SENATE RESOLUTION 127--RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICORPS MEMBERS AND ALUMNI TO THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 53
(Senate - March 27, 2019)
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[Page S2057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 127--RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICORPS
MEMBERS AND ALUMNI TO THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Brown, Ms.
Hassan, Ms. Harris, Mr. Carper, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Reed, Mr. Durbin, Mr.
King, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Collins, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Markey,
Mr. Manchin, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Wicker, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Tester, Mr. Peters, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Booker, Mr. Van
Hollen, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which was
considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 127
Whereas, since its inception in 1994, the AmeriCorps
national service program has proven to be a highly effective
way--
(1) to engage the people of the United States in meeting a
wide range of local and national needs; and
(2) to promote the ethics of service and volunteerism;
Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,000,000 individuals have
taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ``get things done for
America'' by becoming AmeriCorps members;
Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps, in coordination with State
service commissions, provides opportunities for approximately
75,000 individuals across the United States to give back in
an intensive way to communities, States, Tribal nations, and
the United States;
Whereas AmeriCorps members have served more than
1,500,000,000 hours nationwide, helping--
(1) to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of
the United States;
(2) to protect the environment;
(3) to contribute to public safety;
(4) to respond to disasters;
(5) to strengthen the educational system of the United
States; and
(6) to expand economic opportunity;
Whereas, since 1994, more than $9,200,000,000 in AmeriCorps
funds have been invested in nonprofit, community,
educational, and faith-based groups, and those funds leverage
hundreds of millions of dollars in outside funding and in-
kind donations each year;
Whereas AmeriCorps members recruit and supervise millions
of community volunteers, demonstrating the value of
AmeriCorps as a powerful force for encouraging people to
become involved in volunteering and community service;
Whereas AmeriCorps members serve at more than 20,000
locations across the United States, including at nonprofit
organizations, schools, and faith-based and community
organizations;
Whereas AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps
campuses in the States of Mississippi, Maryland, Iowa,
California, and Colorado strengthen communities and develop
future leaders through team-based service;
Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for the
service of those members, have earned more than
$3,700,000,000 to use to further their own educational
advancement at colleges and universities across the United
States;
Whereas AmeriCorps members, after their terms of service
with AmeriCorps end, have been more likely to remain engaged
in their communities as volunteers, teachers, and nonprofit
professionals than the average individual;
Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway to employment,
providing members with valuable career skills, experience,
and contacts to prepare them for the 21st century workforce
and to help close the skills gap in the United States;
Whereas, in 2009, Congress passed the bipartisan Serve
America Act (Public Law 111-13; 123 Stat. 1460), which
authorized the expansion of national service, expanded
opportunities to serve, increased efficiency and
accountability, and strengthened the capacity of
organizations and communities to solve problems;
Whereas national service programs have engaged millions of
people in the United States in results-driven service in the
most vulnerable communities of the United States, providing
hope and help to individuals with economic and social needs;
Whereas national service and volunteerism demonstrate the
best of the spirit of the United States, with people turning
toward problems and working together to find community
solutions; and
Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2019 from March 10
through March 16, is an appropriate time for the people of
the United States--
(1) to salute current and former AmeriCorps members for
their positive impact on the lives of people in the United
States;
(2) to thank the community partners of AmeriCorps for
making the program possible; and
(3) to encourage more people in the United States to become
involved in service and volunteering: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) encourages the people of the United States to join in a
national effort--
(A) to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni; and
(B) to raise awareness about the importance of national and
community service;
(2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the
members, alumni, and community partners of AmeriCorps;
(3) recognizes the important contributions made by
AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of the people of
the United States; and
(4) encourages individuals of all ages to consider
opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps.
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