Proposal would put climate service teams to work and fund projects

The Corporation would establish a Civilian Climate Corps with a direct service program and a grant program. The direct program could select people who are or will be at least 17 by December 31 of the year they enroll, regardless of immigration status. Grant applicants could include states, tribes, nonprofits, labor organizations, federal agencies, and colleges. The Corporation could implement the planned positions only if money is available and suitable service opportunities exist. The position plan covers fiscal years 2027 through 2031; the bill authorizes Corps funding for those same years.

Corps members and grant recipients would carry out climate projects, with Corps members doing the labor for certain property improvements. Projects could include clean energy work, conservation, pollution cleanup, disaster preparation and recovery, and community resilience. The Director could approve additional project types in consultation with the advisory board. Projects could make permanent improvements to property not owned by the federal government only when Corps members do the labor.

The proposal sets pay and other benefits for Corps members and rules for organizing and bargaining with the Corps. The pay, health, support, and education provisions apply to Civilian Climate Corps members. Members would also have rights to organize, bargain collectively, and strike. Members would receive at least $20 per hour during training and project work; construction workers and service workers have additional pay and benefit rules. A member would qualify for the health benefit only while serving, if they buy a plan through their state's exchange and lack equivalent coverage elsewhere. Education help would be available after completing a service term and could go toward college costs or eligible student loans. The living allowance would cover training and project work; education help would follow completion of a service term.

The proposal would prioritize climate projects in several AmeriCorps programs and set new allowance and funding rules for national service programs. The provisions cover AmeriCorps State and National, NCCC, VISTA, and other national service programs identified in the bill. The climate priority for NCCC and VISTA applies to fiscal years 2027 through 2036. Increases to certain existing stipends or allowances depend on enough funding to serve more participants than in the prior year. The NCCC and VISTA climate priorities would apply in fiscal years 2027 through 2036.