Call Congress to Save National Service!

Call Congress to Save National Service!

Earlier this month, the administration released its budget proposal that eliminates the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) — the federal agency that supports national service programs including AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.

Today, nearly 325,000 Americans are serving in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs across the country, fighting poverty, rebuilding towns, educating hundreds of thousands of at-risk students, and making a meaningful and lasting impact in local communities. Eliminating these critical service programs would have a devastating impact on the lives of millions of Americans who benefit from this essential work.

We must act now to tell Congress to reject President Trump’s budget proposal and protect funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.

Directions:

Using the simple tool below, take just two minutes to call Congress and tell them why you care about national service. Enter your phone number and full address, and you will receive a call back from 202-517-9863 that will provide guidance on what to say to your elected officials, and then patch you through directly to their offices. You will first be connected to your congressperson.

On your screen, there will be a simple speaking script for you to follow. In essence, tell the office you want Congress to protect funding for national service programs. Please also share any personal stories of how service has impacted your life.

After that call ends, please remain on the line, as you will also be automatically connected to your Senators. We highly encourage you to complete all three calls before hanging up. If you get directed to their voicemail box, please also consider sending them an email. If you run into any technical issues with the tool please contact us.

Once you’re done please be sure to share on Facebook and Twitter!

Disclaimer:
As we speak for national service and volunteering, we must be mindful of how critically important it is to keep all political and advocacy activities completely separate from federal grant activities. Furthermore, service has always had bipartisan support. That’s why we must be vigilant in maintaining our focus on educating and informing our representatives about our work and impact in a non-partisan and respectful manner, at all times. If your organization receives federal funds, you are allowed to participate in Voices for National Service call days, events, activities, and sign-on letters. But it is absolutely critical that organizations who receive federal funds keep any political and advocacy activities completely disassociated with their federal grant activities. Please do not make calls while on grant-time or using technology funded by your organization’s federal grant. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) rules are clear on this issue, as are the general rules that apply to all grantees of the federal government. We must be scrupulous in conforming with these rules, and we hope you will review this letter from CNCS that explains the restrictions on legislative lobbying and partisan politics. Again, thank you so much for your passion for national service. We look forward to working together.