SERVE Act of 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 1, 2021

Service Education Reallocation for Vacant Elected offices Act of 2021 or the SERVE Act of 2021

This bill modifies the authority to make nominations for cadets or midshipmen to the military service academies in situations where a Member of Congress has not submitted a nomination due to death, resignation from office, or expulsion from office and no successor member has been sworn in to office.

Specifically, in the event a Senator does not make a nomination for one of the specified reasons, the nominations must be made by the other Senator from the state concerned. In the event a Representative does not make a nomination for one of the specified reasons, the Senators from the state of the congressional district concerned must make the nomination, with nominations divided equally among Senators and any remainder going to the senior Senator from the state.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] · D–MD

Committees

Armed Services Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 1, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Nov 1, 2021
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Nov 1, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 5791 · SERVE Act of 2021

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.3127 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.3127, 117th Congress: SERVE Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3127

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-11-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s3127/BILLS-117s3127is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T10:59:16Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.3127 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.3127 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3127, 117th Congress: SERVE Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3127

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-11-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s3127/BILLS-117s3127is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T10:59:16Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3127 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.3127 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3127, 117th Congress: SERVE Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3127

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-11-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s3127/BILLS-117s3127is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T10:59:16Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3127 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.3127 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3127, 117th Congress: SERVE Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3127

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-11-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s3127/BILLS-117s3127is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T10:59:16Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3127 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.