Supporting the designation of the second Friday of June as "National Service and Conservation Corps Day".
Introduced June 11, 2026 · Last action June 11, 2026
Plain English Summary
This resolution designates the second Friday of June as 'National Service and Conservation Corps Day' to honor the network of over 140 service organizations that engage young adults and veterans in conservation, disaster response, and community projects. The resolution expresses support for continuing and expanding these Corps, which currently serve nearly 22,000 participants annually and trace their lineage to the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps.
Who benefits
Service and Conservation Corps organizations (140+ nonprofits and government-operated entities); young adults ages 16-25 and post-9/11 veterans up to age 35 seeking workforce development and education; Federal, State, and local agencies receiving labor for resource management, disaster response, and infrastructure projects; communities receiving neighborhood improvements and public land maintenance; charter schools and educational partners providing GED and diploma programs to Corps members.
Who pays / loses
This is a non-binding resolution that does not impose direct financial costs or remove benefits. However, any expansion of Service and Conservation Corps as urged by the resolution would require Federal funding increases through appropriations to the National and Community Service Act programs, which would come from general Federal revenues.
Funding & Lobbying Interests
Service and Conservation Corps organizations, workforce development nonprofits, and environmental conservation groups have a financial stake in passage and in any subsequent Congressional appropriations driven by this resolution's call for expansion. Federal land management agencies (National Park Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) and State environmental agencies benefit from low-cost labor provided by Corps members. AmeriCorps and related national service intermediaries administer funding for many of these Corps. No sponsor finance data was provided, but the bipartisan sponsorship (Houlahan, Bacon, Matsui, Fitzpatrick) suggests support from both conservation-minded and veteran-focused constituencies.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Young adults ages 16-25 facing unemployment and barriers to opportunity (millions nationally, per the bill's language); post-9/11 veterans up to age 35; rural and underserved communities where Corps projects address infrastructure and disaster recovery; Federal and State land management agencies conducting conservation and disaster response; low-income and minority urban neighborhoods targeted for community improvement and urban garden projects; communities with deferred maintenance on public lands and low resilience to natural disasters.
Political Subtext
Proponents frame this as recognizing national service, workforce development for disadvantaged youth, and land stewardship aligned with America's 250th anniversary. The resolution echoes the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps as a successful model for employment, education, and public goods production. Critics might note that while the resolution calls for expansion, it does not require or fund that expansion—it is purely ceremonial unless followed by appropriations bills. Non-partisan evidence supports that AmeriCorps and similar service programs improve employment outcomes and provide meaningful infrastructure work, though peer-reviewed cost-benefit analyses show mixed results on long-term earnings impacts for participants.
Real-World Stakes
Passage has no immediate financial impact because this is a non-binding resolution. However, it signals Congressional support for expanding Service and Conservation Corps networks. The Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1942) employed 3 million young men and was documented to have planted 3 billion trees and built lasting infrastructure. Modern AmeriCorps programs (created 1993) serve approximately 75,000 members annually across all programs, with studies showing modest but positive effects on employment trajectories for disadvantaged youth. Any Congressional push for expansion following this resolution would require new appropriations. The resolution's bipartisan sponsorship suggests potential for follow-on appropriations bills, but no such bill is included in this text.
Sponsor
Co-sponsors (3)
RRep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]DRep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]RRep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
Top contributing industries
Other$230,264.25
Finance$10,458.33
Technology$10,300
Law$1,750
Energy$700
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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