparagraph (A) are enforced.
          [(4)](3) Management.--As the Secretary determines to 
        be appropriate, the Secretary may enter into a contract 
        or other appropriate arrangement with [a State or local 
        government agency] another Federal agency, State, local 
        government, or private organization to provide for the 
        management of a [conservation center] residential 
        conservation center.
    (b) Logistical Support.--[The Secretary]
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may make arrangements 
        with the Secretary of Defense to have logistical 
        support provided by the Armed Forces to the Corps and 
        any [conservation center] residential conservation 
        center established under this section, where feasible. 
        Logistical support may include the provision of 
        temporary tent shelters where needed, transportation, 
        and residential supervision.
          (2) Temporary housing.--The Secretary may make 
        arrangements with another Federal agency, State, local 
        government, or private organization to provide 
        temporary housing for Corps participants as needed and 
        available.
          (3) Transportation.--In project areas where Corps 
        participants can reasonably be expected to reside at 
        their own homes, the Secretary may fund or provide 
        transportation to and from project sites.
    (c) Use of Military Installations.--The Secretary may make 
arrangements with the Secretary of Defense to identify military 
installations and other facilities of the Department of Defense 
and, in consultation with the adjutant generals of the State 
National Guards, National Guard facilities that may be used, in 
whole or in part, by the Corps for training or housing Corps 
participants.
    (d) Facilities.--The Secretary may, as an appropriate 
natural and cultural resources conservation project, direct 
Corps participants to aid in the construction or rehabilitation 
of residential conservation center facilities, including 
housing.
    (e) Mentors.--The Secretary may recruit from programs, such 
as Federal volunteer and encore service programs, and from 
veterans groups, military retirees, and active duty personnel, 
such adults as may be suitable and qualified to provide 
training, mentoring, and crew-leading services to Corps 
participants.
    [(d)](f) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide any 
services, facilities, equipment, supplies, technical 
assistance, oversight, monitoring, or evaluations [that are 
appropriate to carry out this title.] that the Secretary 
determines to be necessary for a residential conservation 
center.

SEC. 206. RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS.

    [(a) Authorization.--The Secretary is authorized to 
provide, individual placements of resource assistants with any 
Federal land managing agency under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary resource assistants to carry out research or resource 
protection activities on behalf of the agency. To be eligible 
for selection as a resource assistant, an individual must be at 
least 17 years of age. The Secretary may select resource 
assistants without regard to the civil service and 
classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 
States. The Secretary shall give a preference to the selection 
of individuals who are enrolled in an institution of higher 
education or are recent graduates from an institution of higher 
education, with particular attention given to ensure full 
representation of women and participants from historically 
black, Hispanic, and Native American schools.
    [(b) Use of Existing Nonprofit Organizations.--Whenever one 
or more existing nonprofit organizations can provide, in the 
judgment of the Secretary, appropriate recruitment and 
placement services to fulfill the requirements of this section, 
the Secretary may implement this section through such existing 
organizations. Participating nonprofit organizations shall 
contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting the 
resource assistants, through private sources of funding, at a 
level equal to 25 percent of the total costs of each 
participant in the Resource Assistant program who has been 
recruited and placed through that organization. Any such 
participating nonprofit conservation service organization shall 
be required, by the respective land managing agency, to submit 
an annual report evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the 
program, including the value of work contributed by the 
Resource Assistants, to the mission of the agency.]
    (a) Authorization.--
          (1) Resource assistants.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary may provide 
                individual placements of resource assistants 
                with any agency under the jurisdiction of the 
                Secretary that carries out appropriate natural 
                and cultural resources conservation projects to 
                carry out research or resource protection 
                activities on behalf of the agency.
                  (B) Eligibility.--To be eligible for 
                selection as a resource assistant, an 
                individual shall be at least 17 years of age.
                  (C) Preference.--In selecting resource 
                assistants for placement under this paragraph, 
                the Secretary shall give a preference to 
                individuals who are enrolled in an institution 
                of higher education or are recent graduates 
                from an institution of higher education, with 
                particular attention given to ensuring full 
                representation of women and participants from 
                Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
                Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribal 
                Colleges and Universities.
          (2) Consulting interns.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary may provide 
                individual placements of consulting interns 
                with any agency under the jurisdiction of the 
                Secretary that carries out appropriate natural 
                and cultural resources conservation projects to 
                carry out management analysis activities on 
                behalf of the agency.
                  (B) Eligibility.--To be eligible for 
                selection as a consulting intern, an individual 
                shall be enrolled in, and have completed at 
                least 1 full year at, a graduate or 
                professional school that has been accredited by 
                an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary 
                of Education.
    (b) Use of Existing Nonprofit Organizations.--
          (1) In general.--Whenever 1 or more nonprofit 
        organizations can provide appropriate recruitment and 
        placement services to fulfill the requirements of this 
        section, the Secretary may implement this section 
        through such organizations.
          (2) Expenses.--Participating organizations shall 
        contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting 
        the resource assistants or consulting interns from 
        sources of funding other than the Secretary, at a level 
        of not less than 25 percent of the total costs (15 
        percent of which may be from in-kind sources) of each 
        participant in the resource assistant or consulting 
        intern program who has been recruited and placed 
        through that organization.
          (3) Reporting.--Each participating organization shall 
        be required to submit an annual report evaluating the 
        scope, size, and quality of the program, including the 
        value of work contributed by the resource assistants 
        and consulting interns, to the mission of the agency.

SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.

    (a) Authorization of Cooperative Agreements and Competitive 
Grants.--The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative 
agreements with, or make competitive grants to, Indian tribes 
and qualified youth or conservation corps for the establishment 
and administration of Indian Youth Service Corps programs to 
carry out appropriate natural and cultural resources 
conservation projects on Indian lands.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive assistance 
under this section, an Indian tribe or a qualified youth or 
conservation corps shall submit to the Secretary an application 
in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require, including--
          (1) a description of the methods by which Indian 
        youth will be recruited for and retained in the Indian 
        Youth Service Corps;
          (2) a description of the projects to be carried out 
        by the Indian Youth Service Corps;
          (3) a description of how the projects were 
        identified; and
          (4) an explanation of the impact of, and the direct 
        community benefits provided by, the proposed projects.

SEC. 208. GUIDANCE.

    Not later than 18 months after funds are made available to 
the Secretary to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
guidelines for the management of programs under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary that are authorized under this 
Act.

SEC. [207] 209. LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERVICE.

    [(a) Living Allowances.--The Secretary shall provide each 
participant in the Public Lands Corps and each resource 
assistant with a living allowance in an amount established by 
the Secretary.
    [(b) Terms of Service.--Each participant in the Corps and 
each resource assistant shall agree to participate in the Corps 
or serve as a resource assistant, as the case may be, for such 
term of service as may be established by the Secretary 
enrolling or selecting the individual.
    [(c) Hiring.--The Secretary may--
          [(1) grant to a member of the Public Lands Corps 
        credit for time served with the Public Lands Corps, 
        which may be used toward future Federal hiring; and
          [(2) provide to a former member of the Public Lands 
        Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not 
        more than 120 days after the date on which the member's 
        service with the Public Lands Corps is complete.]
    (a) Living Allowances.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide each 
        Corps participant with a living allowance in an amount 
        established by the Secretary.
          (2) Cost-of-living differential; travel costs.--The 
        Secretary may--
                  (A) apply a cost-of-living differential to 
                the living allowances established under 
                paragraph (1); and
                  (B) if the Secretary determines reimbursement 
                to be appropriate, reimburse Corps participants 
                for travel costs at the beginning and end of 
                the term of service of the Corps participants.
    (b) Terms of Service.--
          (1) In general.--Each Corps participant shall agree 
        to participate for such term of service as may be 
        established by the Secretary.
          (2) Consultations.--With respect to the Indian Youth 
        Service Corps, the term of service shall be established 
        in consultation with the affected Indian tribe or 
        tribally authorized organization.
    (c) Hiring Preference and Future Employment.--The Secretary 
may--
          (1) grant to a Corps participant credit for time 
        served as a Corps participant, which may be used toward 
        future Federal hiring;
          (2) provide to a former participant of the Corps or 
        the Indian Youth Service Corps noncompetitive hiring 
        status for a period of not more than 2 years after the 
        date on which the service of the candidate in the Corps 
        or the Indian Youth Service Corps was complete, if the 
        candidate--
                  (A) has served a minimum of 960 hours on an 
                appropriate natural or cultural resources 
                conservation project that included at least 120 
                hours through the Corps or the Indian Youth 
                Service Corps; and
                  (B) meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards for the position for 
                which the candidate is applying;
          (3) provide to a former resource assistant or 
        consulting intern noncompetitive hiring status for a 
        period of not more than 2 years after the date on which 
        the individual has completed an undergraduate or 
        graduate degree, respectively, from an accredited 
        institution, if the candidate--
                  (A) successfully fulfilled the resource 
                assistant or consulting intern program 
                requirements; and
                  (B) meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards for the position for 
                which the candidate is applying; and
          (4) provide, or enter into contracts or cooperative 
        agreements with qualified employment agencies to 
        provide, alumni services such as job and education 
        counseling, referrals, verification of service, 
        communications, and other appropriate services to Corps 
        participants who have completed the term of service.

