16 U.S.C. § 1721 : US Code - Section 1721: Congressional findings and purpose

Search 16 U.S.C. § 1721 : US Code - Section 1721: Congressional findings and purpose

(a) Findings
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Conserving or developing natural and cultural resources and
enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and
waters through the use of the Nation's young men and women in a
Public Lands Corps can benefit those men and women by providing
them with education and work opportunities, furthering their
understanding and appreciation of the natural and cultural
resources, and providing a means to pay for higher education or
to repay indebtedness they have incurred to obtain higher
education while at the same time benefiting the Nation's economy
and its environment.
(2) Many facilities and natural resources located on eligible
service lands are in disrepair or degraded and in need of labor
intensive rehabilitation, restoration, and enhancement work which
cannot be carried out by Federal agencies at existing personnel
levels.
(3) Youth conservation corps have established a good record of
restoring and maintaining these kinds of facilities and resources
in a cost effective and efficient manner, especially when they
have worked in partnership arrangements with government land
management agencies.
(b) Purpose
It is the purpose of this subchapter to -
(1) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate
conservation projects on eligible service lands where such
projects will not be performed by existing employees;
(2) assist governments and Indian tribes in performing research
and public education tasks associated with natural and cultural
resources on eligible service lands;
(3) expose young men and women to public service while
furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation's
natural and cultural resources;
(4) expand educational opportunities by rewarding individuals
who participate in national service with an increased ability to
pursue higher education or job training; and
(5) stimulate interest among the Nation's young men and women
in conservation careers by exposing them to conservation
professionals in land managing agencies.