02.26.09

Chairman Miller Praises Obama’s Commitment to New Era of Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, today praised President Obama for his significant commitment to investing in national and community service opportunities for Americans in his budget overview. At a committee hearing yesterday, Miller announced that a comprehensive bill to strengthen and grow national service is the next legislative priority for his committee.  “In his first joint address to Congress, President Obama made service a key part of his bold agenda to revive and rebuild our country. Today’s budget proposal shows he’s serious by creating 175,000 new service opportunities for Americans, expanding ways for retirees to give back to their communities, and integrating service in schools. This blueprint rightly recognizes that we can make Americans a part of the solution to the enormous challenges facing our country by harnessing their skills, experience, hope and desire to serve.

“There is no question that improving service will help our country get through this economic crisis. With today’s proposal, President Obama has put us on the right track. I look forward to working with him, in a bipartisan way, in the coming weeks on comprehensive legislation that will launch a new era of American service.”

Yesterday’s hearing was the first held in this Congress to examine ways to bolster service. For more information, click here.