
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC4951]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                 CHAPTER 66--DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICES
 
          SUBCHAPTER I--NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS
 
                Part A--Volunteers in Service to America
 
Sec. 4951. Congressional statement of purpose

    This part provides for the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) 
program of full-time volunteer service, together with appropriate powers 
and responsibilities designed to assist in the development and 
coordination of such program. The purpose of this part is to strengthen 
and supplement efforts to eliminate and alleviate poverty and poverty-
related problems in the United States by encouraging and enabling 
persons from all walks of life, all geographical areas, and all age 
groups, including low-income individuals, elderly and retired Americans, 
to perform meaningful and constructive volunteer service in agencies, 
institutions, and situations where the application of human talent and 
dedication may assist in the solution of poverty and poverty-related 
problems and secure and exploit opportunities for self-advancement by 
persons afflicted with such problems. In addition, the objectives of 
this part are to generate the commitment of private sector resources, to 
encourage volunteer service at the local level, and to strengthen local 
agencies and organizations to carry out the purpose of this part.

(Pub. L. 93-113, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 396; Pub. L. 
98-288, Sec. 2, May 21, 1984, 98 Stat. 189; Pub. L. 103-82, title III, 
Sec. 321, Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 899.)


                               Amendments

    1993--Pub. L. 103-82 amended last sentence generally. Prior to 
amendment last sentence read as follows: ``In addition the objective of 
this part is to generate the commitment of private sector resources and 
to encourage volunteer service at the local level to carry out the 
purposes set forth in this section.''
    1984--Pub. L. 98-288, in second sentence, inserted ``and alleviate'' 
after ``eliminate'', struck out ``human, social, and environmental'' 
after ``poverty-related'', inserted ``, all geographical areas,'' after 
``all walks of life'' and ``low-income individuals,'' before 
``elderly'', and inserted at end ``In addition the objective of this 
part is to generate the commitment of private sector resources and to 
encourage volunteer service at the local level to carry out the purposes 
set forth in this section.''


                    Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

    Section 392 of title III of Pub. L. 103-82 provided that: ``This 
subtitle [subtitle B (Secs. 311-392) of title III of Pub. L. 103-82, 
enacting sections 5028, 5028a, and 5065 of this title, amending this 
section, sections 4952 to 4955, 4957, 4959, 4960, 4971 to 4973, 4992, 
4993, 5000, 5001, 5011, 5013, 5021, 5024 to 5026, 5041 to 5044, 5055, 
5057, 5062, 5081, 5082, and 5084 of this title, and sections 8143, 8332, 
8334, 8411, and 8422 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, 
repealing sections 4974, 4994, 5012, 5047, 5060, and 5091 to 5091n of 
this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 4950 and 
4952 of this title and section 8332 of Title 5, and amending provisions 
set out as notes under sections 4950 and 5001 of this title] shall 
become effective on October 1, 1993.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 4953 of this title.
