119-HRES-1044 Journalist Public Summary
119 · HRES 1044 Expressing support for the designation of the year 2026 as the "National Year of the Volunteer".
A bipartisan House resolution to name 2026 the “National Year of the Volunteer,” honoring volunteers and urging Americans and organizations to step up during the nation’s 250th anniversary; it is symbolic (no funding or new mandates) and, as of February 10, 2026, is in committee.
Headline Summary
A bipartisan House resolution would recognize 2026 as the “National Year of the Volunteer,” celebrating service and encouraging more Americans and organizations to volunteer during the nation’s 250th anniversary year.
What It Does
This nonbinding measure expresses the House’s support for designating 2026 as the National Year of the Volunteer. It honors volunteers, encourages all levels of government to highlight volunteer opportunities, urges nonprofits, schools, veterans’ groups, civic associations, and businesses to partner on service projects, and calls on Americans to participate in community service throughout 2026—tying the push to the United States’ 250th anniversary and related civic initiatives.
Who’s For It
- Lead sponsors: Reps. Michael Lawler (R‑NY), Jared Moskowitz (D‑FL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D‑NJ), Robert Aderholt (R‑AL), Maria Elvira Salazar (R‑FL), and Dwight Evans (D‑PA) — signaling bipartisan support.
- Supporters say the resolution spotlights the value of volunteers, helps recruit and retain people for essential roles (from youth mentoring to volunteer fire/EMS), and connects service to the 250th anniversary in 2026.
- Civic and nonprofit groups that rely on volunteers are likely to welcome the added visibility and coordination, especially after recent declines in volunteer participation.
Who’s Against It
- As of February 10, 2026, no formal opposition has been announced; commemorative resolutions rarely draw organized pushback.
- Potential critiques: it’s symbolic and doesn’t provide funding or policy changes to reverse declining volunteer rates; some may prefer Congress focus floor time on measures with direct budget or program effects.
What’s Next
The resolution was introduced on February 9, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Next, the committee could consider it and send it to the floor. Because it’s a House resolution (H. Res.), if adopted it would state the House’s position only and would not go to the Senate or the President.
Discussion