[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 548 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 548

Recognizing the accomplishments of the members and alumni of AmeriCorps 
 and the contributions of AmeriCorps to the lives of the people of the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 1, 2008

  Mr. Dodd (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. 
Mikulski, Mr. McCain, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wicker, 
   Mr. Obama, Mr. Smith, Mr. Brown, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
    Feingold, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Casey, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Lieberman) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
               on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the accomplishments of the members and alumni of AmeriCorps 
 and the contributions of AmeriCorps to the lives of the people of the 
                             United States.

Whereas, since the inception of the AmeriCorps national service program in 1994, 
        AmeriCorps has proven to be highly effective at promoting the ethic of 
        service and volunteering and engaging people in the United States in 
        meeting a wide range of local needs;
Whereas, since 1994, more than $5,000,000,000 in AmeriCorps funds have been 
        invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based groups, 
        and those funds have led to the contribution of hundreds of millions of 
        dollars of additional funds and in-kind donations from other sources;
Whereas, since 1994, approximately 542,000 people have taken the AmeriCorps 
        pledge to ``get things done for America'' by becoming AmeriCorps 
        members;
Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps provides opportunities for 75,000 people across 
        the United States to give back in an intensive way to their districts, 
        their States, and the Nation;
Whereas AmeriCorps members have served a total of more than 705,000,000 hours 
        nationwide, helping to improve the lives of the Nation's most vulnerable 
        citizens, protect the environment, contribute to public safety, respond 
        to disasters, and strengthen the educational system of the United 
        States;
Whereas, in 2007, AmeriCorps members recruited and supervised more than 
        1,700,000 community volunteers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as 
        a powerful force for encouraging people to become involved in 
        volunteering;
Whereas, in 2007, AmeriCorps members served 4,100 nonprofit organizations, 
        schools, and faith-based and community organizations;
Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for their service, have earned 
        nearly $1,430,000,000 to use to further their own educational 
        advancement at the Nation's colleges and universities;
Whereas, after AmeriCorps members complete their terms of service, those members 
        remain engaged in their communities as volunteers, teachers, and 
        nonprofit professionals in exceptionally high levels; and
Whereas ``AmeriCorps Week'' is observed the week beginning May 11, 2008, and is 
        an opportune time for the people of the United States to salute current 
        and former AmeriCorps members for their powerful impact on the lives of 
        people in the United States, to thank AmeriCorps's community partners 
        for making the program possible, and 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 to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni and 
        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 of AmeriCorps 
        members and alumni to the lives of the people of the United 
        States; and
            (4) encourages people of all ages to consider opportunities 
        to serve in AmeriCorps.
                                 <all>