III 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 548 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

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.