Bennet, Cassidy, Cortez Masto, Collins, Coons, Wicker Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Tax Relief for AmeriCorps Volunteers

About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Map Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet, Cassidy, Cortez Masto, Collins, Coons, Wicker Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Tax Relief for AmeriCorps Volunteers Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) led Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to reintroduce the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act. This legislation would provide tax relief for AmeriCorps members who earn Segal Education Awards to help pay […] Sep 24, 2026 | Press Releases Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) led Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to reintroduce the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act. This legislation would provide tax relief for AmeriCorps members who earn Segal Education Awards to help pay for higher education costs that they earn through their service. “In Colorado and across the country, AmeriCorps volunteers contribute to our communities and help improve the lives of our kids and neighbors through countless hours of service,” said Bennet. “Congress should recognize their commitment and help them further their education without this unnecessary burden. I’m grateful to work with my colleagues to ensure the education assistance they earn is not unfairly taxed.” “Life in every parish has been improved by AmeriCorps members,” said Cassidy. “From stopping crime to helping communities after a hurricane, their service ought to be rewarded, not unfairly taxed.” “AmeriCorps members provide a lifeline to communities and students across the country, and they shouldn’t be taxed for their education awards,” said Cortez Masto. “Our bipartisan bill will eliminate this unfair tax on their service and help them keep their education costs down.” “AmeriCorps members make significant contributions to communities in Maine and across the country,” said Collins. “The Education Award they earn helps them pursue higher education or pay down student loan debt and should not be subject to federal income tax. This bipartisan legislation would ensure they receive the full benefit of the assistance they earned through their service.” “Young people who join AmeriCorps sacrifice higher salaries in order to dedicate an enormous amount of time and energy to helping communities in need,” said Coons. “We should celebrate that service and make sure it sets members on a path to affordable education and good jobs. This bill will ensure that those who choose to help their neighbors receive the full value of their education stipend to continue building on skills learned during their service year.” “Mississippians in AmeriCorps provide great service to our communities,” said Wicker. “Our legislation honors their commitments by eliminating the unnecessary taxes on the benefits they have earned.” AmeriCorps members who complete a full term of service earn a Segal Education Award equal to the maximum Pell Grant amount ($7,395 for 2026-2027). AmeriCorps members can use the award to pay college costs or to pay down student loan debt. Since the program launched in 1994, nearly one million AmeriCorps members have earned Segal Education Awards. Currently, Segal Education Awards are considered taxable income. This legislation would exclude these awards from income tax, to reflect the intent of federal education awards, help those serving pay for college, and remove a barrier that may discourage young people from taking advantage of the financial assistance they’ve earned. “AmeriCorps members earn their Education Award through service, yet when they use it for college or student loans, they can face an unexpected federal tax bill. That’s a tax on service. We don’t tax Pell Grants or GI Bill benefits, and we shouldn’t tax the AmeriCorps Education Award. We’re grateful to Senators Bennet and Cassidy for leading this bipartisan effort to make the Education Award tax-free and ensure AmeriCorps members can use what they earned through service to build their futures,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service. “National service should open doors, not create new hurdles. For more than three decades, AmeriCorps members have strengthened communities across the country, and more than a million have earned the Segal Education Award to help pay for college or repay student loans. Treating that award as taxable income undercuts the very spirit of service it was meant to honor. The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act is a bipartisan, common-sense fix, and we applaud Senators Michael Bennet and Bill Cassidy for their leadership,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With H