text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Civilian Volunteer Service Reserve 
  Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) The changing threats and issues that face the Nation 
          require a new and innovative approach to mobilizing the 
          citizenry in times of need.
              (2) The Civilian Volunteer Service Reserve program offers a 
          flexible approach to the needs of specific crises, such as 
          natural disasters, incidents of terrorism, or other emergencies 
          at home or abroad.
              (3) Citizenship entails responsibilities as well as rights. 
          The Civilian Volunteer Service Reserve program will challenge 
          all Americans to sacrifice for their country.
              (4) The Civilian Volunteer Service Reserve program will 
          make it possible to draw on the vast array of skills and the 
          ingenuity of ordinary Americans in times of need.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
  
      The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish the Civilian 
  Volunteer Service Reserve (referred to in this Act as the ``Civilian 
  Reserve''), a national volunteer service corps ready for service in 
  response to domestic or international emergencies, or other 
  circumstances determined by the President pursuant to section 6.
  
  SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORITY.
  
      The Secretary of Homeland Security shall appoint a Director and 
  such other officers as the Secretary considers appropriate to organize 
  and administer the Civilian Reserve program consistent with the 
  provisions of this Act. The Secretary is authorized to promulgate 
  regulations necessary to carry out this Act.
  
  SEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY, COMMITMENT, AND REGISTRATION.
  
      (a) Eligibility.--All citizens and legal residents of the United 
  States over the age of 18 shall be eligible to serve in the Civilian 
  Reserve.
      (b) Commitment.--Individuals who volunteer with the Civilian 
  Reserve shall be enrolled for a 5-year period, and shall be expected 
  during such period to serve in full-time active duty status for a total 
  period of 6 months, when called to such service under section 6. There 
  shall be no limit to the number of 5-year periods of service that an 
  individual may register to serve.
      (c) Registration.--Registration for the Civilian Reserve shall be 
  administered in a manner determined by the Secretary of Homeland 
  Security. At minimum, such registration shall include--
              (1) the applicant's name, address, telephone number, Social 
          Security number, and E-mail address;
              (2) the applicant's occupation, areas of study, and skills; 
          and
              (3) the applicant's preference for local, national, or 
          international service.
  
  SEC. 6. MOBILIZATION.
  
      (a) Mobilization.--
              (1) In general.--The President shall have the authority to 
          issue a voluntary call to action by issuing an executive order 
          to mobilize certain members of the Civilian Reserve to full-
          time active duty status for a period not exceeding 6 months, in 
          order to meet the pressing needs of the Nation in times of 
          emergency, as determined by the President in consultation with 
          the Secretary of Homeland Security.
              (2) Considerations.--In selecting members of the Civilian 
          Reserve to call to action pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
          President shall consider the relevant skills required by the 
          emergency, the geographic location of the volunteers, and the 
          logistics of such a mobilization.
              (3) Methodology of call to action.--To the extent 
          practicable, for a voluntary call to action issued under 
          paragraph (1), members of the Civilian Reserve shall be 
          contacted via telephone, E-mail, and mail service.
      (b) Voluntary Acceptance of Call to Action.--Members of the 
  Civilian Reserve may choose to accept a call to action issued pursuant 
  to subsection (a)(1) and enter full-time active duty status for the 
  period specified in such call to action, not exceeding 6 months. 
  Members of the Civilian Reserve may also decline such a call to action, 
  so long as such members remain committed to serving in full-time active 
  duty status for some period or periods, not to exceed a total of 6 
  months, during their 5-year enrollment.
      (c) Mandatory Service.--The President may, under extreme 
  circumstances, issue a mandatory mobilization of members of the 
  Civilian Reserve, requiring such members to begin full-time active duty 
  service for a period not exceeding 6 months. Such mobilization may 
  apply to any members of the Civilian Reserve notwithstanding whether 
  such members have fulfilled their expected 6-month period of service 
  described in section 5(b) prior to such mandatory mobilization. 
  Exemptions from such mandatory service shall be made for hardship due 
  to family or other circumstances, upon appeal by an individual member 
  of the Civilian Reserve.
  
  SEC. 7. FULL-TIME ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE AND BENEFITS.
  
      (a) In General.--Members of the Civilian Reserve serving in full-
  time active duty status shall work side-by-side with officers and 
  agencies of the Federal, State, and local governments, non-profit and 
  non-governmental organizations, supplementing but not supplanting 
  existing systems for responding to emergencies and other pressing 
  needs.
      (b) Transportation and Accommodations.--The Civilian Reserve 
  program shall provide members serving in full-time active duty status 
  with any necessary transportation and accommodations in order to 
  facilitate such service.
      (c) Stipend.--Members of the Civilian Reserve serving in full-time 
  active duty status shall receive a stipend in order to pay for 
  necessary cost of living expenses, for such period of full-time active 
  duty status. The amount of the stipend shall be determined by the 
  Secretary of Homeland Security.
      (d) Health Insurance.--Members of the Civilian Reserve serving in 
  full-time active duty status shall be eligible for health insurance 
  under a program to be established, by regulation, by the Secretary of 
  Homeland Security.
      (e) Reemployment Protection.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
  shall promulgate regulations to provide reemployment protection and 
  other benefits for members of the Civilian Reserve who complete a 
  period of full-time active duty service.
  
  SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
  Homeland Security such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2005 
  through 2009 to carry out this Act.
target: Civilian Volunteer Service Reserve Act - Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the Civilian Volunteer Service Reserve to respond to domestic or international emergencies or other circumstances determined by the President.
  
  Permits a U.S. citizen or legal resident over the age of 18 to enroll for a five-year commitment in the Reserve during which he or she shall be expected to serve in a full-time active duty status for 6 months.
  
  Authorizes the President to issue a voluntary call of action as an executive order to mobilize members of the Civilian Reserve to active duty status in times of emergency. Allows members of the Civilian Reserve to accept or decline a call to action except under extreme circumstances that require mandatory mobilization.
  
  Prescribes benefits and reemployment protection for members serving in full-time active duty status.
feat_title: To establish a national Civilian Volunteer Service Reserve program, a national volunteer service corps ready for service in response to domestic or international emergencies.