H.R. 9766 – Building Community in America Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 23, 2026 at 8:01 AM UTC

The Building Community in America Act amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to increase involvement of groups that are currently underrepresented in service programs, such as young adults and men. It adds language that makes recruiting and training these participants a priority for a range of service activities, from youth mentoring to disaster response. The changes affect federal service programs and the projects they fund.

Key Provisions

Adds a new paragraph (20) to the Act that calls for expanding participation of underrepresented populations in national and community service programs.
Requires that national service priorities give preference to programs that recruit and train underrepresented participants, including men, for activities like youth coaching, after‑school support, conservation corps, disaster response, public safety, and skilled‑trade apprenticeships.
Mandates that project proposals and selections under the Act prioritize projects that focus on recruiting and training these underrepresented participants.
Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to give the Director priority in assigning volunteers to projects that emphasize recruitment and training of underrepresented participants.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 16, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 16, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 16, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 16, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9766

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 16, 2026

Mr. Smith of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to expand participation by underrepresented populations in service programs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Building Community in America Act.

2.

Expansions of participation in service programs

(a)

Purpose

Section 2(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501(b)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (18), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(2)

in paragraph (19), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(20)

expand participation in national and community service among populations underrepresented in service programs, including young adults underrepresented in mentoring, coaching, youth development, and other community-building activities.

.

(b)

Priority

(1)

National and Community Service Act of 1990

The National and Community Service Act of 1990 is amended—

(A)

in section 122(f) (42 U.S.C. 12572(f)), by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Required priority

The national service priorities under paragraph (1) shall include a priority for programs that prioritize the recruitment and training of underrepresented participants, including men, for activities including—

(A)

youth coaching or mentoring activities;

(B)

school attendance or after-school support activities;

(C)

activities in a national service position as part of a conservation corps;

(D)

disaster response activities;

(E)

public safety, violence interruption, or reentry support activities; or

(F)

skilled-trades, apprenticeships, or workforce-linked services.

; and

(B)

in section 157 (42 U.S.C. 12617), by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Priority

In developing project proposals under subsection (b)(1) and selecting projects to be performed under subsection (c)(1), there shall be a priority for projects that prioritize the recruitment and training of underrepresented participants, including men, for any of the activities described in section 122(f)(5).

.

(2)

Domestic volunteer service act of 1973

Section 103 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4953) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(j)

In the assignment of volunteers under this section, the Director shall give priority to projects or programs that prioritize the recruitment and training of underrepresented participants, including men, for any of the activities described in section 122(f)(5) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990.

.