---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12571"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12571"
heading: "Authority to provide assistance and approved national service positions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12571"
units:
  - "Chapter 129 — National and Community Service"
  - "Subchapter I — National and Community Service State Grant Program"
  - "Division C — National Service Trust Program"
  - "Part I — Investment in National Service"
---

# §12571. Authority to provide assistance and approved national service positions

- (a) **Provision of assistance—** Subject to the availability of appropriations for this purpose, the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) for National and Community Service may make grants to [States](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1), subdivisions of [States](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1), territories, Indian tribes, public or private [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations, and institutions of higher education for the purpose of assisting the recipients of the grants—
  - (1) to carry out full- or part-time national service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), including summer [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), described in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of [section 12572 of this title](/usc/42/12572.md); and
  - (2) to make grants in support of other national service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) described in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of [section 12572 of this title](/usc/42/12572.md) that are carried out by other entities.
- (b) **Restrictions on agreements with Federal agencies—**
  - (1) **Agreements authorized—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) may enter into an interagency agreement (other than a grant agreement) with another Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) to support a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) carried out or otherwise supported by the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1). The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), in entering into the interagency agreement may approve positions as approved national service positions for a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) carried out or otherwise supported by the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Prohibition on grants—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) may not provide a grant under this section to a Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
  - (3) **Consultation with State Commissions—** A Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) carrying out or supporting a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) shall consult with the [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) Commissions for those [States](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) in which [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) will be conducted through that [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) in order to ensure that the [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) do not duplicate [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) conducted by [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) or local national service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8).
  - (4) **Support for other national service programs—** A Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that enters into an interagency agreement under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall, in an appropriate case, enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with an entity that is carrying out a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) in a [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) that is in existence in the [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) as of the date of the contract or cooperative agreement and is of high quality, in order to support the national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8).
  - (5) **Application of requirements—** A requirement under this chapter that applies to an entity receiving assistance under this section (other than a requirement limited to an entity receiving assistance under [subsection (a)](#a)) shall be considered to apply to a Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that enters into an interagency agreement under this subsection, even though no Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) may receive financial assistance under such an agreement.
- (c) **Provision of approved national service positions—** As part of the provision of assistance under [subsection (a)](#a), and in providing approved national service positions under [subsection (b)](#b), the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall—
  - (1) approve the provision of national service educational awards described in division D for the participants who serve in national service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) carried out using such assistance; and
  - (2) deposit in the National Service Trust established in [section 12601(a) of this title](/usc/42/12601.md?p=a) an amount equal to the product of—
    - (A) the value of a national service educational award under [section 12603 of this title](/usc/42/12603.md); and
    - (B) the total number of approved national service positions to be provided or otherwise approved.
- (d) **Five percent limitation on administrative costs—**
  - (1) **Limitation—** Not more than 5 percent of the amount of assistance provided to the original recipient of a grant or transfer of assistance under [subsection (a)](#a) for a fiscal year may be used to pay for administrative costs incurred by—
    - (A) the recipient of the assistance; and
    - (B) national service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) carried out or supported with the assistance.
  - (2) **Rules on use—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) may by rule prescribe the manner and extent to which—
    - (A) assistance provided under [subsection (a)](#a) may be used to cover administrative costs; and
    - (B) that portion of the assistance available to cover administrative costs should be distributed between—
      - (i) the original recipient of the grant or transfer of assistance under such subsection; and
      - (ii) national service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) carried out or supported with the assistance.
- (e) **Matching funds requirements—**
  - (1) **Requirements—** Except as provided in [section 12594 of this title](/usc/42/12594.md), the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) share of the cost (including the costs of member living allowances, employment-related taxes, health care coverage, and workers’ compensation and other necessary operation costs) of carrying out a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) that receives the assistance under [subsection (a)](#a), whether the assistance is provided directly or as a subgrant from the original recipient of the assistance, may not exceed 75 percent of such cost.
  - (2) **Calculation—** In providing for the remaining share of the cost of carrying out a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8)—
    - (A) shall provide for such share through a payment in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services; and
    - (B) may provide for such share through [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) sources, local sources, or other Federal sources (other than the use of funds made available under the national service laws).
  - (3) **Cost of health care—** In providing a payment in cash under [paragraph (2)(A)](#e-2-A) as part of providing for the remaining share of the cost of carrying out a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) may count not more than 85 percent of the cost of providing a health care policy described in [section 12594(d)(2) of this title](/usc/42/12594.md?p=d-2) toward such share.
  - (4) **Waiver—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) may waive in whole or in part the requirements of [paragraph (1)](#e-1) with respect to a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) in any fiscal year if the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) determines that such a waiver would be equitable due to a lack of available financial resources at the local level.
  - (5) **Other Federal funds—**
    - (A) **Recipient report—** A recipient of assistance under this section (other than a recipient of assistance through a fixed-amount grant in accordance with [section 12581(l)](/usc/42/12581.md?p=l) of this title) shall report to the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) the amount and source of any Federal funds used to carry out the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) for which the assistance is made available other than those provided by the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2).
    - (B) **Corporation report—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall report to the authorizing committees on an annual basis information regarding each recipient of such assistance that uses Federal funds other than those provided by the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) to carry out such a [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), including the amounts and sources of the other Federal funds.
- (f) **Plan for approved national service positions—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall—
  - (1) develop a plan to—
    - (A) establish the number of the approved national service positions as 88,000 for fiscal year 2010;
    - (B) increase the number of the approved positions to—
      - (i) 115,000 for fiscal year 2011;
      - (ii) 140,000 for fiscal year 2012;
      - (iii) 170,000 for fiscal year 2013;
      - (iv) 200,000 for fiscal year 2014;
      - (v) 210,000 for fiscal year 2015;
      - (vi) 235,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
      - (vii) 250,000 for fiscal year 2017;
    - (C) ensure that the increases described in [subparagraph (B)](#f-1-B) are achieved through an appropriate balance of full- and part-time service positions;
  - (2) not later than 1 year after April 21, 2009, submit a report to the authorizing committees on the status of the plan described in [paragraph (1)](#f-1); and
  - (3) subject to the availability of appropriations and quality service opportunities, implement the plan described in [paragraph (1)](#f-1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 121, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 101(b), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 788; amended Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1301, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1484.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 101–610, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3127, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 12501 of this title and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 12571, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 141, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3150, related to general authority to make grants for national and community service programs, prior to the general amendment of subtitle D of title I of Pub. L. 101–610 [formerly part D of this subchapter] by Pub. L. 103–82, § 102(a).

