FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Apr 21, 2009

White House Press Briefing Call at 10 AM EDT
NEED TO RSVP BY 9:00 AM EDT

B-Roll Satellite Feed of National Service in Action at 12:00 noon EDT

Washington, DC – This afternoon at 4:00 pm President Obama will sign into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a broadly bipartisan bill that represents the most sweeping expansion of national service in a generation. He will also deliver remarks calling on people across the country to serve their communities and work together to tackle the challenges facing the nation.

The Serve America Act would reauthorize and expand national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency created in 1993. Under the Act, the Corporation will increase opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve by increasing AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 positions, expanding service opportunities for students and baby boomers, and strengthening America’s civic infrastructure by investing in social innovation and volunteer mobilization.

In preparation for the bill signing, the White House and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) are sponsoring a press teleconference call today at 10:00 am EDT. To RSVP and receive call-in information, email press@who.eop.gov by 9:00AM EDT.

WHAT:

  • Media Briefing Call about Serve America Act and President Obama’s Call to Service

WHO:

  • Melody Barnes, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council
  • Alan Solomont, Chairman of the Board, CNCS
  • Stephen Goldsmith, Vice Chairman of the Board, CNCS

WHEN:

  • Tuesday, April 21 at 10:00 am EDT

RSVP:

To receive call-in information, email press@who.eop.gov by 9:00AM EDT

Additionally, a B-roll media reel of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps volunteers in action – including disaster response, tutoring, environmental cleanup and more -- will be available by satellite on Tuesday at 12:00 noon EDT. The coordinates are: Satellite: Galaxy 17, Transponder: K15 Slot A,

91 degrees West, Downlink Frequency: 11986.5 H, Symbol Rate: 6.1113, FEC: ¾

Additional resources:

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.