Congress Answers Obama´s Call to Expand National Service & Volunteerism
Congressional Desk
April 03, 2009
Clay Says Bill Will Inspire Americans to Serve Their Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, joined a huge bipartisan majority in support of H.R. 1388, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which passed the U.S. House by a vote of 275-149. "This remarkable bill challenges the American people to invest their time, energy and faith in rebuilding our economy and strengthening our communities," said the Congressman. "It will create 175,000 new volunteer opportunities for Americans to help meet our nation´s most pressing needs, including energy, education, health care, veterans´ needs, and much more. I´m proud that we have answered President Obama´s call to create new volunteer opportunities for Americans of all ages to build a stronger country."
Highlights of the new legislation include:
Increases the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000.
Significantly expands existing service programs like AmeriCorps.
Establishes four new service corps to address key needs in low income communities, including a Clean Energy Corps to encourage energy efficiency and conservation; an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement and graduation; a Healthy Futures Corps to improve health care access; and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans.
Establishes Youth Engagement Zones, a new service-learning program to engage low-income high school students and out-of-school youth in volunteer efforts that address challenges in their local communities.
Establishes the Summer of Service program that engages middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs. Students will be eligible to participate in two terms of service and earn up to a total of $1,000.
Increases the full-time education award service members receive in exchange for their work to $5,350 for 2010. This award would also be linked to match future increases in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.
Across Missouri, more than 14,000 people of all ages and backgrounds are currently involved in volunteer activities through 85 national service projects. These citizens tutor and mentor children, coordinate after-school programs, build homes, conduct neighborhood patrols, restore the environment and respond to natural disasters. This legislation will commit more than $12,000,000 to support Missouri volunteer service activities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, joined a huge bipartisan majority in support of H.R. 1388, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which passed the U.S. House by a vote of 275-149. "This remarkable bill challenges the American people to invest their time, energy and faith in rebuilding our economy and strengthening our communities," said the Congressman. "It will create 175,000 new volunteer opportunities for Americans to help meet our nation´s most pressing needs, including energy, education, health care, veterans´ needs, and much more. I´m proud that we have answered President Obama´s call to create new volunteer opportunities for Americans of all ages to build a stronger country."
Highlights of the new legislation include:
Increases the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000.
Significantly expands existing service programs like AmeriCorps.
Establishes four new service corps to address key needs in low income communities, including a Clean Energy Corps to encourage energy efficiency and conservation; an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement and graduation; a Healthy Futures Corps to improve health care access; and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans.
Establishes Youth Engagement Zones, a new service-learning program to engage low-income high school students and out-of-school youth in volunteer efforts that address challenges in their local communities.
Establishes the Summer of Service program that engages middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs. Students will be eligible to participate in two terms of service and earn up to a total of $1,000.
Increases the full-time education award service members receive in exchange for their work to $5,350 for 2010. This award would also be linked to match future increases in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.
Across Missouri, more than 14,000 people of all ages and backgrounds are currently involved in volunteer activities through 85 national service projects. These citizens tutor and mentor children, coordinate after-school programs, build homes, conduct neighborhood patrols, restore the environment and respond to natural disasters. This legislation will commit more than $12,000,000 to support Missouri volunteer service activities.
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