[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 145 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2085]]



                           DISBAND AMERICORPS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2000

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, today I express my deep concerns about yet 
another wasteful and inefficient government program championed by the 
Clinton-Gore administration. AmeriCorps, the Nation's failed 
``volunteer'' program, is currently up for reauthorization. Recently, 
49 governors signed a letter to Congress requesting their support for 
the program. Fortunately, Colorado's Governor Bill Owens had the 
courage to stand alone in declining to sign, and I applaud him for his 
reluctance.
  There are three indefensible problems with AmeriCorps. Before 
Congress considers acquiescing to Bill Clinton's demand for a $533 
million increase, it should think long and hard about the 
disappointments of AmeriCorps.
  First, AmeriCorps distorts the notion of volunteerism. The AmeriCorps 
web page boastfully states, ``Service is and always has been a vital 
force in American life. Throughout our history, our Nation has relied 
on the dedication and action of citizens to tackle our biggest 
challenges.'' I could not agree more. Three-quarters of American 
families give to charity, and 90 million adults in our Nation 
volunteer. Americans are the most philanthropic people in the world.
  This inevitably begs the question, why would the Federal Government 
set up a paid ``volunteer'' program when private citizens, churches, 
and organizations are fulfilling this role independently? Just as Bill 
Clinton has stripped the White House of dignity, he has adulterated the 
notion of American volunteerism.
  Second, how many $500 million corporations in America are not 
auditable? Certainly none that survive. AmeriCorps' books have been 
unauditable since 1995, just two years after its inception. When 
AmeriCorps Inspector General, Luise S. Jordan, was asked at a 1999 
Education Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing if 
AmeriCorps was auditable, she replied, ``Although the Corporation 
[AmeriCorps] puts its Action Plan into effect in December 1998, its 
August 21 update indicates that none of its goals to improve the 
Corporation's operations and its financial management have been 
achieved.'' As Members of Congress, it is our duty to shield the 
American taxpayer from such abuse. Furthermore, how can the Congress 
even consider reauthorizing a program with a 25-percent increase when, 
almost eight years after its inception, AmeriCorps is still not able to 
be audited because of its extreme financial disorganization?
  Finally, Public Law 103-82 prohibits individuals or organizations who 
receive Federal funds from performing or engaging in partisan political 
activities. One of AmeriCorps' largest abuses of taxpayer dollars 
occurred in Denver, CO. The AmeriCorps division was supposed to use its 
``volunteers'' to help the needy in northeast Denver. According to 
state records, the AmeriCorps leaders organized ``volunteers'' to make 
and distribute political fliers attacking Hiawatha Davis, a local city 
councilman. The Denver Rocky Mountain News reported, ``The volunteers 
had to draft campaign fliers and distribute them door-to-door in April 
and May (1995) when Davis and [Mayor Wellington] Webb were fighting for 
re-election.'' Americans' tax dollars were used for political 
activities through AmeriCorps, in this case, which is but one example 
of a larger trend.
  Mr. Speaker, the best action Congress could take is to disband 
AmeriCorps--that is obvious. Reauthorizing AmeriCorps and possibly 
increasing its budget by the President's request of $533 million would 
be foolish. To allow more tax dollars to be wasted on an ill-conceived 
Clinton-Gore social program is to belittle the authentic charity of 
philanthropic Americans and to treat their hard-earned money with 
unabashed disrespect.

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