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2009 Appropriations for
National Service Programs
On December 3, Voices for National Service issued an alert asking national service programs and partners to sign-on to a letter to congressional appropriators as they continue negotiating the fiscal year 2009 funding bills. In 24 hours, more than 370 programs, corporate champions, and partner organizations responded. As detailed in the letter, Voices for National Service requests $420 million for AmeriCorps and the National Service Trust in order to sustain the same level of participants in 2009 as served in 2008.
- Click here to read the letter delivered to Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee with oversight over national service funding.
- Click here to read the letter delivered to Representative David Obey, Chairmen of the House Appropriations Subcommittee with oversight over national service funding.
In January, the 111th Congress will work on an omnibus domestic spending bill that will include fiscal year 2009 funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and its core programs – Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Voices for National Service will remain engaged, reaching out to the Administration and the Congress and urging a robust federal investment in national service programs. It is important for us to continue efforts to educate our nation's leaders about the indispensable value of national service as they head into a very difficult appropriations process. The pressure to produce more with less funding will be felt by nearly every federal program and agency in the coming year. We urge you to invite your elected officials to visit your program this year. For tips on how to schedule a visit, please click here.
- Click here for more information about fiscal year 2009 appropriations.
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Serve on
Martin Luther King, Jr Day
The Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced that President-Elect Obama, Vice President-Elect Biden, and their families will be serving on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on the eve of the Inauguration and will launch a national organizing effort to engage Americans in service.
To organize the call to service, the Inaugural Committee will reveal a new website in early January. Members and supporters of Voices for National Service are invited to register their organizations and holiday service projects with the Inaugural Committee before December 31st to be included on the website before its public launch.
- Click here for information the Presidential Inauguration Committee on how to get involved.
In 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the federal holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off from work or school, Congress asked Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King's legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action.
Many member organizations of Voices for National Service will hold special events on January 19th to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. through service. We strongly encourage individuals to learn about service opportunities in your area. Organizations can also leverage the day to educate elected officials and the public about their work in the community.
- For tips from Voices for National Service on inviting elected leaders and promoting your service event to the media click here.
- To register your project or obtain planning and volunteer management resources click here.
- Individuals looking for service opportunities in your area click here.
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Kennedy, Hatch Introduce
National Service Legislation
Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have introduced S.
3487, The Serve America Act. A major legislative initiative to expand
and improve domestic and international service opportunities, the bill
will recruit Americans of all ages to do service work in health,
education, environmental protection and anti-poverty programs. S. 3487
will expand opportunities for people to serve their communities at every
stage of life, from students and working adults to retirees. The
original cosponsors include both presidential candidates, Senators John
McCain (R-AZ) and Barack Obama (D-IL), as well as Senator Hillary
Clinton (D-NY), Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Senator Chris Dodd
(D-CT).
The introduction of S. 3487 is the first step towards the passage of a
comprehensive national service reauthorization bill that will build off
the success of the existing national service programs. Programs like
AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America have not been
reauthorized in 15 years and legislation is needed to help strengthen
and expand the federally supported service initiatives, stimulate
community volunteerism, and increase accountability and efficiency
within the administration of the programs. S. 3487 builds and expands
the national service infrastructure to further address critical
community needs while developing civic competencies in those who
participate.
- Click here to read the Press Release from Senators Kennedy and Hatch upon the introduction of their bill.
- Click here for an executive summary of S. 3487, The Serve America Act.
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