FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mar 11, 2009

Dear Colleagues:

Congress is taking action on national service authorizing and appropriations legislation, and we want to share the latest developments.

This morning, the House Education and Labor Committee approved H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, on a 34-3 vote. The GIVE Act would reauthorize and strengthen the programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service and create new opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve their country. We thank Chairman George Miller, Ranking Member Howard McKeon, Subcommittee Chair Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, and other members of the Committee for their strong leadership and swift action on this important legislation to update and strengthen our national service laws to engage more Americans in service to tackle tough problems. Click here for the Committee web page with the text of the GIVE Act and the four amendments adopted today, and click here for a Committee summary of the GIVE Act as introduced.

Also on the authorizing front, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee yesterday held a very positive hearing on the Next Generation of National Service. The hearing was chaired by Rep. Barbara Mikulski and had strong bipartisan participation including Ranking Member Michael B. Enzi (WY), Orrin Hatch (UT), Chris Dodd (CT), John McCain (AZ), Patty Murray (WA), and Johnny Isakson (GA). There was extensive discussion of the value of national service and legislative changes to strengthen our nation’s service programs and civic infrastructure to solve problems and strengthen our communities. I encourage you to read the testimony and watch the proceedings at the Committee’s website at http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_03_10_b/2009_03_10_b.html

Congress also has completed work on the Fiscal Year 2009 budget. Today the President is expected to sign the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which would provide funding for programs across the government for the remainder of Fiscal 2009. The funding level for the Corporation is $889,866,000, broken down as follows:

  • AmeriCorps Grants: $271,196,000
  • AmeriCorps VISTA: $96,050,000
  • AmeriCorps NCCC: $27,500,000
  • National Service Trust: $131,075,000
  • Senior Corps: $213,785,000
    • RSVP: $58,642,000
    • Foster Grandparents: $108,999,000
    • Senior Companions: $46,144,000
  • Learn and Serve America: $37,459,000
  • Innovation and Demonstration: $18,893,000
  • Evaluation: $3,891,000
  • State Commission Grants: $11,790,000
  • Salaries and Expenses: $71,715,000
  • Office of Inspector General: $6,512,000

More details are at our budget page at /about/budget/index.asp. We are grateful that Congress and the White House have made national service a priority for action, and will keep you posted on further developments.

In Service,

Nicola Goren
Acting CEO
Corporation for National and Community Service

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.