Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]
- Committees
- Ways and Means Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 24, 2026
Bottom line
This bill seeks to address the climate crisis and unemployment simultaneously by establishing a large-scale federal jobs program focused on climate resilience and clean energy, with strong labor protections and a mandated focus on historically underserved communities.
What it actually does
This bill amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish a Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) within the Corporation for National and Community Service. It creates a national service program and a grant program to mobilize a large workforce for projects addressing climate change, transitioning to a clean economy, and promoting environmental justice. The bill outlines participant benefits, training requirements, robust labor protections, and authorizes significant appropriations for its implementation.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that the bill provides a comprehensive solution to the urgent climate crisis by creating a skilled workforce necessary for decarbonization and resilience efforts. They contend it offers meaningful job opportunities and career pathways, particularly for low-income communities, communities of color, and individuals displaced by artificial intelligence or the fossil fuel industry, while ensuring fair wages, benefits, and robust labor rights for all participants.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that establishing such a large-scale federal program could be excessively costly, potentially inefficient, and might duplicate existing efforts by state or local entities. Concerns could also be raised regarding the extensive federal involvement in local projects, the potential for the program to compete with or distort private sector employment, and the specific labor provisions, such as the right to strike, which could impact project continuity and costs.
The bill is moderately long and contains detailed programmatic, administrative, and labor provisions, requiring careful reading to understand its full scope and implications for both climate policy and workforce development.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199P
Establishment of Civilian Climate Corps (CCC)
This provision formally establishes the Civilian Climate Corps within the National and Community Service Act of 1990. It mandates that the CCC will operate through two main components: a national climate service program, which will receive 66% of appropriated funds, and a national climate service grant program, which will receive 34% of funds. This structure allows for both direct federal operation of projects and support for state, local, and non-profit initiatives.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue that establishing a dedicated Civilian Climate Corps is essential to coordinate and scale up efforts to combat climate change, providing a unified national response. They believe the dual program structure ensures both direct federal impact and flexibility for local community-led initiatives.
Critics contend
Opponents might argue that creating a new, large federal bureaucracy could lead to inefficiencies and overlap with existing agencies or programs. They may question the necessity of a new corps rather than expanding existing conservation or service programs.
Tradeoffs
The bill balances the need for a centralized, large-scale federal response to climate change with the desire to empower local and diverse initiatives through a grant program. The tension lies in ensuring effective coordination and avoiding duplication between these two components.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199Q
National Climate Service Program Details
This section details the direct federal component of the CCC. It specifies participant eligibility (age 17+, regardless of immigration status), mandates diversity in recruitment (at least 50% from under-resourced communities, gender, rural representation), and sets service periods (9-12 months, renewable). It requires 50% of labor and investment to support under-resourced communities (with 10% specifically for Indian country), imposes prevailing wage requirements for contractors, includes strong labor policies for cooperating entities (neutrality in organizing, collective bargaining recognition), and mandates Buy American provisions for materials and local sourcing for food.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199S
Benefits for Civilian Climate Corps Members
This provision outlines the comprehensive benefits package for CCC members. It includes a living allowance of not less than $20 per hour (increasing annually, with prevailing wage for laborers/mechanics and Service Contract Act rates for service workers), allowances for travel, housing, subsistence, and equipment, and access to supportive services like child care and counseling. Crucially, members are entitled to a health care benefit equivalent to a gold level plan on the American Health Benefit Exchange and an educational benefit of up to $25,000 per term of service for tuition or student loan repayment.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199T
Eligible Climate Service Projects
This section broadly defines the types of projects the CCC will undertake, categorized into eight main areas. These include reducing carbon emissions (e.g., weatherizing buildings, installing clean energy infrastructure), enabling a clean energy transition (e.g., advising on policy, expanding broadband), building healthier communities (e.g., pollution remediation, green infrastructure, local food systems), mitigating disaster effects (e.g., resilient infrastructure, prescribed burns), preparing for disasters, recovering from disasters, developing conservation projects with climate benefits (e.g., habitat restoration, reforestation), and other projects determined by the Director and advisory board. It also explicitly permits permanent improvements to real property not owned by the U.S. Government, provided CCC labor is used.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199V(d) and 199W(d)
Robust Labor Relations Framework
These sections establish a comprehensive labor relations framework for the Civilian Climate Corps. The CCC is explicitly designated as the employer, and its members as employees, for purposes of organizing, collective bargaining, and other employee-management relations. It mandates that the CCC remain neutral in organizing efforts, recognize and collectively bargain with labor organizations that achieve written majority authorization, and grants CCC members the right to strike without fear of discharge, discipline, or permanent replacement. It also outlines a process for mediation and binding tripartite arbitration if collective bargaining agreements are not reached, and prohibits subcontracting to circumvent collective bargaining agreements.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199Y
Civilian Climate Corps Roadmap and Position Targets
This section requires the Chief Executive Officer, with guidance from the advisory board, to establish a 'Climate Corps roadmap.' This roadmap must include specific targets for the number of positions in both the national climate service program and the national climate service grant program, scaling up significantly from FY2027 to FY2031. For example, the national program aims for 50,000 positions in FY2027, increasing to 400,000 by FY2031. The roadmap also needs to identify federal partners, establish equity and environmental justice principles, set success benchmarks, identify under-resourced communities of need, catalog funding streams, and plan for increasing participation of 'opportunity youth.'
