FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ranit Schmelzer, ranit@schmelzerstrategies.com
Washington, DC (August 2, 2024) – Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill. The spending package, which was supported by both Republicans and Democrats on the committee, provides a modest $15 million increase in funding for the AmeriCorps Agency over fiscal year 2024 levels.
“With the explosion of needs in our country, now is the time to invest in AmeriCorps which provides vital people power to community and faith-based organizations on the front lines of addressing locally-determined needs,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service. “We’re pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee has come together in a bipartisan way to protect AmeriCorps and provide a modest increase in funding. It’s a move in the right direction, and we’re grateful for it. We applaud Chairwoman Baldwin and Ranking Member Capito’s commitment and leadership in gaining bipartisan support to increase and protect AmeriCorps funding.
“However, it’s not enough to protect the current AmeriCorps field, let alone grow it. We’re particularly concerned given the House Appropriation Committee’s move to defund AmeriCorps, which would devastate the work of thousands of groups like the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Habitat for Humanity, and other service organizations that Americans count on every day.
“The national service field calls for a more unified, bicameral process moving forward to provide increased investment for AmeriCorps in the later stages of the appropriations process.”
For thirty years, AmeriCorps members have provided critical services to communities in need across the nation, from responding to natural disasters and food insecurity to providing support for veterans, seniors, and students, and much more.
The Senate bill provides $35 million for AmeriCorps State and National grants over FY24, level funds the other AmeriCorps programs, and cuts the National Service Trust, which is used to fund education awards for AmeriCorps alumni who successfully complete their service. If enacted, it would support approximately 55,000 AmeriCorps members in FY25 – or about 23,000 fewer positions than the agency awarded a year ago.
Meanwhile, last month the House Appropriations Committee approved its funding bill for fiscal year 2025. The bill eliminates the AmeriCorps grants program, AmeriCorps NCCC, the State Service Commissions, which allow governors across the country to address problems in their communities, and the National Service Trust. This proposal threatens more than 71,000 AmeriCorps service positions and the services those members provide to local communities.
Demand for AmeriCorps is greater than the funding provided by the House or Senate, and in fact, AmeriCorps needs an increase in fiscal year 2025 appropriations. An additional $345 million above the FY24 enacted level will restore AmeriCorps positions to the 2023 levels (more than 75,000 AmeriCorps and 143,000 AmeriCorps Seniors positions) and protect the long overdue strategic investments that were made with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, such as increasing the AmeriCorps living allowance to a minimum of $11/hour. This additional investment will ensure communities can count on AmeriCorps for help where it is needed most – at the same level they receive today.
To learn more or to speak with AnnMaura Connolly, please contact Ranit Schmelzer at ranit@schmelzerstrategies.com.
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Voices for National Service advocates for AmeriCorps programs that respond to the country’s most immediate and critical challenges, from natural disasters to education, supporting veterans, and more. Founded in 2003, Voices for National Service has built strong bipartisan support among our nation’s leaders for AmeriCorps, a public-private partnership that yields more than $17 in benefits to our country for every $1 invested by Congress. Voices for National Service works to strengthen public awareness and understanding among policymakers of the local impact of the 210,000 members of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors who support nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations on the front lines of our communities – an effort that unites our country and deepens civic character.