Students could receive paid internships and college scholarships if funded

State and local governments could compete for grants to support paid local government internships. Internships would serve secondary school students and qualified college undergraduates studying in the recipient government's state. Covered local governments include Tribal governments. Recipients would work with colleges to ensure educational value and seek accommodations for interns facing childcare, transportation, or similar challenges. The bill would authorize $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030; Congress would still need to provide the money. The grant program would have to begin within one year after enactment.

Participating states would award competitive scholarships for college attendance costs. First-time applicants must be final-year high school students or college students with at least 100 volunteer hours in the preceding school year or another one-year period set by the Secretary. Service must be unpaid work for government or nonprofit groups, which may include faith-based groups. Proselytizing (trying to convert people to a religion), worship services, religious teaching, political lobbying, court-ordered service, and work mainly benefiting the student's family would not count. Congress would need to provide funding; the bill would authorize $100 million annually for state and federal scholarships for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

States would base scholarship amounts on volunteer hours and give eligible returning recipients priority. Awards would range from $1,000 for at least 100 but fewer than 138 hours to $3,000 for at least 250 hours. Returning recipients must attend college, remain in good academic standing, and complete at least 100 service hours in the preceding school year or another one-year period set by the Secretary. States would fund eligible renewals first, subject to available money, and offer a renewal application requiring minimal paperwork. Each award would cover one academic year, with a maximum of four academic years per student.

The Secretary could award extra scholarship money directly to eligible students through a competitive federal program. Students who had not received a state-program scholarship would receive priority. Congress would need to provide scholarship funding. The Secretary would decide each federal award's amount.