``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

``(a) FINDINGS.—

The Congress finds the following:

``(1) Throughout the United States, there are pressing unmet human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs.

``(2) Americans desire to affirm common responsibilities and shared values, and join together in positive experiences, that transcend race, religion, gender, age, disability, region, income, and education.

``(3) The rising costs of postsecondary education are putting higher education out of reach for an increasing number of citizens.

``(4) Americans of all ages can improve their communities and become better citizens through service to the United States.

``(5) Nonprofit organizations, local governments, States, and the Federal Government are already supporting a wide variety of national service programs that deliver needed services in a cost-effective manner.

``(6) Residents of low-income communities, especially youth and young adults, can be empowered through their service, and can help provide future community leadership.

``(b) PURPOSE.—

It is the purpose of this Act to—

``(1) meet the unmet human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs of the United States, without displacing existing workers;

``(2) renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community throughout the United States;

``(3) expand educational opportunity by rewarding individuals who participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue higher education or job training;

``(4) encourage citizens of the United States, regardless of age, income, or disability, to engage in full-time or part-time national service;

``(5) reinvent government to eliminate duplication, support locally established initiatives, require measurable goals for performance, and offer flexibility in meeting those goals;

``(6) expand and strengthen existing service programs with demonstrated experience in providing structured service opportunities with visible benefits to the participants and community;

``(7) build on the existing organizational service infrastructure of Federal, State, and local programs and agencies to expand full-time and part-time service opportunities for all citizens; and

``(8) provide tangible benefits to the communities in which national service is performed.´´.