[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 8, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3677-S3678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, one of the more exciting and innovative 
programs enacted during the 103d Congress was the National and 
Community Service Act proposed by President Clinton. Under the 
AmeriCorps program established as a result of that act, young men and 
women are now able, through community service, to earn an education 
benefit to help defray the costs of a higher education.
  I am concerned, however, that this program may now be the target of 
severe cutbacks. Because of this, I wanted to bring to my colleagues' 
attention the correspondence I recently received from Mr. George 
Graboys of Barrington, RI, where he is a distinguished and widely 
respected business leader. Having retired as the chief executive 
officer of Citizens Bank, Mr. Graboys, nevertheless, remains very 
active in civic affairs. Among many activities, he serves presently as 
the vice chairman of the Rhode Island Children's Crusade for Higher 
Education.
  Mr. Graboys' view on the operation of AmeriCorps in Rhode Island 
merit careful and thoughtful consideration. I ask unanimous consent, 
therefore, that the text of his January 31, 1995, letter to me be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 Barrington, RI, January 31, 1995.
     Hon. Claiborne DeB. Pell,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Pell: I am writing to express my strong 
     support for the AmeriCorps 
     [[Page S3678]] national service program and to enlist your 
     assistance in light of the recent call by House Speaker Newt 
     Gingrich to eliminate the program.
       From my perspective, AmeriCorps is a refreshing new 
     government initiative. I am impressed, particularly, by its 
     grassroots nature and its ability to place 20,000 dedicated 
     individuals directly into community agencies in its first 
     year of operation.
       As Vice Chairman of the Rhode Island Children's Crusade for 
     Higher Education, I have had the opportunity to see the 
     merits of the program first hand. The Crusade's 51 AmeriCorps 
     participants--13 full-time and 38 part-time--have provided an 
     infusion of new energy to the organization. In less than two 
     months, they have built relationships with over 40 schools 
     and community agencies and have created 23 new Crusade 
     mentoring programs in the seven Rhode Island communities with 
     the greatest numbers of low-income children. At the same 
     time, they have been busy phoning parents whose children may 
     need services and going door to door to recruit new 
     Crusaders. Presently, 324 children are being served through 
     these AmeriCorps programs. Crusade Corps members are well on 
     their way to reaching their goal of creating 26 programs that 
     will serve 780 children.
       Newt Gingrich has called the program ``coerced 
     voluntarism.'' Based upon what I have seen, nothing could be 
     further from the truth. Our AmericCorps participants 
     represent a racially diverse group of people from ages 16-55, 
     including 10 parents of Crusaders. Within this diversity, all 
     of them share an intense desire to serve the community and to 
     better themselves in the process. AmeriCorps and the Crusade 
     provide a structure and direction that meshes with their 
     sense of altruism. The modest living stipends they receive 
     make it possible for them to dedicate a full year to 
     community service--rather than a few hours a week. This 
     substantive volunteer experience is something that is likely 
     to effect many participants' choice of careers and to foster 
     a commitment to community service that will endure as their 
     careers advance.
       Speaker Gingrich has also indicated that it is a ``waste of 
     money to give limited benefits to college students.'' Again, 
     I think he has missed the mark. The Crusade's AmeriCorps 
     participants cover a broad range of educational attainment. 
     Approximately 30% do not have an undergraduate degree, 53% 
     have earned or are in the process of earning a Bachelors 
     degree, and 17% have or are working towards their Masters or 
     Ph.D. Each of the Crusade's participants has indicated, 
     however, that they have a desire to further their education. 
     For them, the educational benefits of AmeriCorps--$4,725 for 
     full-time participants and $2,363 for part-time 
     participants--will be of substantive help along the way. 
     Moreover, the leadership and community building skills they 
     are acquiring through their experience with AmeriCorps will 
     complement their formal education and enable them to become 
     more productive citizens.
       I think the AmeriCorps program has produced remarkable 
     results in a very short period of time. It has tremendous 
     potential for strengthening the nation's service ethic while 
     impacting community needs in a cost of effective manner. I 
     hope that I can count on your support in ensuring that the 
     program nurtured and protected.
           Sincerely,
                                                   George Graboys.
     

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