UNITE Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6560 To mobilize individuals in the United States in the fight against coronavirus by expanding volunteer opportunities in AmeriCorps, expanding employ- ment opportunities at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and utilizing the expertise of Peace Corps volunteer leaders whose service ended on March 15, 2020, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 21, 2020 Mr. GARAMENDI (for himself, Mr. RUSH, Ms. HAALAND, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. CASTEN of Illinois, and Ms. KUSTER of New Hamp- shire) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Transpor- tation and Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subse- quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To mobilize individuals in the United States in the fight against coronavirus by expanding volunteer opportunities in AmeriCorps, expanding employment opportunities at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and uti- lizing the expertise of Peace Corps volunteer leaders whose service ended on March 15, 2020, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6560 IH SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Undertaking National 2 Initiatives to Tackle Epidemic Act of 2020’’ or the 3 ‘‘UNITE Act of 2020’’. 4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 5 Congress makes the following findings: 6 (1) The outbreak of the novel coronavirus, 7 SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID–19 (referred to 8 in this Act as the ‘‘coronavirus’’), has disrupted the 9 lives of all individuals in the United States and re- 10 quired enormous sacrifice. In following the guidance 11 of public health officials, individuals in the United 12 States have and can continue to play a key role in 13 defeating their common, invisible enemy. 14 (2) The Corporation for National and Commu- 15 nity Service (referred to in this Act as ‘‘CNCS’’), 16 through the health, disaster, and poverty services 17 administered by the CNCS under the 3 flagship 18 AmeriCorps programs (AmeriCorps VISTA, 19 AmeriCorps NCCC, and AmeriCorps State and Na- 20 tional Volunteers), is uniquely positioned to aid 21 frontline workers and communities most impacted by 22 the coronavirus public health emergency if the Presi- 23 dent of the United States fully mobilizes those 3 24 programs. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6560 IH (3) The Federal Emergency Management Agen- 1 cy (referred to in this section as ‘‘FEMA’’), tasked 2 with leading aspects of the whole-of-government re- 3 sponse to the coronavirus outbreak, is reportedly 4 understaffed of those frontline workers that are es- 5 sential to responding to the public health emergency. 6 (4) On March 15, 2020, the Peace Corps invol- 7 untarily ended the service of approximately 7,300 8 volunteers. Many of them acquired public health 9 skills in countries abroad, which may also be applied 10 to further service in AmeriCorps, service in FEMA, 11 or continuing service in the Peace Corps once oper- 12 ations of the Peace Corps are to resume. 13 SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 14 It is the sense of the House of Representatives that— 15 (1) the President should fully utilize the com- 16 petencies of the Federal Government workforce to 17 battle the outbreak of coronavirus, the worst global 18 health emergency the United States has faced in a 19 century, as well as make available expanded opportu- 20 nities for individuals in the United States desiring to 21 serve their country in its time of need; 22 (2) the President should elevate the role of 23 CNCS within the whole-of-government response to 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 6560 IH the coronavirus outbreak, including by urging its 1 Chief Executive Officer to— 2 (A) in cooperation with the White House 3 Coronavirus Task Force, take steps to actively 4 encourage volunteerism and specifically encour- 5 age individuals in the United States to serve as 6 a volunteer in an AmeriCorps program; and 7 (B) prioritize AmeriCorps grants that pro- 8 vide assistance to those most impacted by the 9 coronavirus public health emergency and recruit 10 the maximum number of volunteers authorized 11 by law, particularly focusing on the recently un- 12 employed; 13 (3) the United States should expand the Cadre 14 of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees (CORE) 15 program, administered by the Federal Emergency 16 Management Agency, to enlist individuals in the 17 United States to solve public health and supply-man- 18 agement challenges related to the coronavirus out- 19 break, as well as related to wildfires, hurricanes, and 20 other disasters; and 21 (4) bolstering the number full-time positions at 22 the Federal Emergency Management Agency will 23 also expand national service opportunities for quali- 24 fied individuals in the United States who have be- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 6560 IH come unemployed or underemployed as a result of 1 the coronavirus outbreak, including the approxi- 2 mately 7,300 Peace Corps volunteers whose service 3 ended on March 15, 2020. 4 SEC. 4. MOBILIZING PROGRAMS IN THE CORONAVIRUS 5 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. 6 (a) PRIORITIZING CERTAIN AGREEMENTS.— 7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any provi- 8 sion of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 9 (42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.) or the National and Com- 10 munity Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et 11 seq.), the Chief Executive Officer of CNCS shall, for 12 the period described in paragraph (2), prioritize ex- 13 isting agreements, or enter into new agreements, 14 with public and private nonprofit organizations, in 15 consultation with the Secretary of Health and 16 Human Services, the Director of the Centers for 17 Disease Control and Prevention, the Administrator 18 of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and 19 State governments, that will direct volunteers in pro- 20 grams administered by CNCS to assignments that 21 assist those individuals most impacted by the 22 coronavirus public health emergency, including as- 23 signments— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:04 Apr 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 6560 IH (A) providing support services to veterans, 1 homeless populations, the elderly, and other in- 2 dividuals who may be most vulnerable during 3 the coronavirus public health emergency; 4 (B) supporting health care professionals 5 and related positions; 6 (C) offering before- and after-school tutor- 7 ing and instruction for children in low-income 8 areas, including through remote learning; 9 (D) enabling children to access remote 10 learning by performing technology consults for 11 their families remotely and at home; and 12 (E) performing other functions consistent 13 with addressing the coronavirus public health 14 emergency. 15 (2) PERIOD.