On March 29, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Wendy Spencer as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Wendy Spencer takes the helm of the agency at a time when CNCS resources are in great demand. Both those who serve and those who benefit from the agency’s programs recognize the critical role national service plays in meeting community needs, building nonprofit capacity, and creating pathways to work.

A Message from Wendy Spencer:

• Click here for a statement on Wendy Spencer’s confirmation from Voices for National Service

• Click here for a CNCS press release on Wendy Spencer’s confirmation.

After two failed attempts to shutdown the Corporation for National and Community Service in 2011, the House of Representatives is trying again. On March 29, 2012, the House passed a Budget Resolution, written by Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), that calls for the elimination of CNCS and its cost effective programs, including AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.

While the resolution is only a budget blueprint and it does not have the force of law, it is a reflection of congressional priorities and it serves a guide for the annual appropriation process. This proposal is another threat to America’s long-held bipartisan commitment to national service.

Now is the time to let your legislators know that abolishing CNCS is a bad decision for America, and Congress must reject Chairman Ryan’s budget and invest in CNCS.

• Click here to email Congress. Your voice matters most.

• Click here for legislative update and more information on the FY13 budget and appropriations process.

• Click here to read The New York Times Editorial, Congress Needs to Step Up for AmeriCorp, 04/06/2012.

On March 13, 2012, senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, CNCS and the White House Domestic Policy Council launched FEMA Corps.  This innovative cross-agency collaboration creates a new unit of AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).  An additional 1,600 NCCC corps members will be recruited, trained and deployed to support FEMA disaster response and recovery efforts. According to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, “FEMA Corps will strengthen the nation's disaster response by providing a dedicated, trained and reliable workforce—to support disaster survivors and impacted communities during their greatest time of need.  At the same time, we hope to inspire a generation of young people to take up careers in emergency management.”

• Click here for a CNCS press release and more information on FEMA Corps

• Click here for a press release from Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) applauding the new FEMA Corps

• An Age-Appropriate Assist
  Paula Span, New York Times blog: The New Old Age, 04/11/2012

• National Volunteer Month: Celebrating the "New" Volunteerism
  Michael Haberman, Huffington Post, 04/10/2012

• Congress Needs to Step Up for AmeriCorps
  The New York Times Editorial, 04/06/2012

• Nonprofits Present Career Opportunities for College Graduates
  Chris Hassan, U.S. News and World Report, 04/04/2012

• AmeriCorps Fosters the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs
  John Gomperts, Huffington Post, 04/03/2012

• Patriots among the Patriotic
  Koby Langley, Military.com, 04/01/2012

• Senate Confirms New CNCS Executive
  Mark Hrywna, The NonProfit Times, 03/30/2012

• 10 Great Opportunities for Older Volunteers
  U.S. News and World Report, 03/28/2012

• Gifted Givers: There’s No Shortage of Volunteer Opportunities for RNs in the U.S.
  Robin Huiras, Nurse.com, 03/26/2012

• AmeriCorps: The Next Generation of Volunteers Make a Difference
  Lisa King, The Washington Times, 03/17/2012

• AmeriCorps: Developing the Next Generation of Public Servants
  Bizunesh Scott, Huffington Post, 03/15/2012

• AmeriCorps teams up with FEMA to help at disaster scenes
  CNN Wire Staff, CNN, 03/13/2012

• Presidential Service Award Honors 5 Colleges For Giving Back To Community
  Huffington Post, 03/13/2012

• Wendy Spencer deserves an up or down vote
  Harris Wofford and David Eisner, The Hill's Congress Blog, 03/12/2012

• Fostering The Next Generation Of Social Entrepreneurs Through Service
  John Gomperts, Fast Company Co.EXIST, 02/22/2012

• Government’s Underappreciated Resource
  Stephen Goldsmith, Governing, 02/22/2012

• AmeriCorps, Eager To Expand, Backed By Presidential Candidates
  Eleanor Goldberg, The Huffington Post, 02/21/2012

• 'No'--Nearly One Million Times
  Michael Brown, The Huffington Post, 02/15/2012

• Obama Names Fla. Volunteer Leader to Head National-Service Agency
  Caroline Preston, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 10/17/2011

• FoodCorps plants food activism in American schools
  Cassie Spodak, CNN, 10/12/2011

• Young People Have a Stake in the Future of the Economy
  Jasmin Jones, Center for American Progress, 10/05/2011

• Fight for Social Programs Looms Anew in the House
  Robert Pear, The New York Times, 10/03/2011

• National Service, NPR Face New Challenges From House Republicans
  Suzanne Perry, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 09/30/2011

Service Community Celebrates Serve America Act
Events, Presidential Proclamation, Congressional Resolutions recognize impact of service and volunteerism across America

April 21, 2010 marked the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the largest expansion of service and social innovation since the New Deal. Voices for National Service partnered with ServiceNation and America Forward to host a luncheon and breakout sessions to celebrate the act and its co-author, Senator Kennedy. The event was also an opportunity to discuss the movement’s next steps, as we continue working to fulfill the immense promise of the Serve America Act.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who authored the Serve America Act with Senator Kennedy, delivered taped remarks to the audience. Speakers in attendance included Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Patrick Corvington of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Melody Barnes of The White House Domestic Policy Council Cokie Roberts of ABC News, and John Podesta of the Center for American Progress.

