
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-117 Section 1301(a)]
[CITE: 42USC12501]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
               CHAPTER 129--NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
 
Sec. 12501. Findings and purpose


(a) Findings

    The Congress finds the following:
        (1) Throughout the United States, there are pressing unmet 
    human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs.
        (2) Americans desire to affirm common responsibilities and 
    shared values, and join together in positive experiences, that 
    transcend race, religion, gender, age, disability, region, income, 
    and education.
        (3) The rising costs of postsecondary education are putting 
    higher education out of reach for an increasing number of citizens.
        (4) Americans of all ages can improve their communities and 
    become better citizens through service to the United States.
        (5) Nonprofit organizations, local governments, States, and the 
    Federal Government are already supporting a wide variety of national 
    service programs that deliver needed services in a cost-effective 
    manner.
        (6) Residents of low-income communities, especially youth and 
    young adults, can be empowered through their service, and can help 
    provide future community leadership.

(b) Purpose

    It is the purpose of this chapter to--
        (1) meet the unmet human, educational, environmental, and public 
    safety needs of the United States, without displacing existing 
    workers;
        (2) renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of 
    community throughout the United States;
        (3) expand educational opportunity by rewarding individuals who 
    participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue 
    higher education or job training;
        (4) encourage citizens of the United States, regardless of age, 
    income, or disability, to engage in full-time or part-time national 
    service;
        (5) reinvent government to eliminate duplication, support 
    locally established initiatives, require measurable goals for 
    performance, and offer flexibility in meeting those goals;
        (6) expand and strengthen existing service programs with 
    demonstrated experience in providing structured service 
    opportunities with visible benefits to the participants and 
    community;
        (7) build on the existing organizational service infrastructure 
    of Federal, State, and local programs and agencies to expand full-
    time and part-time service opportunities for all citizens; and
        (8) provide tangible benefits to the communities in which 
    national service is performed.

(Pub. L. 101-610, Sec. 2, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3129; Pub. L. 103-82, 
Sec. 2(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 787.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original ``this 
Act'', meaning Pub. L. 101-610, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3127, as 
amended, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out 
below and Tables.


                               Amendments

    1993--Pub. L. 103-82 amended section generally, substituting 
provisions relating to findings and purposes for former provisions 
setting forth the purposes of this chapter.


                      Short Title of 1994 Amendment

    Pub. L. 103-304, Sec. 1, Aug. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 1565, provided 
that: ``This Act [amending sections 4953, 5024, 12591, 12602, 12615, 
12619, 12622, 12651d, 12653, and 12655n of this title and enacting 
provisions set out as a note under section 4953 of this title] may be 
cited as the `King Holiday and Service Act of 1994'.''


                      Short Title of 1993 Amendment

    Section 1(a) of Pub. L. 103-82 provided that: ``This Act [see Tables 
for classification] may be cited as the `National and Community Service 
Trust Act of 1993'.''


                      Short Title of 1992 Amendment

    Pub. L. 102-384, Sec. 1, Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1455, provided 
that: ``This Act [amending sections 12511, 12522, 12523, 12525, 12526, 
12541, 12550, 12612, 12614, 12615, 12622, 12639, 12651, and 12681 of 
this title] may be cited as the `National and Community Service 
Technical Amendment Act of 1992'.''


                      Short Title of 1991 Amendment

    Pub. L. 102-10, Sec. 1, Mar. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 29, provided that: 
``This Act [enacting section 12645 of this title, amending sections 
5091m, 12511, 12521, 12522, 12524, 12527, 12531, 12542 to 12544, 12548, 
12553, 12575, 12576, 12602, 12638, and 12651 of this title, and 
repealing section 12556 of this title] may be cited as the `National and 
Community Service Technical Amendments Act of 1991'.''


                               Short Title

    Section 1(a) of Pub. L. 101-610 provided that: ``This Act [enacting 
this chapter, sections 5091 to 5091n of this title, and section 2452a of 
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, amending sections 1018c, 
1018e, 1070a-6, 1087vv, 1092, and 1092b of Title 20, Education, and 
former section 546 of Title 45, Railroads, and enacting provisions set 
out as notes under this section and section 24301 of Title 49, 
Transportation] may be cited as the `National and Community Service Act 
of 1990'.''
    Section 110 of subtitle B (Secs. 110-118) of title I of Pub. L. 101-
610, which provided that such subtitle (enacting former part B 
(Secs. 12521-12531) of subchapter I of this chapter) be cited as the 
``Serve-America: The Community Service, Schools and Service-Learning Act 
of 1990'', was repealed by Pub. L. 103-82, title I, Sec. 103(a)(2), 
Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 825.
    Section 199 [formerly 120] of subtitle I (Secs. 199-199O) [formerly 
subtitle C (Secs. 120-136)] of title I of Pub. L. 101-610, as renumbered 
by Pub. L. 103-82, title I, Sec. 101(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 788, 
provided that: ``This subtitle [enacting division I (formerly part C) of 
subchapter I of this chapter] may be cited as the `American Conservation 
and Youth Service Corps Act of 1990'.''
    Section 140 of subtitle D (Secs. 140-150) of title I of Pub. L. 101-
610, which provided that such subtitle (enacting former part D 
(Secs. 12571-12580) of subchapter I of this chapter) be cited as the 
``National and Community Service Act'', was omitted in the general 
amendment of part D (now division D) by Pub. L. 103-82, title I, 
Sec. 102(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 816.
    Section 301 of title III of Pub. L. 101-610 provided that: ``This 
title [enacting subchapter II of this chapter] may be cited as `The 
Points of Light Foundation Act'.''


                    Compliance With Buy American Act

    Section 501 of Pub. L. 103-82 provided that: ``No funds appropriated 
pursuant to this Act [see Tables for classification] (including the 
amendments made by this Act) may be expended by an entity unless the 
entity agrees that in expending the assistance the entity will comply 
with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c 
[41 U.S.C. 10a, 10b, former 10b-1], popularly known as the `Buy American 
Act').''


             Sense of Congress; Requirement Regarding Notice

    Section 502 of Pub. L. 103-82 provided that:
    ``(a) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products.--In the case 
of any equipment or product that may be authorized to be purchased with 
financial assistance provided under this Act [see Tables for 
classification] (including the amendments made by this Act), it is the 
sense of the Congress that entities receiving such assistance should, in 
expending the assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and 
products.
    ``(b) Notice to Recipients of Assistance.--In providing financial 
assistance under this Act (including the amendments made by this Act), 
the Secretary of Education shall provide to each recipient of the 
assistance a notice describing the statement made in subsection (a) by 
the Congress.''


Prohibition of Contracts With Persons Falsely Labeling Products as Made 
                               in America

    Section 503 of Pub. L. 103-82 provided that: ``If it has been 
finally determined by a court or Federal agency that any person 
intentionally affixed a label bearing a `Made in America' inscription, 
or any inscription with the same meaning, to any product sold in or 
shipped to the United States that is not made in the United States, the 
person shall be ineligible to receive any contract or subcontract made 
with funds appropriated to carry out this Act, pursuant to the 
debarment, suspension, and ineligibility procedures described in 
sections 9.400 through 9.409 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations.''