—The period described in this 16 paragraph— 17 (A) shall begin on the date of enactment of 18 this Act; and 19 (B) shall end— 20 (i) not earlier than the date of the 21 conclusion of the coronavirus public health 22 emergency; and 23 (ii) not later than 2 years after the 24 conclusion of such emergency. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 6560 IH (b) AUTHORIZATION FOR ADDITIONAL RECRUIT- 1 MENT OF AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS.— 2 (1) IN GENERAL.— 3 (A) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF POSI- 4 TIONS.—Section 121(f)(1)(B) of the National 5 and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 6 12571(f)(1)(B)) is amended— 7 (i) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 8 the end; 9 (ii) in clause (vii), by adding ‘‘and’’ at 10 the end; and 11 (iii) by adding at the end the fol- 12 lowing: 13 ‘‘(viii) 500,000 for each of fiscal years 14 2020 through 2022;’’. 15 (B) REAUTHORIZATIONS.— 16 (i) AMERICORPS VISTA.—Section 17 501(a)(1) of the Domestic Volunteer Serv- 18 ice Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5081(a)(1)) is 19 amended by striking ‘‘$100,000,000 for 20 fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be 21 necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 22 through 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘such sums 23 as may be necessary for each of fiscal 24 years 2020 through 2022’’. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 6560 IH (ii) AMERICORPS NCCC.—Section 1 501(a)(1) of the National and Community 2 Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 3 12681(a)(1)) is amended— 4 (I) by striking clauses (i) and 5 (ii); and 6 (II) by striking ‘‘title I—’’ and 7 inserting ‘‘title I, such sums as may 8 be necessary for each of fiscal years 9 2020 through 2022.’’. 10 (iii) AMERICORPS STATE AND NA- 11 TIONAL VOLUNTEERS.—Section 501(a)(2) 12 of the National and Community Service 13 Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(2)) is 14 amended by striking ‘‘2010 through 2014’’ 15 and inserting ‘‘2020 through 2022’’. 16 (2) REQUIREMENT.—To fulfill the purposes of 17 subsection (a), the Chief Executive Officer of CNCS 18 shall expedite the recruitment and selection of volun- 19 teers who are— 20 (A) unemployed veterans; 21 (B) individuals who become unemployed or 22 underemployed as a result of the coronavirus 23 public health emergency; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 6560 IH (C) AmeriCorps members, or Peace Corps 1 volunteers, who have had their service ended as 2 a result of such emergency. 3 (c) BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 4 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 180 days thereafter, the Chief Executive Officer of CNCS 6 shall submit a report, to the Committee on Health, Edu- 7 cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Com- 8 mittee on Education and Labor of the House of Rep- 9 resentatives, on the operating plan of the CNCS to carry 10 out subsections (a) and (b), including the amendments 11 under subsection (b). 12 (d) ENHANCED STIPEND.—Section 105(b)(2)(A) of 13 the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 14 4955(b)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows: 15 ‘‘(A) beginning for fiscal year 2020, the min- 16 imum allowance is not less than an amount equal to 17 not less than 200 percent of the income official pov- 18 erty line (as defined by the Office of Management 19 and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with 20 section 673(2) of the Community Services Block 21 Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) applicable to a fam- 22 ily of 1; and’’. 23 (e) CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DE- 24 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘coronavirus public 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 6560 IH health emergency’’ means the public health emergency de- 1 clared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services 2 under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 3 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to 4 COVID–19. 5 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION FOR SURGE CAPACITY FOR FED- 6 ERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. 7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 8 Emergency Management Agency shall appoint, admin- 9 ister, and expedite the training of an additional 10,000 10 Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees, under 11 the Response and Recover Directorate (referred to in this 12 section as ‘‘CORE employees’’) under the Office of Re- 13 sponse and Recovery, above the level of such employees 14 in fiscal year 2019, to address the coronavirus public 15 health emergency. 16 (b) DETAIL OF CORE EMPLOYEES.—A CORE em- 17 ployee may be detailed, through mutual agreement, to any 18 Federal agency that is a participating agency in the White 19 House Coronavirus Task Force, to fulfill an assignment 20 for the Task Force, including— 21 (1) logistical support for the supply chain of 22 medical equipment; 23 (2) tracing contacts of infected individuals and 24 their status while being quarantined; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 6560 IH (3) providing nutritional assistance to vulner- 1 able populations; and 2 (4) administrative duties such as staffing call 3 centers to disseminate public-health related informa- 4 tion to the public. 5 (c) REQUIREMENT.—As soon as feasible, the Admin- 6 istrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 7 shall make public job announcements to fill the CORE em- 8 ployee positions authorized under subsection (a), which 9 shall prioritize hiring from among the following groups of 10 individuals: 11 (1) Unemployed veterans of the Armed Forces. 12 (2) Individuals who have become unemployed or 13 underemployed as a result of the coronavirus public 14 health emergency. 15 (3) AmeriCorps members, or Peace Corps Vol- 16 unteers, who have had their service ended as a result 17 of the coronavirus public health emergency. 18 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 19 are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of 20 the Federal Emergency Management Agency such sums 21 as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 22 2022 to carry out this section. 23 (e) CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DE- 24 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘coronavirus public 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:16 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6560.IH H6560 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 6560 IH health emergency’’ has the meaning given the term in sec- 1 tion 4(e). 2 SEC. 6. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER REENROLLMENT ELIGI- 3 BILITY AND TRANSITION ASSISTANCE. 4 (a) ASSISTANCE FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS 5 WHOSE SERVICE ENDED INVOLUNTARILY.—Notwith- 6 standing section 5 of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 7 2504), with respect to all of the Peace Corps volunteers 8 whose service ended involuntarily on March 15, 2020 (or 9 [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]