[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 71 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S3721]]
 SENATE RESOLUTION 548--RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE MEMBERS 
  AND ALUMNI OF AMERICORPS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICORPS TO THE 
                LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. 
Mikulski, Mr. McCain, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wicker, 
Mr. Obama, Mr. Smith, Mr. Brown, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
Feingold, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Casey, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Lieberman) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 548

       Whereas, since the inception of the AmeriCorps national 
     service program in 1994, AmeriCorps has proven to be highly 
     effective at promoting the ethic of service and volunteering 
     and engaging people in the United States in meeting a wide 
     range of local needs;
       Whereas, since 1994, more than $5,000,000,000 in AmeriCorps 
     funds have been invested in nonprofit, community, 
     educational, and faith-based groups, and those funds have led 
     to the contribution of hundreds of millions of dollars of 
     additional funds and in-kind donations from other sources;
       Whereas, since 1994, approximately 542,000 people have 
     taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ``get things done for 
     America'' by becoming AmeriCorps members;
       Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps provides opportunities for 
     75,000 people across the United States to give back in an 
     intensive way to their districts, their States, and the 
     Nation;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members have served a total of more than 
     705,000,000 hours nationwide, helping to improve the lives of 
     the Nation's most vulnerable citizens, protect the 
     environment, contribute to public safety, respond to 
     disasters, and strengthen the educational system of the 
     United States;
       Whereas, in 2007, AmeriCorps members recruited and 
     supervised more than 1,700,000 community volunteers, 
     demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a powerful force for 
     encouraging people to become involved in volunteering;
       Whereas, in 2007, AmeriCorps members served 4,100 nonprofit 
     organizations, schools, and faith-based and community 
     organizations;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for their 
     service, have earned nearly $1,430,000,000 to use to further 
     their own educational advancement at the Nation's colleges 
     and universities;
       Whereas, after AmeriCorps members complete their terms of 
     service, those members remain engaged in their communities as 
     volunteers, teachers, and nonprofit professionals in 
     exceptionally high levels; and
       Whereas ``AmeriCorps Week'' is observed the week beginning 
     May 11, 2008, and is an opportune time for the people of the 
     United States to salute current and former AmeriCorps members 
     for their powerful impact on the lives of people in the 
     United States, to thank AmeriCorps's community partners 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 salute AmeriCorps members and alumni and 
     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 of AmeriCorps 
     members and alumni to the lives of the people of the United 
     States; and
       (4) encourages people of all ages to consider opportunities 
     to serve in AmeriCorps.

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today along with Senator Cochran and 
others to celebrate the achievements of the members and alumni of 
AmeriCorps and to recognize the week of May 11, 2008, as ``AmeriCorps 
Week.'' These young men and women have dedicated their time and efforts 
toward improving the lives of all Americans by protecting the 
environment, strengthening education, responding to disasters, and 
supporting public health and safety.
   Since 1994, AmeriCorps has encouraged citizens to volunteer, serve, 
and address the unmet needs of our Nation. About 542,000 people have 
become AmeriCorps members and have pledged ``to get things done for 
America.'' These citizens have provided more than 705,000,000 hours of 
service, hard work, and dedication to improve our communities. In 
addition, since its inception, more than $5 billion of AmeriCorps funds 
have been invested back into our communities and have helped leverage 
hundreds of millions of dollars of additional funds and in-kind 
donations from external sources.
  Last year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members were able to give back to this 
Nation, and those members recruited more than 1,700,000 community 
volunteers to join them in their mission. Their volunteers served in 
over 4,000 nonprofit organizations, schools, and faith-based and 
community organizations across the country.
  In return for service, AmeriCorps members have earned more than $1.4 
billion to go toward furthering their education, and after completing 
their service, many alumni remain engaged in their communities as 
volunteers, teachers, and nonprofit professionals.
  In my home State of Connecticut, since AmeriCorps was created, more 
than 7,000 AmeriCorps members have served about 9.5 million hours and 
earned over $20 million toward their education. From my own experience 
as a Peace Corps member, I know it takes a tremendous amount of 
perseverance, commitment, and passion to serve, but I also know the 
emotional reward achieved in dedicating your time to help others. 
Emerson wrote, ``It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life 
that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping 
himself.'' It is my hope that all Americans take the opportunity to 
develop a deeper sense of community, a renewed sense of national 
purpose, and a shared experience of sacrifice to serve our country.
   During this ``AmeriCorps Week,'' we must take the time to recognize, 
salute, and thank those Americans who have answered the call to serve 
by joining AmeriCorps; we must acknowledge the tremendous 
accomplishments and important contributions of the AmeriCorps members, 
alumni, and community partners; and, we must raise awareness about the 
importance of national and community service. Our collective 
imaginations, ideas, energy, and resolve are needed to solve our 
Nation's problems and rekindle our American community. I encourage 
citizens of all ages to consider serving in AmeriCorps and contributing 
their skills and talents to bettering this Nation.

                          ____________________