• Click here to read Patrick Corvington’s keynote address at the luncheon.

• Click here for more information about the Leadership Luncheon and Solution Sessions, including a full list of speakers.

On the first anniversary of the Serve America Act, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1276, "Recognizing the continued importance of volunteerism and national service and the anniversary of the signing of the landmark service legislation, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act." Introduced by Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the resolution had 30 co-sponsors and passed by a voice vote.

• Click here for more information, including text of the resolution and floor remarks made by representatives in support of H. Res. 1276.

President Obama issued a proclamation to officially mark National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, 2010. In the Presidential Proclamation, President Obama reiterates his Administration's commitment to "ushering in a new era of service and responsibility":

Whether through the workplace or a house of worship, in our own neighborhoods or in another state or country, service binds us together as Americans in a way nothing else can. It defines us as a people, and it is essential to achieving our national priorities. Together, let us answer the call, take hold of our shared future, and meet the challenges of our new century.... I call upon all Americans to observe this week by volunteering in service projects across our country and pledging to make service a part of their daily lives.

• Click here to read the Presidential Proclamation declaring National Volunteer Week 2010.

On November 16, 2009, the Center for American Progress released “National Service and Youth Unemployment: Strategies for Job Creation Amid Economic Recovery,” a collaboration by Melissa Boteach, Joy Moses, and Shirley Sagawa.  The memo details youth unemployment in the current economic climate and describes how national service can contribute to reducing these numbers as well as play a part in creating jobs.

• Click here to read “National Service and Youth Unemployment” from the Center for American Progress.

• Click here to read an opinion piece by John Podesta, president of the Center for American Progress and former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, on the role for national service in helping our national recover.

• In February 2010, the Center for American Progress released “How Quickly Can Service Grow?” by Shirley Sagawa, calling for an accelerated expansion of national service to “create jobs, address pressing community problems, and reconnect youth who are neither employed nor in school with a pathway to opportunity.”  Click here to read “How Quickly Can Service Grow?”

		On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which will dramatically expand national service opportunities to address America's most pressing challenges. At the signing ceremony, the President drew significant attention to one of the bill's architects, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), highlighting the long-standing commitment by the senator and his family to service and the country.

• Click here to read President Obama's complete statement from the bill signing ceremony.

• Click here to read more on the bill signing from the White House.

• Click here for a detailed summary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and the bill language provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• Click here to read news coverage of the bill signing.

• Click here for a statement from Voices for National Service on the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

While the bill authorizes a massive expansion of national service programs for Americans of all ages, implementation is tied to the availability of funds.  The President is expected to release a detailed budget for Fiscal Year 2010 next month, and Congress will consider the President's request as they make discretionary spending decisions and consider the twelve annual appropriations bills.

Voices for National Service will remain engaged in the appropriations process and will provide updates as they become available.

Millions watched this week as President Obama spoke to a Joint Session of Congress and clearly stated his vision for the role National Service should play in facing the critical challenges our country faces.

		“To encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations,” President Obama asked Congress to send him the Serve America Act, “the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country – Senator Edward Kennedy.”

The Serve America Act builds on service as a strategy to meet specific national challenges such as addressing the dropout crisis and strengthening our schools; improving energy efficiency; safeguarding the environment; improving health care and expanding economic opportunity in low-income communities; and preparing for and responding to disasters and emergencies.

• Click here to read the full transcript

• Click here for other National Service news

		Recording Artist Usher joined other distinguished witnesses to testify before the House Committee on Education and Labor at a hearing examining how to renew America through national service and volunteerism on February 25, 2009.   It was the first full committee education hearing held in the 111th Congress. The hearing investigated the role of service in meeting critical community needs, reinvigorating civic engagement across all levels of society, expanding opportunities for young people to participate in service, and how national and community service can help “green” America.

Click on the witnesses listed below to read their testimony:

• Rep. George Miller (D-CA) Opening Statement

• Usher Raymond IV, Recording Artist and Chairman Usher's New Look Foundation

• James Harris, Youth Participant Usher's New Look Foundation

• Richard Stengel, Managing Editor TIME Magazine

• Van Jones, Founder and President Green for All

• Cheryl L. Dorsey, President Echoing Green

• The Honorable Harris Wofford, former US Senator (D-PA)

• Sgt. Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, United States Army

• David L. Caprara, Director and Nonresident Fellow Brookings Initiative on International Volunteering and Service

• Lisa Hamilton, President UPS Foundation