WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today introduced legislation that would expand a program that provides young people with job opportunities, while helping to repair and restore the country's public lands. The legislation also includes a provision authored by U.S. Senator Tom Udall to establish the Indian Youth Service Corps.
Bingaman's Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2011 (S.896) expands on the existing Public Lands Corps by expanding the scope of corps projects to reflect new challenges such as climate change. Additionally, the bill would add incentives to attract new participants, especially from underrepresented populations, and pave the way for increased funding.
"This bill would help us restore our public lands while providing young Americans with job opportunities that could spur a life-long interest in our environment," said Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
"Not only will this legislation allow more of our young people to learn valuable work skills, it also will help instill in them a love of our natural environment and a desire to protect our country's special places for the enjoyment of future generations," Udall said. "An important part of that is the creation of the Indian Youth Service Corps, which will give Native youth the opportunity to preserve the tribal lands that are so intertwined with their cultural heritage."
Among other things, the bill would:
Jude McCartin
Maria Najera
703 Hart Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5521