[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6071-S6072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 197--HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF AMERICORPS

  Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mrs. 
Boxer, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Feingold, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. 
Lott, Mr. McCain, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Obama, 
Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Stevens, 
and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 197

       Whereas the AmeriCorps national service program, since its 
     inception in 1994, has proven to be a highly effective way to 
     engage Americans in meeting a wide range of local needs and 
     to promote the ethic of service and volunteering;
       Whereas the AmeriCorps program, working closely with its 
     nationwide network of Governor-appointed State service 
     commissions, has strengthened America's nonprofit sector by 
     investing more than $3,000,000,000 in the efforts of 
     community nonprofit groups in every State in our Nation;
       Whereas that investment has leveraged hundreds of millions 
     of dollars of additional funds and in-kind donations from 
     other sources;
       Whereas each year AmeriCorps provides opportunities for 
     75,000 citizens across the Nation to give back in an 
     intensive way to our districts, our States, and our country;
       Whereas since 1994 a total of 500,000 citizens across the 
     nation have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ``get things done 
     for America'' by becoming AmeriCorps members;
       Whereas those same individuals have served a total of more 
     than 630,000,000 hours nationwide, helping to improve the 
     lives of our Nation's most vulnerable citizens, protect our 
     environment, contribute to our public safety, respond to 
     disasters, and strengthen our educational system;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members last year recruited and 
     supervised more than 1,400,000 community volunteers, 
     demonstrating AmeriCorps's value as a powerful volunteer 
     catalyst and force multiplier;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for their 
     service, have earned nearly $1,300,000,000 to use to further 
     their own educational advancement at our Nation's colleges 
     and universities;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members, after their terms of service 
     end, remain engaged in our communities as volunteers, 
     teachers, and nonprofit professionals in disproportionately 
     high levels; and
       Whereas the inaugural National AmeriCorps Week, May 13-20, 
     2007, is an opportune time for the people of the United 
     States to salute current and former AmeriCorps members for 
     their powerful impact, thank all of AmeriCorps' community 
     partners in our Nation who make the program possible, and 
     bring more Americans into service: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) encourages all citizens to join in a national effort to 
     salute AmeriCorps members and alumni and raise awareness 
     about the importance of national and community service;
       (2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments of 
     AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners;
       (3) recognizes the important contribution to the lives of 
     our citizens made by AmeriCorps members; and
       (4) encourages citizens of all ages to consider 
     opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps.

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the AmeriCorps Week 
Resolution, which designates May 13-20, 2007, as a time to salute 
AmeriCorps members for their work, thank community partners who make 
the program possible, and encourage more people to join. I want to 
first say thank you to all the volunteers and service workers 
everywhere. They take time out of their lives to help their fellow 
Americans in their time of need, and they do it out of the goodness of 
their hearts. I love AmeriCorps. I love what they do for communities, I 
love what they do for America.
  AmeriCorps is stronger than ever. Since its creation in 1994, 500,000 
people nationwide have joined the program and taken the AmeriCorps 
pledge to ``get things done for America.'' AmeriCorps members have 
served more than 630 million hours nationwide. To date, 9,310 Maryland 
residents have earned education awards totaling over $30 million. These 
awards help volunteers pay for college, graduate school, vocational 
training, or to pay back student loans. The NCCC program, which has a 
campus in Perry Point, MD, is a full-time residential program for 18- 
to 24-year-olds designed to strengthen communities and develop leaders 
through team-based service projects. Each year, approximately 1,100 
participants reside in its 5 campuses nationwide. The Perry Point 
campus houses 200 AmeriCorps members every year, and since 1994 its 
residents have logged more than 400,000 service hours.
  AmeriCorps is the embodiment of the spirit of volunteerism and 
service to our country. They tackle the toughest problems in our 
communities: tutoring teens, starting neighborhood crime watches, 
turning vacant lots into neighborhoods, and helping communities clean 
up and rebuild after natural disasters. AmeriCorps volunteers are 
unflagging, unflinching and determined to make a difference. I know how 
important AmeriCorps is to communities across the country and to the

[[Page S6072]]

young people who want to serve. We are so grateful for all the hard 
work that they do.
  I fought to create AmeriCorps and I will continue to fight to 
strengthen AmeriCorps so it can continue to help local communities meet 
local needs. Today's Federal investment, like these fine volunteers, 
are needed now more than ever.

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