Libby Bramson

Opinion contributor

Every year young Americans heed the signal to serve their country — volunteering their blood, sweat, and tears to the promise of a nation that's stronger and more prosperous.

Some of these heroes clothe themselves in the colors of the Armed Forces, but other patriots still answer the call of duty through national service, sometimes devoting years working to address critical economic, educational, and health care needs of communities all across the country.

I was among them, and spent two exhausting years serving in California schools to put the American dream within reach for all kids no matter their station.

I will forever be proud of that hard work in service of my country. I served because I love America, because I believe its greatness is won and lost by the devotion of its citizens.

In return, my government sent me a bill.

Education benefits — with a catch

Created by Congress in the National and Community Service Trust Act, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) provides civilians opportunities through AmeriCorps and other national service programs to address the nation's most pressing unmet needs, including emergency disaster response or the opioid epidemic.

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Working in concert with philanthropic, faith-based, and community agencies and non-profits, AmeriCorps marries civilian national service with more than $1 billion in outside donations and funding through public-private partnerships to augment America's schools and food banks, youth and veteran care centers, and jobs training programs.

Not unlike the G.I. Bill, the World War II era and later post-9/11 program that empowered returning veterans to pursue an education that otherwise would not have been possible, AmeriCorps members are awarded a small post-service education benefit to help defray the increasingly steep cost of college.

Since the program's launch two decades ago, more than one million Americans have earned AmeriCorps education awards to help them pursue higher education, including many first-generation college graduates like myself. But, unlike the G.I. Bill, that education award is taxed as income for AmeriCorps members, whose tax brackets are often adjusted upwards as a consequence.

Stop taxing service

Hit with this unexpected liability, some young people are forced to take out huge loans or new credit cards to stay in the good graces of a government that salutes their service with a bill. In my case, I spent three years paying off the debt I incurred as a consequence of this silly tax rule.

No reasonable policy maker would dare treat an education benefit provided to veterans as taxable income, but that's the unique and baffling burden placed on those American patriots who dedicate themselves to national service.

Congress should encourage and facilitate the full spectrum and ethics of service, military and civilian alike. Instead, Americans who commit themselves to strengthening our communities and civic landscape through national service are punished by an unreasonable and unpatriotic tax framework.

Don't make another patriotic young person suffer years of debt or delinquency for their love of country. Stop taxing service.

Libby Bramson was an AmeriCorps member from 2014 to 2016, working in California public schools through a public-private partnership with City Year.