Service Starts At Home Act

Student volunteers could earn $1,000 to $3,000 a year for college, plus new paid internships in local government

More about this bill

If you are a high school senior or college student who volunteers, you could win $1,000 to $3,000 a year for college. You need at least 100 hours of volunteer work in the past year to apply. More hours earn a bigger award. The work must be unpaid and done for a government or nonprofit group. Religious teaching, worship, political lobbying, and court-ordered service do not count. Neither does service done mainly for your own family. Each award lasts one year, and you can get it for no more than four years in total. To renew, you must stay in good standing in college and log 100 more hours, as funds allow. Students who are renewing get paid first. The money can only pay college costs, like tuition, books, food, and housing, at public or nonprofit schools. Your state would run these scholarships, but only if it applies. The Education Department would split the money among those states based on public school enrollment. The Education Secretary could also hold back up to 20% to pay extra awards straight to students. The Secretary would set those amounts and favor students who got no state award. States, cities, counties, and tribes could also win grants to hire high school and college students as paid interns in local government. Each one would set the pay. They would try to help interns who need child care or rides, such as with flexible hours or working from home. The Secretary must also honor schools, school districts, and colleges for their volunteer and community service. The bill allows up to $100 million a year for the scholarships. It allows $50 million a year for the internships. Both amounts cover fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Both programs would start within a year after the bill becomes law.