text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps Act 
  of 2005''.
  
  SEC. 2. AUTHORITY.
  
      The Corporation for National and Community Service (referred to in 
  this Act as the ``Corporation''), pursuant to section 126(b) of the 
  National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12576(b)), shall 
  carry out the activities authorized under this Act.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL AMERICORPS DISASTER RELIEF CORPS.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established an AmeriCorps Disaster 
  Relief Corps, to be administered by the Corporation, to carry out full- 
  or part-time service projects that provide food, clothing, shelter, and 
  other humanitarian assistance for victims of major disasters and 
  emergencies, projects involving cleaning, repair, and reconstruction of 
  structures, facilities, and lands located within the disaster area, and 
  other projects arising from the consequences of major disasters and 
  emergencies.
      (b) Recruitment of Participants and Eligibility.--
              (1) Recruitment.--The Corporation shall endeavor to recruit 
          up to 10,000 additional eligible participants for the national 
          service program established under subsection (a).
              (2) Eligibility.--Eligibility to participate in the 
          national service program established under subsection (a) shall 
          be on the same basis as for participation in an approved 
          national service position authorized by subtitle C or E of 
          title I of the National and Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
          12571 et seq.) or by title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service 
          Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.). Individuals selected as 
          participants in the program shall be eligible for living 
          allowances, educational awards, and other support authorized 
          for participants in approved national service positions under 
          such Acts.
              (3) Priority.--In conducting recruiting under paragraph 
          (1), the Corporation and recipients of assistance to operate 
          projects shall give priority to those individuals dislocated as 
          a result of major disasters and emergencies and may permit 
          alternative documentation requirements relating to 
          demonstrating eligibility of such individuals.
      (c) Projects.--Participants for the national service program 
  established under subsection (a) may serve on projects that--
              (1) help those affected by major disasters and emergencies 
          assess their needs;
              (2) assist in the construction of temporary housing for the 
          displaced victims of a major disaster or emergency;
              (3) provide relocation services for victims of the 
          hurricane, including food, water and clothing distribution and 
          housing location services;
              (4) conduct outreach to local businesses, building owners, 
          and others with applications for disaster relief and for other 
          assistance to be provided by Federal or State government;
              (5) provide employment services for victims, such as 
          identifying job training, job placement, and other 
          opportunities;
              (6) conduct environmental surveys, monitoring water quality 
          and determining the environmental impact on the affected 
          region;
              (7) provide teaching and administrative support functions 
          for school systems where displaced children have enrolled;
              (8) work with schools to identify and mentor students 
          coping with the impact of a major disaster or emergency;
              (9) work with public officials to prepare them for future 
          disasters or emergencies; and
              (10) otherwise assist with the rebuilding of the affected 
          regions.
  
  SEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES, CITIES, ORGANIZATIONS; COOPERATION WITH 
                FEDERAL AGENCIES.
  
      The Corporation may use funds authorized under this Act in support 
  of projects or activities consistent with those specified in section 
  3(c) to--
              (1) make grants to, or enter into agreements with States, 
          subdivisions of States, or other organizations to support 
          AmeriCorps projects under section 121 of the National and 
          Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571);
              (2) support the National Civilian Community Corps 
          authorized under subtitle E of title I of the National and 
          Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12611);
              (3) support the VISTA program under title I of the Domestic 
          Volunteer Service Act (42 U.S.C. 4451 et seq.); and
              (4) enter into a contract or cooperative or other agreement 
          with another Federal agency.
  
  SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
  
      As used in this Act, the terms ``emergency'' and ``major disaster'' 
  have the meaning given such terms in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 
  102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
  Act (42 U.S.C 5122(1) and (2)).
  
  SEC. 6. TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRUST.
  
      The Corporation shall transfer funds to the National Service Trust 
  established in section 145 of the National and Community Service Act 
  (42 U.S.C. 12601) an amount required under the Strengthen AmeriCorps 
  Program Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-45) (42 U.S.C. 12605 et seq.) to 
  provide educational awards and related assistance authorized under 
  subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act (42 
  U.S.C. 12601 et. seq.)
  
  SEC. 7. AUTHORITY FOR THIRD-TERM BENEFITS AND EDUCATIONAL AWARD.
  
       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual serving 
  in a program authorized by this Act may serve a third term of service 
  in an approved national service position and may receive in-service 
  benefits and a post-service educational award authorized under the 
  national service laws on the same basis as an individual serving in a 
  first or second term of service.
  
  SEC. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
  
      The Corporation may use up to two percent of funds authorized under 
  section 12 for the administration of this Act.
  
  SEC. 9. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATED SERVICES.
  
      Section 196(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 12651g(a)(2)) of the National and 
  Community Service Act is amended by striking ``money or property'' and 
  inserting ``money, services, or property''.
  
  SEC. 10. GRANTS NOT SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS LIMITATIONS.
  
      Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds provided under 
  this Act to administer, reimburse, or support any national service 
  program authorized under the national service laws, shall not be 
  considered in applying any limitation on funding for such programs in 
  annual appropriations Acts.
  
  SEC. 11. AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS OPERATED BY FEDERAL AGENCIES.
  
      Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation may use 
  funds authorized under this Act to enter into a contract or cooperative 
  agreement with another Federal agency to support a national service 
  program carried out by that agency consistent with section 121(b) of 
  the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).
  
  SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There is authorized to be appropriated to the Corporation 
  $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to carry out this 
  Act.
target: AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps Act of 2005 - Establishes an AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, to carry out service projects that: (1) provide food, clothing, shelter, and other humanitarian assistance for victims of major disasters and emergencies; (2) involve cleaning, repair, and reconstruction of structures, facilities, and lands located within the disaster area; and (3) perform other activities in response to the consequences of major disasters and emergencies.
  
  Authorizes the Corporation to: (1) make grants to, or enter into agreements with states, local governments, or other organizations to support AmeriCorps projects; (2) support the National Civilian Community Corps authorized under the National and Community Service Act; (3) support the VISTA program under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act; and (4) enter into a contract or other agreement with another Federal agency.
feat_title: To establish the AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps to carry out national service projects that address the needs arising from the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, and other major disasters and emergencies.