H. Res. 1044 (119th)Bill Overview

Expressing support for the designation of the year 2026 as the "National Year of the Volunteer".

Health|Health
Cosponsors
Support
Bipartisan
Introduced
Feb 9, 2026
Discussions
Bill Text
Current stageCommittee

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Introduced
Committee
Floor
President
Law
Congressional Activities
01 · The brief

This House resolution expresses support for designating 2026 as the “National Year of the Volunteer,” tied to the United States 250th anniversary.

It honors volunteers, encourages federal, state, local, nonprofit, and private efforts to highlight volunteer opportunities, and calls on Americans to participate in community service.

The resolution is symbolic and does not authorize funding or create new programs.

Passage0/100

This is a House simple resolution (expressive only) which does not create binding law and therefore cannot become law as written.

CredibilityAligned

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a straightforward commemorative resolution that clearly states the purpose and reasons for designating 2026 as the 'National Year of the Volunteer' and uses appropriate honorific and exhortatory language. It references an existing commemorative commission but does not create binding duties, appropriations, or implementation mechanisms.

Contention10/100

Progressives stress need for funding and equity-focused outreach

02 · What it does

Who stands to gain, and who may push back.

Who this appears to help vs burden50% / 50%
Local governments · WorkersTargeted stakeholders
Likely helped
  • Targeted stakeholdersIncreases public awareness that could boost volunteer recruitment through coordinated campaigns and messaging.
  • Local governmentsShort-term increases in volunteer hours may expand nonprofit service capacity and local program delivery.
  • WorkersVolunteer labor could substitute for some paid services, yielding estimated but uncertain fiscal savings.
Likely burdened
  • Targeted stakeholdersThe resolution is largely symbolic and does not provide funding or create enforceable programs.
  • Targeted stakeholdersRelying on volunteers risks masking systemic needs that require paid professional services and investment.
  • Targeted stakeholdersSmall nonprofits may face added administrative burdens recruiting, vetting, and managing increased volunteer numbers.
03 · Why people split

Why the argument around this bill splits.

Progressives stress need for funding and equity-focused outreach
Progressive90%

Generally supportive of encouraging civic engagement and community service, especially around the 250th anniversary.

Likely to welcome outreach to underrepresented communities but concerned that the resolution is symbolic without resources or equity-focused measures.

Leans supportive
Centrist85%

Supportive in principle because it promotes civic participation and is noncontroversial.

Sees value in public-private partnerships but wants clear goals, measurable outcomes, and no unfunded mandates.

Leans supportive
Conservative80%

Generally favorable because it promotes voluntary civic service, civil society, and local solutions.

Likely to support non-governmental leadership and oppose any expansion of federal mandates or new centralized bureaucracy.

Leans supportive
04 · Can it pass?

The path through Congress.

Introduced

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Committee

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Floor

Still ahead

President

Still ahead

Law

Still ahead

Passage likelihood0/100

This is a House simple resolution (expressive only) which does not create binding law and therefore cannot become law as written.

Scope and complexity
24%
Scopenarrow
24%
Complexitylow
Why this could stall
  • Whether a companion Senate resolution will be filed
  • Potential for amendment to add substantive provisions
05 · Recent votes

Recent votes on the bill.

No vote history yet

The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.

06 · Go deeper

Go deeper than the headline read.

Included on this page

Progressives stress need for funding and equity-focused outreach

This is a House simple resolution (expressive only) which does not create binding law and therefore cannot become law as written.

Unlocked analysis

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a straightforward commemorative resolution that clearly states the purpose and reasons for designating 2026 as the 'National Year of the Volunteer' and uses approp…

Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.

Perspective breakdownsPassage barriersLegislative design reviewStakeholder impact map
Open full analysis