---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12653h"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12653h"
heading: "National Service Reserve Corps"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12653h"
units:
  - "Chapter 129 — National and Community Service"
  - "Subchapter I — National and Community Service State Grant Program"
  - "Division H — Investment for Quality and Innovation"
  - "Part II — National Service Reserve Corps"
---

# §12653h. National Service Reserve Corps

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section—
  - (1) the term “National Service Reserve [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) member” means an individual who—
    - (A) has completed a term of national service or is a veteran;
    - (B) has successfully completed training described in [subsection (c)](#c) within the previous 2 years;
    - (C) completes not less than 10 hours of volunteering each year (which may include the training session described in [subparagraph (B)](#a-1-B)); and
    - (D) has indicated interest to the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) in responding to [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) and emergencies in a timely manner through the National Service Reserve [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3); and
  - (2) the term “term of national service” means a term or period of service under [section 12573 of this title](/usc/42/12573.md).
- (b) **Establishment of National Service Reserve Corps—**
  - (1) **In general—** In consultation with the Federal Emergency Management [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall establish a National Service Reserve [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) to prepare and deploy National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5) to respond to [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) and emergencies in support of national service [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) and other requesting [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) and [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Grants or contracts—** In carrying out this section, the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) may enter into a grant or contract with an organization experienced in responding to [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) or in coordinating individuals who have completed a term of national service or are veterans, or may directly deploy National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5), as the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) determines necessary.
- (c) **Annual training—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall conduct or coordinate annual training sessions, consistent with the training requirements of the Federal Emergency Management [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), for individuals who have completed a term of national service or are veterans, and who wish to join the National Service Reserve [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3).
- (d) **Designation of organizations—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall designate organizations with demonstrated experience in responding to [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) or emergencies, including through using volunteers, for participation in the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) under this section.
  - (2) **Requirements—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall ensure that every designated organization is—
    - (A) prepared to respond to [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) or emergencies;
    - (B) prepared and able to utilize National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5) in responding to [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) or emergencies; and
    - (C) willing to respond in a timely manner when notified by the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) of a [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) or emergency.
- (e) **Databases—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall develop or contract with an outside organization to develop—
  - (1) a database of all National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5); and
  - (2) a database of all [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations that have been designated by the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) under [subsection (d)](#d).
- (f) **Deployment of National Service Reserve Corps—**
  - (1) **Major disasters or emergencies—** If a major [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) or emergency is declared by the President pursuant to section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford [Disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) Relief and Assistance Act[^1] ([42 U.S.C. 5122](/usc/42/5122.md)), the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Federal Emergency Management [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), in consultation with the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), may task the National Service Reserve [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) to assist in response.
  - (2) **Other disasters or emergencies—** For a [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) or emergency that is not declared a major [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) or emergency under section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford [Disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) Relief and Assistance Act[^1] ([42 U.S.C. 5122](/usc/42/5122.md)), the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) may directly, or through a grant or contract, deploy the National Service Reserve [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3).
  - (3) **Deployment—** Under paragraph [(1)](#f-1) or [(2)](#f-2), the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) may—
    - (A) deploy interested National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5) on assignments of not more than 30 days to assist with local needs related to preparing or recovering from the incident in the affected area, either directly or through organizations designated under [subsection (d)](#d);
    - (B) make travel arrangements for the deployed National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5) to the site of the incident; and
    - (C) provide funds to those organizations that are responding to the incident with deployed National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5), to enable the organizations to coordinate and provide housing, living stipends, and insurance for those deployed members.
  - (4) **Allowance—** Any amounts that are utilized by the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) from funds appropriated under [section 12681(a)(4)(D) of this title](/usc/42/12681.md?p=a-4-D) to carry out [paragraph (1)](#f-1) for a fiscal year shall be kept in a separate fund. Any amounts in such fund that are not used during a fiscal year shall remain available to use to pay National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5) an allowance, determined by the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), for out-of-pocket expenses.
  - (5) **Information—**
    - (A) **National service participants—** The [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), the [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) Commissions, and entities receiving financial assistance for [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) under division C of this subchapter,[^1] or under part A of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ([42 U.S.C. 4951](/usc/42/4951.md) et seq.), shall inform participants about the National Service Reserve [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) upon the participants’ completion of their term of national service.
    - (B) **Veterans—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Defense, shall inform veterans who are recently discharged, released, or separated from the Armed Forces about the National Service Reserve [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3).
  - (6) **Coordination—** In deploying National Service Reserve [Corps members](/usc/42/12626.md?p=5) under this subsection, the [Corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) shall—
    - (A) avoid duplication of activities directed by the Federal Emergency Management [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1); and
    - (B) consult and, as appropriate, partner with Citizen [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) [programs](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) and other local [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), including [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) and local emergency management [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), voluntary organizations active in [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2), [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) Commissions, and similar organizations, in the affected area.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 198H, as added Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1806, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1562.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122), referred to in subsec. (f)(1), (2), probably means section 102 of Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143, known as the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which is classified to section 5122 of this title.

Division C of this subchapter, referred to in subsec. (f)(5)(A), was in the original “subtitle C of this Act” which was translated as meaning subtitle C of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (f)(5)(A), is Pub. L. 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 394. Part A of title I of the Act is classified generally to part A of subchapter I (§ 4951 et seq.) of chapter 66 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4950 of this title and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 12653h, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 195H, as added Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1092(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2528, which related to administration of the Corps, was renumbered section 159 of Pub. L. 101–610 and transferred to section 12619 of this title.

Prior sections 12653i and 12653j were renumbered by section 104(b) of Pub. L. 103–82 and transferred as follows:

Section 12653i, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 195I, as added Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1092(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2530, which related to status of Corps members and Corps personnel under Federal law, was renumbered section 160 of Pub. L. 101–610 and transferred to section 12620 of this title.

Section 12653j, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 195J, as added Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1092(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2530, which provided for contract and grant authority of Corps Director, was renumbered section 161 of Pub. L. 101–610 and transferred to section 12621 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

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