[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 595 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 595

  Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the lives of the people and 
                   communities of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 19, 2024

  Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Heinrich, and Mrs. Capito) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the lives of the people and 
                   communities of the United States.

Whereas 30 years ago Congress established the Corporation for National and 
        Community Service--now known as AmeriCorps--to unite national service 
        programs under 1 agency, to create service opportunities that strengthen 
        communities, and to expand pathways to education, careers, and civic 
        participation for those who serve;
Whereas, since their inceptions, AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors national and 
        community service programs have proven to be highly effective ways to--

    (1) unite and engage the people of the United States in meeting a wide 
range of local and national needs;

    (2) promote greater civic engagement; and

    (3) provide pathways to education and careers;

Whereas each year 200,000 individuals serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors 
        at nearly 40,000 locations across the United States to give back in an 
        intensive way to communities, States, territories, Tribal nations, and 
        the United States;
Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors funds have been invested in nonprofit, 
        community, educational, and faith-based organizations, as well as local 
        governments and Tribal nations, and those funds have--

    (1) leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars in outside funding and 
in-kind donations each year; and

    (2) expanded the capacity of local and national programs to deliver on 
missions that strengthen the communities of the United States;

Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have provided 
        millions of hours of service across the United States, 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 public health emergencies;

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

    (6) expand economic opportunity for all;

Whereas service in AmeriCorps promotes bridge-building, collaboration, and 
        leadership skills, and AmeriCorps programs bring the people of the 
        United States together from different backgrounds, generations, and 
        geographic locations;
Whereas AmeriCorps funds, conducts, and disseminates research on the civic 
        health of the United States and the return on taxpayer investment in 
        national service programs;
Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers recruit and 
        supervise millions of community volunteers, demonstrating the value of 
        AmeriCorps as a powerful force for encouraging people to become involved 
        in community service;
Whereas, for more than 5 decades, millions of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in 
        the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs have played 
        an important role in strengthening communities by sharing their 
        experience, knowledge, and accomplishments with the individuals they 
        serve;
Whereas, over the past 30 years, nearly 1,300,000 individuals have taken the 
        AmeriCorps pledge to ``get things done for America'' by becoming 
        AmeriCorps members through the AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps 
        VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC programs;
Whereas AmeriCorps members throughout the United States, in return for 
        completing their service terms, have earned more than $4,500,000,000 to 
        use to further their own educational advancement and career readiness at 
        colleges and universities across the United States;
Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway to employment, providing members with 
        valuable career skills, experience, and contacts to prepare them for the 
        21\st\-century workforce;
Whereas leaders across political parties and ideologies recognize the value that 
        national service provides to their communities and country, leveraging 
        the power of AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to 
        meet the most urgent and pressing needs;
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 including in rural, urban, and suburban communities, 
        providing hope and help to individuals with economic and social needs; 
        and
Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2024 from March 10 through March 16, is an 
        appropriate time for the people of the United States to--

    (1) salute current and former AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors 
volunteers for their positive impact on the lives of people in the United 
States;

    (2) thank the community partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors 
for making the programs possible;

    (3) encourage more people in the United States to become involved in 
service and volunteering; and

    (4) celebrate the lasting impact of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors 
programs over the last 30 years: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) encourages the people of the United States to join in a 
        national effort--
                    (A) to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni and 
                AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers; and
                    (B) to raise awareness about the importance of 
                national and community service;
            (2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments across a 
        30-year history of the volunteers, members, alumni, and 
        community partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors;
            (3) recognizes the important contributions made by 
        AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers 
        to the lives of the people of the United States; and
            (4) encourages individuals of all ages to consider 
        opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.
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