House Sends Landmark National Service Bill to President Obama
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With Americans facing unprecedented challenges in their communities, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation that will launch a new era of national service and volunteerism to help the nation emerge stronger from the economic crisis. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act was approved by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 275 to 149.The legislation makes good on President Obama’s call for Americans to do their part to help the nation’s economy recover by making a difference in their communities. When enacted, this will be the first major piece of the President’s agenda to receive overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress.
“History has shown that in times of crisis, Americans turn to service and volunteering for healing, for rebuilding and for hope. The spirit and generosity of the American people is one of our nation’s greatest assets,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “This legislation is just what we need, at this pivotal moment, to get our nation back on track.”
“I am pleased that the Senate has moved this bill so quickly and that we are getting closer to being able to send it to President Obama for his signature,” said U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), sponsor of the legislation. “With the passage of this bill today, a new and vibrant national service and volunteerism program will be developed in our county, creating a system that will provide opportunities for Americans to serve their nation while improving their communities.”
Americans’ desire to serve is growing with the economic crisis, with many displaced workers joining the ranks of citizens looking to give back. In 2007, more than 61 million Americans spent over 8 billion hours volunteering. Young Americans are also serving in record numbers: more than a quarter of Americans over the age of 16 have volunteered.
Investing in service also yields enormous economic returns. In 2007, volunteers generated $158 billion worth of economic benefits. A cost-benefit analysis of AmeriCorps, for example, shows that every $1 invested produced returns of $1.50 to $3.90 in direct measurable benefits.
To meet this growing demand, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, H.R. 1388, will provide the greatest expansion of national service since President John. F Kennedy first issued his call to serve over 50 years ago. Among other things, the bill will create 175,000 new volunteer opportunities for Americans to help meet the nation’s pressing challenges, including energy, education, health care, veterans’ needs, and more.
It will also strengthen our nation’s disaster relief efforts – a need highlighted by the severe flooding overwhelming North and South Dakota. Officials estimate that tens of thousands of volunteers are already giving of their time and effort to help with local recovery efforts. In Fargo, a city with a population of 90,000, 80,000 volunteers arrived to help.
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will engage Americans of all ages, from middle school through retirement, in service and volunteerism. The legislation will:
- More than triple the number of volunteers serving in this country from 75,000 to 250,000 and establish four new service corps: a Clean Energy Corps to increase energy efficiency and conservation, an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement and graduation, a Healthy Futures Corps to help improve health care access, and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans. These 175,000 new volunteer opportunities will expand current AmeriCorps programs and provide members for these four new service corps.
- Increase the education award service members receive in exchange for their contributions to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship. The award will also be permanently linked to match any future increases in the Pell Grant;
- Create new opportunities for older Americans and retirees and allows them to transfer their education awards – up to $1,000 for at least 350 hours of service – to a child, foster child or grandchild;
- Establish a new Summer of Service program to engage middle and high school students in service and allows them to earn a $500 education award to put toward college;
- Double the resources available to engage youth with disabilities in service;
- Strengthen disaster relief efforts and establish an alumni corps of former service participants who can help respond during natural disasters and other emergencies;
- Bolster students’ education by establishing service-learning opportunities that use real world service activities to teach students about a certain topic; and
- Establishes a call to service campaign that encourages Americans to volunteer and observe September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
For a summary of this legislation, click here.
For more information on the role service programs play in each state, click here.
Earlier this month, Chairman Miller hosted a press conference with U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), the sponsor of the legislation, House lawmakers and nearly a hundred local area volunteers whose organizations stand to benefit from the Serve America Act. To view footage from the event, click here.
At a hearing in February, the Education and Labor Committee heard from witnesses about the many benefits of service and volunteering, including education initiatives, green service initiatives, veterans work, and more. For more information on that hearing, click here.
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