SEC. [208] 210. NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.

    (a) Educational Benefits and Awards.--If a [participant in 
the Public Lands Corps or a resource assistant] Corps 
participant also serves in an approved national service 
position designated under subtitle C of title I of the National 
and Community Service Act of 1990, the [participant or resource 
assistant] Corps participant shall be eligible for a national 
service educational award in the manner prescribed in subtitle 
D of such title upon successfully complying with the 
requirements for the award. The period during which the 
national service educational award may be used, the purposes 
for which the award may be used, and the amount of the award 
shall be determined as provided under such subtitle.
    (b) Forbearance in the Collection of Stafford Loans.--For 
purposes of section 428 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, in 
the case of borrowers who are [either participants in the Corps 
or resource assistants] Corps participants, upon written 
request, a lender shall grant a borrower forbearance on such 
terms as are otherwise consistent with the regulations of the 
Secretary of Education, during periods in which the borrower is 
serving as such a participant[ or a resource assistant].

SEC. [209] 211. NONDISPLACEMENT.

    The nondisplacement requirements of section 177 of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable 
to all [activities carried out by the Public Lands Corps, to 
all activities carried out under this title by a qualified 
youth or conservation corps, and to the selection and service 
of resource assistants.] Corps participants.

SEC. [210] 212. FUNDING.

    (a) Cost Sharing.--
          (1) Projects by qualified youth or conservation 
        corps.--The Secretary is authorized to pay not more 
        than 75 percent of the costs of any [appropriate 
        conservation project] appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation project carried out pursuant to 
        this title on public lands by a qualified youth or 
        conservation corps. The remaining 25 percent of the 
        costs of such a project may be provided from 
        [nonfederal sources] sources other than the Secretary 
        in the form of funds, services, facilities, materials, 
        equipment, or any combination of the foregoing. The 
        Secretary may pay up to 90 percent of the costs of a 
        project if the Secretary determines that the reduction 
        is necessary to enable participation from a greater 
        range of organizations or individuals. No cost sharing 
        shall be required in the case of any [appropriate 
        conservation project] appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation project carried out on Indian 
        lands or Hawaiian home lands under this title.
          (2) [Public lands] corps projects.--The Secretary is 
        authorized to accept donations of funds, services, 
        facilities, materials, or equipment for the purposes of 
        operating the [Public Lands Corps] Corps or Indian 
        Youth Service Corps and carrying out [appropriate 
        conservation projects] appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation projects by the Corps or Indian 
        Youth Service Corps. However, nothing in this title 
        shall be construed to require any cost sharing for any 
        project carried out directly by the Corps or Indian 
        Youth Service Corps.
    [(b) Funds Available Under National and Community Service 
Act.--In order to carry out the Public Lands Corps or to 
support resource assistants and qualified youth or conservation 
corps under this title, the Secretary shall be eligible to 
apply for and receive assistance under section 121(b) of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990.]
    (b) Funds Available Under National and Community Service 
Act.--To carry out this Act, the Secretary shall be eligible to 
apply for and receive assistance under section 121(b) of the 
National and Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).
    (c) Other Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under [section 211] section 213 
are in addition to amounts allocated to the [Public Lands 
Corps] Corps or Indian Youth Service Corps through other 
Federal programs or projects.

SEC. [211] 213. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    [(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this title $12,000,000 for each fiscal year, of which 
$8,000,000 is authorized to carry out priority projects and 
$4,000,000 of which is authorized to carry out other 
appropriate conservation projects.]
    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
    [(b) Disaster Relief or Prevention Projects.--
Notwithstanding subsection (a), any amounts made available 
under that subsection shall be available for disaster 
prevention or relief projects.]
    [(c)](b) Availability of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, amounts appropriated for any fiscal year to 
carry out this title shall remain available for obligation and 
expenditure until the end of the fiscal year following the 
fiscal year for which the amounts are appropriated.

                                  
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