[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 86 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 86

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 9, 2017

  Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Wicker, Mr. 
 Carper, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Tester, Ms. Hirono, 
 Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. 
Franken, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Markey, Mr. Booker, Mr. Reed, 
 Ms. Warren, Mr. Peters, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. McCain, 
    Mr. Moran, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Casey) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni 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 
        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 80,000 individuals across the 
        United States to give back in an intensive way to communities, States, 
        and the United States;
Whereas AmeriCorps members have served more than 1,400,000,000 hours nationwide, 
        helping to--

    (1) improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of the United 
States;

    (2) protect the environment;

    (3) contribute to public safety;

    (4) respond to disasters; and

    (5) strengthen the educational system of the United States;

Whereas, since 1994, more than $8,700,000,000 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, in 2016, AmeriCorps members recruited and supervised more than 
        2,300,000 community volunteers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as 
        a powerful force for encouraging people to become involved in 
        volunteering and community service;
Whereas, in 2016, AmeriCorps members served at approximately 21,000 locations 
        across the United States, including at nonprofit organizations, schools, 
        and faith-based and community organizations;
Whereas AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps campuses in 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 $3,300,000,000 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, 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 2017 from March 4 through March 11, is an 
        appropriate time for the people of the United States to salute current 
        and former AmeriCorps members for their positive impact on the lives of 
        people in the United States, to thank the community partners of 
        AmeriCorps 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--
                    (A) salute AmeriCorps members and alumni; and
                    (B) 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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