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HR 1151 111th Congress House

Encore Service Act of 2009

Official title: To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish Encore Service Programs, Encore Fellowship Programs, and Silver Scholarship Programs, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 24, 2009 Introduced by: DeLauro, Rosa L. Democratic · Connecticut See on congress.gov
Social Welfare AgingCorporation for National and Community ServiceEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary education
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Employment and training programsExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment corporations and government-sponsored enterprisesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationPoverty and welfare assistanceSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsStudent aid and college costs
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 22, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
Feb 24, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Feb 24, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 22, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Encore Service Act of 2009 - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to make eligible for assistance under the National Service Trust program Encore Service programs that engage individuals age 50 or older in national service addressing specific community needs.

Gives Encore Service participants age 50 or older five options for their term of service, ranging from full-time to minimum time.

Makes such participants eligible for national service educational awards, which they may transfer to others for use within 20 years.

Expresses the sense of Congress that, by 2018, 25% of National Service Trust program participants should be age 50 or older. Requires the Corporation for National and Community Service to identify and address the barriers to program participation by such individuals.

Establishes Encore Fellowship programs providing Encore Fellowships to professionals age 50 or older who serve as full-time volunteers for nine months to one year with public or nonprofit organizations that address unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs. Makes such Fellows ineligible for national service educational awards.

Creates Silver Scholarship programs providing Silver Scholarships to individuals who, over a one-year period, complete: (1) at least 500 hours of volunteer service after attaining age 55; or (2) between 250 and 500 hours of such service and present compelling personal experiences. Allows such individuals to transfer their scholarships to others for use within 20 years.

Directs the Corporation to specify the services that qualify volunteers for scholarships, including: (1) tutoring or mentoring in educational settings; and (2) assisting persons with special needs.

Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to allow anyone age 55 or older (currently, 60 or older) whose income does not exceed 200% (currently, 125%) of the poverty level to volunteer under the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs that provide supportive services to persons with exceptional needs.

Reauthorizes appropriations for the National Senior Volunteer Corps, including the Retired and Senior Volunteer, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1151: Encore Service Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1151/
MLA
"H.R. 1151: Encore Service Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1151/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1151, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1151/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1151: Encore Service Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1151/)
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