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. Awards can renew for up to four years if you stay in good standing and keep volunteering, as long as money allows. 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. Religious teaching, worship, political lobbying, and court-ordered service do not count as volunteer hours. The Department of Education could also keep up to 20% of the scholarship money for its own extra awards, paid straight to students. That would leave less for states to hand out. Students who did not get a state scholarship would come first for these extra awards. 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 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. The Department of Education would hand out the money for both. It would also honor schools, school districts, and colleges for their volunteer and community service work.