Congressional Champions Urge Appropriators to Invest in AmeriCorps

This spring, a bipartisan group of nearly 140 members of Congress signed letters to the leaders of the Appropriations Committees urging them to invest in AmeriCorps in fiscal year (FY) 2025. The letters were led by the co-chairs of the National Service Congressional Caucus: Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in the Senate, and Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) in the House. In total, 45 Senators and 93 Representatives signed the letters. 

Both letters listed the benefits and services provided by AmeriCorps members and programs in communities across the nation; thanked committee leadership for past increases in AmeriCorps funding; and noted that funding increases for AmeriCorps are necessary in FY25 to expand opportunities to serve, strengthen the impact of AmeriCorps programs, and increase member benefits. 

The Senate letter (read here) specifically asks for the Labor-HHS Subcommittee leaders to “provide robust funding to restore the number of funded AmeriCorps member slots to 2023 levels and to make further investments in member benefits,” requesting an increase of at least $300 million for AmeriCorps in FY25. Additional goals include providing congressional investment to continue working towards a member living allowance that “covers a participant’s basic expenses during their service term.” 

The House letter (read here) requests that Appropriations leaders “protect service member positions and provide the highest possible funding for AmeriCorps in FY 2025.” The letter was written with the expectation of stronger constraints on appropriations, as the Republican-controlled chamber has vowed to write their funding bills under the caps determined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. 

Here is the full list of members who signed the letter in the Senate: 

Here is the full list of members who signed in the House of Representatives: 

* Republicans signed onto the letters are marked with an asterisk