# Plain Language Summary: Civilian Climate Corps Act of 2021

This bill creates a new national service program called the Civilian Climate Corps, modeled after Depression-era programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps. The program would hire young people and other workers to do conservation and climate-related work on public lands and in communities across the country. Think of it as a jobs program where participants would get paid to plant trees, restore forests, build green infrastructure in cities, protect wetlands, and help communities prepare for climate disasters. The work would be coordinated by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, working with other federal agencies, and would operate under existing national service laws.

The bill specifically targets people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, including young workers, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals. At least 5 percent of funding would be reserved for projects in Native American and tribal communities. Projects would prioritize helping communities most affected by climate change and environmental problems—typically lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color that face worse air quality, flooding, heat, and other climate impacts. The work could include everything from reforestation and wetland restoration to installing solar panels on public buildings, creating green roofs in cities, and teaching people about climate solutions.

The bill doesn't specify exactly how much money would be spent or how many people would be hired, but it authorizes funding for fiscal years 2022 through 2025 and requires the government to submit a detailed plan within 60 days. The program would waive requirements that local governments or organizations match federal funding, making it easier for communities to participate. Essentially, this is a proposal to create thousands of paid jobs focused on environmental work while addressing climate change and providing employment opportunities, particularly for people who have struggled in the job market.

Civilian Climate Corps Act of 2021

Civilian Climate Corps Act of 2021 This bill requires the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, in coordination with other relevant federal agencies, to enter into an interagency agreement establishing a Civilian Climate Corps, to be operated in accordance with the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. A project carried out by the corps must (1) prioritize efforts to assist disproportionately impacted communities, or be carried out in partnership with a qualified youth service or conservation corps; (2) be coordinated with tribal and Native American communities to protect natural cultural resources; and (3) accomplish one or more of particular objectives such as conserving, monitoring, and restoring public land and water to help mitigate and adapt to climate change.