III 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 516 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2010 Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Dodd) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members to the lives of the people of the United States.

Whereas, since its inception in 1994, the AmeriCorps national service program has proven to be a highly effective way to engage the people of the United States in meeting a wide range of local and national needs and promoting the ethic of service and volunteering; Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps provides opportunities for approximately 85,000 individuals across the United States to give back in an intensive way to their communities, their States, and the Nation; Whereas those individuals 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; Whereas AmeriCorps members serve thousands of nonprofit organizations, schools, and faith-based and community organizations each year; Whereas AmeriCorps members, after their terms of service end, are more likely to remain engaged in their communities as volunteers, teachers, and nonprofit professionals than the average individual; Whereas, on April 21, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Serve America Act (Public Law 111–13; 123 Stat. 1460) into law, which was passed by bipartisan majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and reauthorized AmeriCorps and will expand AmeriCorps programs to incorporate 250,000 members each year; Whereas national service programs have engaged millions of people in the United States in results-driven service in the Nation’s most vulnerable communities, providing hope and help to people facing economic and social needs; Whereas, in 2010, as the economic downturn puts millions of people in the United States at risk, national service and volunteering are more important than ever; and Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2010 from May 8 through May 15, provides the perfect opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alumni, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by AmeriCorps members and to motivate more people in the United States to serve their communities: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes the contributions of AmeriCorps members to the lives of the people of the United States; (2)acknowledges the significant accomplishments of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners; and (3)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.