WASHINGTON D.C. – During a markup in the House Committee on Natural Resources, Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-03) voted to advance legislation that would give America’s youth and veterans more opportunities to help conserve, restore, and enhance the United States outdoors through the Conservation Service Corps.

The 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act of 2017 (H.R. 2987) passed out of the committee unanimously. Tipton is an original cosponsor of the legislation.

“Back in October, I had the opportunity to visit the Southwest Conservation Corps’ Veterans Fire Corps Program, where I learned firsthand exactly how beneficial programs like these are,” said Tipton. “Not only do they provide training and job experience for our nation’s youth and veterans, but they are also play a critical role in the management of national forests and other public lands. I look forward to seeing this legislation passed out of the House, so more people can participate in and benefit from these valuable programs.”

In 2010, President Obama created the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. As a part of this initiative, the president formed the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), which was designed to establish jobs and service opportunities for youth and veterans.

In response to President Obama’s initiative, the Department of Interior (DOI) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) created public-private partnership programs, identified as 21CSC partnerships. Under the Public Land Corps Act of 1993, the DOI and USFS are able to collaborate with youth conservation corps on 21CSC projects across the nation.

H.R. 2987 would codify and expand the 21st Century Conservation Corps program by:

• Renaming the Public Land Corps as the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps
• Expanding participation of veterans and U.S. Armed Forces in the corps by raising the age cap for eligibility to 35
• Authorizing a program specifically for Indian youth to work on projects on tribal lands
• Increasing the number of federal agencies able to use the program
• Requiring that participating agencies report to Congress to ensure that 21CSC activities are carried out in a cost effective manner