A prior section 121 of Pub. L. 101–610 was renumbered section 199A, and is classified to section 12655 of this title.

### Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(1)(A), inserted “territories,” after “subdivisions of States,” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(1)(B), substituted “subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 12572” for “section 12572(a)”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(2)(A), substituted “Restrictions on agreements with Federal agencies” for “Agreements with Federal agencies” in heading.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(2)(B), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Corporation may enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with another Federal agency to support a national service program carried out by the agency. The support provided by the Corporation pursuant to the contract or cooperative agreement may include the transfer to the Federal agency of funds available to the Corporation under this division.”

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(2)(C), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A Federal agency receiving assistance under this subsection shall not be required to satisfy the matching funds requirements specified in subsection (e) of this section. However, the supplementation requirements specified in section 12633 of this title shall apply with respect to the Federal national service programs supported with such assistance.”

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(2)(D), substituted “carrying out or supporting a national service program” for “receiving assistance under this subsection” and “through that program” for “using such assistance”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(2)(E), substituted “an interagency agreement” for “a contract or cooperative agreement” the first place it appeared.

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(2)(F), added par. (5).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(3)(A), substituted “subsection (a), and in providing approved national service positions under subsection (b),” for “subsections (a) and (b) of this section,” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(3)(B), substituted “to be provided or otherwise approved” for “to be provided”.

Subsec. (d)(1), (2)(A). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(4), struck out “or (b) of this section” after “subsection (a)” in introductory provisions of par. (1) and in par. (2)(A).

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(5)(A), substituted “Corporation share of the cost (including the costs of member living allowances, employment-related taxes, health care coverage, and workers’ compensation and other necessary operation costs)” for “Federal share of the cost”.

Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(5)(B), added par. (5).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1301(6), added subsec. (f).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 1701 of Title 16, Conservation.

### Overall Minimum Share Requirement

Pub. L. 119–75, div. B, title IV, § 402, Feb. 3, 2026, 140 Stat. 309, provided that: “AmeriCorps programs receiving grants under the National Service Trust program shall meet an overall minimum share requirement of 24 percent for the first 3 years that they receive AmeriCorps funding, and thereafter shall meet the overall minimum share requirement as provided in section 2521.60 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, without regard to the operating costs match requirement in section 121(e) [42 U.S.C. 12571(e)] or the member support Federal share limitations in section 140 of the 1990 Act [National and Community Service Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12594], and subject to partial waiver consistent with section 2521.70 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations.”

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 118–47, div. D, title IV, § 402, Mar. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 695.

Pub. L. 117–328, div. H, title IV, § 402, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 4900.

Pub. L. 117–103, div. H, title IV, § 402, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 488.

Pub. L. 116–260, div. H, title IV, § 402, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1614.

Pub. L. 116–94, div. A, title IV, § 402, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2599.

Pub. L. 115–245, div. B, title IV, § 402, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3110.

Pub. L. 115–141, div. H, title IV, § 402, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 756.

Pub. L. 115–31, div. H, title IV, § 402, May 5, 2017, 131 Stat. 555.

Pub. L. 114–113, div. H, title IV, § 404, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2642.

Pub. L. 113–235, div. G, title IV, § 402, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2508.

Pub. L. 113–76, div. H, title IV, § 402, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 402.

Pub. L. 112–74, div. F, title IV, § 402, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1105.

Pub. L. 111–117, div. D, title IV, § 402, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3273.

Pub. L. 111–8, div. F, title IV, § 407, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 795.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. G, title IV, § 407, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2202.