[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 425 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 425

 Celebrating Volunteers in Service to America on its 45th anniversary 
     and recognizing its contribution to the fight against poverty.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 25, 2010

 Mr. Rockefeller (for himself and Mr. Cochran) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Celebrating Volunteers in Service to America on its 45th anniversary 
     and recognizing its contribution to the fight against poverty.

Whereas Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) has made an extraordinary 
        contribution to alleviating poverty and improving American society since 
        the program began in 1965;
Whereas more than 175,000 individuals of all ages and from different walks of 
        life have answered VISTA's call to devote a year of full-time service 
        living and working in low-income communities to help eradicate poverty;
Whereas VISTA members have helped create many successful and sustainable 
        community initiatives, including Head Start centers, credit unions, and 
        neighborhood watch groups, with VISTA alumni going on to serve in 
        leadership positions in government, private, and nonprofit sectors 
        throughout the United States;
Whereas VISTA, which became part of AmeriCorps in 1993 and is administered by 
        the Corporation for National and Community Service, annually engages 
        more than 7,000 members in helping more than 1,000 local organizations 
        build sustainable anti-poverty programs;
Whereas AmeriCorps VISTA members improve the lives of the most vulnerable 
        citizens in our Nation by fighting illiteracy, improving health 
        services, reducing unemployment, increasing housing opportunities, 
        reducing crime and recidivism, and expanding access to technology;
Whereas AmeriCorps VISTA members develop programs, recruit community volunteers, 
        generate resources, manage projects, and enhance the ability of 
        nonprofit organizations to become and remain sustainable, thereby 
        strengthening the nonprofit sector in low-income communities across the 
        United States;
Whereas AmeriCorps VISTA members generate more than $100,000,000 in cash and in-
        kind resources annually for organizations throughout the Nation, as well 
        as recruit and manage more than 1,000,000 volunteers who provide 
        10,000,000 hours of community service for local organizations; and
Whereas AmeriCorps VISTA acted swiftly to help implement the American Recovery 
        and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), engaging more than 
        3,700 members in distressed communities to provide foreclosure 
        prevention and financial counseling, expand college access, and support 
        health care and independent living services: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the more than 175,000 men and women who have 
        served in VISTA for their dedication and commitment to the 
        fight against poverty;
            (2) recognizes VISTA members for leveraging human, 
        financial, and material resources to increase the ability of 
        thousands of low-income areas across the country to address 
        challenges and improve their communities; and
            (3) encourages the continued commitment of VISTA members to 
        creating and expanding programs designed to bring individuals 
        and communities out of poverty.
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