Section 4(c)
Removal of Matching Fund Requirements for AmeriCorps State and National
This provision amends Section 121(e)(1) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to strike '75 percent' and insert '100 percent.' This change means that the Corporation for National and Community Service may provide 100 percent of the cost of carrying out a program that receives assistance under AmeriCorps State and National, effectively eliminating the matching fund requirement for these grants. This aligns with the 'no matching fund requirements' already specified for the new Civilian Climate Corps grant program.
Section 6
Exclusion of Educational Awards from Gross Income and Student Loan Debt Discharge
This section amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude educational awards received under Subtitle D of Title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (existing AmeriCorps educational awards) and educational benefits received under the new Civilian Climate Corps (Subtitle K) from gross income for tax purposes. It also clarifies that the discharge of student loan debt through these programs is not considered taxable income, aligning these benefits with certain other loan repayment programs.
Employee-management relations for the Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) and its members shall be subject to the provisions that apply to the employee-management relations of the United States Postal Service and its employees under part II of title 39, United States Code.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199V(d)(1)(C)(i) and 199W(d)(1)(C)(i)
Why it matters:This is a technical legislative drafting choice to leverage an existing, comprehensive labor relations framework rather than drafting an entirely new one. It's standard practice but has significant implications.
Case for: Proponents would argue that referencing the Postal Service's labor relations framework provides a well-established and robust system for collective bargaining and worker rights, ensuring fair treatment for CCC members. It avoids the need to create an entirely new, untested system.
Case against: Critics might argue that applying the Postal Service's labor relations model, which includes the right to strike, to a new federal service corps could introduce unique operational challenges and potential disruptions to critical climate projects, given the distinct nature of the work compared to postal services.
Estimated impact: This provision fundamentally defines the labor rights and responsibilities within the CCC, impacting all members and the program's administration. It establishes a strong unionization and collective bargaining environment.
Defines 'under-resourced community of need' to include communities with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities experiencing higher adverse human health or environmental effects; communities in Indian country; communities facing economic transition, deindustrialization, and historic underinvestment; or communities with high rates of poverty or unemployment.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199O(b)(5)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to define terms upfront. Its placement is not evasive but requires careful attention to fully grasp the bill's targeting.
Case for: Proponents argue that this comprehensive definition ensures the bill's resources are precisely targeted to the communities most impacted by climate change and economic injustice, fulfilling the program's environmental justice mandate.
Case against: Critics might argue that the broadness of the definition could lead to challenges in consistent application across different regions or that it could be subject to political interpretation, potentially diluting the intended focus.
Estimated impact: This definition directly governs the allocation of at least 50% of CCC labor and investment, ensuring a significant portion of the program's resources are directed to these specified communities.
The Corporation may provide 100 percent of the cost of carrying out a program that receives assistance under the national climate service grant program, whether provided directly to a Civilian Climate Corps Partner or as a subgrant.
Section 3, Subtitle K, Section 199R(g)
Why it matters:This is a programmatic detail that, while significant, is placed logically within the grant program's rules. It's not evasive but could be missed if not specifically sought out.
Case for: Proponents argue that eliminating matching fund requirements significantly lowers barriers for states, tribes, and non-profit organizations, especially smaller or under-resourced ones, to access federal funding and participate in climate service projects. This maximizes reach and equity.
Case against: Critics might argue that matching fund requirements encourage local investment, accountability, and diversified funding sources. Removing them could lead to over-reliance on federal funds and potentially less local ownership or sustainability for projects.
Estimated impact: This provision impacts all grants made under the national climate service grant program (34% of total CCC funds), making it easier for eligible entities to receive funding without needing to secure local matching funds.