---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 1104"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "1104"
heading: "Purposes and authority of Center"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/1104"
units:
  - "Chapter 22 — John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development"
---

# §1104. Purposes and authority of Center

- (a) **Purposes of Center—** The purposes of the [Center](/usc/2/1102.md?p=1) shall be—
  - (1) to increase awareness of the importance of public service, to foster among the youth of the United States greater recognition and understanding of the role of public service in the development of the United States, and to promote public service as a career choice;
  - (2) to provide training and development opportunities for [State](/usc/2/4556.md?p=1) and local elected government officials and [employees](/usc/2/4558.md?p=2) of [State](/usc/2/4556.md?p=1) and local governments in order to assist such officials and [employees](/usc/2/4558.md?p=2) to become more effective and more efficient in performing their public duties and develop their potential for accepting increased public service opportunities; and
  - (3) to provide training and development opportunities for those [employees](/usc/2/4558.md?p=2) of [Members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of the Congress who perform key roles in helping [Members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of Congress serve the people of the United States.
- (b) **Authority of Center—** The [Center](/usc/2/1102.md?p=1) is authorized, consistent with this chapter, to develop such programs, activities, and services as it considers appropriate to carry out the purpose of this chapter. Such authority shall include the following:
  - (1) The development and implementation of educational programs for secondary and post-secondary schools and colleges designed—
    - (A) to improve the attitude of students toward public service;
    - (B) to encourage students to consider public service as a career goal;
    - (C) to create a better understanding of the important role that people in public service have played in the growth and development of the United States; and
    - (D) to foster a sense of civic responsibility among the youth of the United States.
  - (2) The development and implementation of programs designed—
    - (A) to enhance skills and abilities of public service [employees](/usc/2/4558.md?p=2) and elected officials at the [State](/usc/2/4556.md?p=1) and local levels of government;
    - (B) to make such officials more productive and effective in the performance of their duties; and
    - (C) to help prepare such [employees](/usc/2/4558.md?p=2) and officials to assume greater responsibilities in the field of public service.
  - (3) The development and implementation of congressional staff training programs designed to equip congressional staff personnel to perform their duties more effectively and efficiently.
  - (4) The development and implementation of media and telecommunications production capabilities to assist the [Center](/usc/2/1102.md?p=1) in expanding the reach of its programs throughout the United States.
  - (5) The establishment of library and research facilities for the collection and compilation of research materials for use in carrying out the programs of the [Center](/usc/2/1102.md?p=1).
- (c) **Program priorities—** The [Board](/usc/2/1102.md?p=2) of Trustees shall determine the priority of the programs to be carried out under this chapter and the amount of [funds](/usc/2/1102.md?p=3) to be allocated for such programs.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–458, title I, § 115, Oct. 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 2173.)