03.11.09
“The President has asked us to quickly get this legislation to his desk and today we took the first important step toward building a stronger, vibrant America through service and volunteerism,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the Committee. “National and community service can help make Americans a part of the solution to get our country through this economic crisis. I hope the House and Senate will join us in moving as quickly as possible to help President Obama sign this critical bill into law.
“I am encouraged that the GIVE Act is moving forward and that this historic national service bill is one step closer to becoming a reality. The GIVE Act will give thousands of Americans opportunities to serve and strengthen their communities while encouraging a new and vigorous culture of volunteerism in our nation,” said U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities. “I am grateful for President Obama’s leadership in calling for a strong national service bill and I look forward to working with Chairman Miller on the GIVE Act to forward this ambitious and exciting agenda.”
The GIVE Act would more than triple the number of volunteers, from the current 75,000 to 250,000, and increase the education reward they receive to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award. The education award would also be linked to match future boosts in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.
It would create a new national Call to Service campaign to encourage all Americans to get involved in service and would encourage Americans to observe September 11th a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
The legislation would also provide new incentives for middle and high school students to volunteer in their communities. It would create a Summer of Service program to engage students in service and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs.
In addition, the legislation would:
In late February, the committee held a hearing to examine the importance of national and community service in meeting critical economic needs across the country. The hearing came a day after President Obama’s address to Congress where he called for bipartisan legislation “to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations.”
For a more detailed fact sheet, click here.
House Education Committee Overwhelmingly Approves Legislation to Renew America’s Commitment to Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Education and Labor Committee today overwhelmingly approved legislation to launch a new era of American service and volunteerism. The bill answers President Obama’s call for Americans of all generations to help get the country through the economic crisis by serving and volunteering in their communities The committee passed the legislation, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, H.R. 1388, by a strong bipartisan vote of 34 to 3. The bill is expected to be voted on by the full House as early as next week. The Senate is also moving forward on similar legislation.“The President has asked us to quickly get this legislation to his desk and today we took the first important step toward building a stronger, vibrant America through service and volunteerism,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the Committee. “National and community service can help make Americans a part of the solution to get our country through this economic crisis. I hope the House and Senate will join us in moving as quickly as possible to help President Obama sign this critical bill into law.
“I am encouraged that the GIVE Act is moving forward and that this historic national service bill is one step closer to becoming a reality. The GIVE Act will give thousands of Americans opportunities to serve and strengthen their communities while encouraging a new and vigorous culture of volunteerism in our nation,” said U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities. “I am grateful for President Obama’s leadership in calling for a strong national service bill and I look forward to working with Chairman Miller on the GIVE Act to forward this ambitious and exciting agenda.”
The GIVE Act would more than triple the number of volunteers, from the current 75,000 to 250,000, and increase the education reward they receive to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award. The education award would also be linked to match future boosts in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.
It would create a new national Call to Service campaign to encourage all Americans to get involved in service and would encourage Americans to observe September 11th a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
The legislation would also provide new incentives for middle and high school students to volunteer in their communities. It would create a Summer of Service program to engage students in service and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs.
In addition, the legislation would:
- Strengthen existing service programs and create new innovative programs to help improve student achievement and graduation in low-income schools, expand health care access, provide seniors with help living independently, enhance services for veterans, and help build a green, energy-efficient economy;
- Establish a Veterans Corp to meet the unique needs of veterans and military families;
- Expand the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps to infrastructure improvement, environmental and energy conversation, and urban and rural development, in addition to disaster relief;
- Create new opportunities for Baby Boomers and seniors to serve and volunteer;
- Recruit scientists and engineers into service to keep America competitive; and
- Build a nationwide community-based infrastructure to leverage investments in service.
In late February, the committee held a hearing to examine the importance of national and community service in meeting critical economic needs across the country. The hearing came a day after President Obama’s address to Congress where he called for bipartisan legislation “to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations.”
For a more detailed fact sheet, click here.
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