[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 144 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8415-S8416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. Kennedy):
  S. 3480. A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 
1990 to establish Encore Service Programs, Encore Fellowship Programs, 
and Silver Scholarship Programs, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Encore Service Act 
of 2008--legislation which would offer Americans 55 years of age and 
older the chance to serve their communities and use their expertise and 
life lessons to give back to the country that has given them so much. I 
want to thank Senators Cochran and Kennedy for joining me in 
introducing this legislation.
  As we have discussed time and time again, the challenges facing 
America are mounting--from an aging population to a broken health care 
system to challenges in our schools that put our children's futures at 
risk.
  These are problems that countless Americans have lived and struggled 
with--that we here in this institution have debated for years, decades 
even. We can disagree amongst ourselves about how to solve them--and we 
certainly have. But what we can all agree on is the impact citizens can 
make when it comes to facing some of our biggest challenges.
  We know the extraordinary things ordinary citizens can accomplish for 
our communities when given the opportunity--the difference they can 
make in our schools and nursing homes, in veterans' hospitals and in 
helping those living on fixed incomes.
  We know the character of our people in our darkest moments. Indeed, 
while September 11 may have showed us that our world had changed--it 
was September 12 that reminded us: Americans had not. The community 
blood drives, the heroic work of our Nation's firefighters, the floods 
of donations--all were a powerful reminder that Americans are always 
ready to give back when their country calls.
  I will never forget the Mayor of Pass Christian Mississippi telling 
me about an elderly Connecticut couple who drove all the way to the 
Gulf Coast in the wake of Katrina for no other reason than to help 
their fellow countrymen and women. Contrary to what some suggest, I 
believe the American people are starved for opportunities to serve--and 
stand at the ready not just in times of crisis, but every day. 
Americans are simply waiting to be asked. I am introducing this 
legislation today because, it is time they were.
  The truth is, no one is more ready or more poised to make a 
difference--in our communities and throughout our country--than older 
Americans.
  We have all heard about the aging Baby Boomer generation--in the next 
decade alone, the number of Americans 55 years and older is expected to 
grow by another 22 percent. But for all the well-publicized challenges 
that growth presents, it's time we also recognize something else: The 
opportunities it offers--if we seize them.
  Studies tell us that more than half of those considered a part of the 
Baby Boomer generation are interested in providing meaningful service 
to their communities. Countless older men and women who have given so 
much to their country throughout their lives want to continue to serve 
their communities as they enter their later years.
  Why wouldn't they? After a lifetime of hard work, raising a family, 
and paying taxes, Americans look forward to retirement--to enjoying 
their golden years with the security and dignity they have earned. They 
are living longer, healthier lives than any generation in history. And 
they recognize something elemental:
  Life doesn't end at retirement. For many, it is only beginning--
leading perhaps to a second career in the public or nonprofit sector. 
There can be no greater gift passed on to future generations than the 
lessons of the past. But the truth is, we too often fail to draw upon 
the experience, knowledge and ideas of previous generations. What is 
missing is the opportunity.
  Providing older Americans those opportunities is what the Encore 
Service Act is all about. It creates an Encore Service Program that 
provides Americans 55 years and older with opportunities to serve 
communities with the greatest need--to volunteer in our Nation's 
schools, to help keep our neighborhoods clean, safe and vibrant, and so 
much more. In return for their service, which may include extensive 
training and a significant commitment of time, they can receive a 
stipend and education award, much like AmeriCorps does for younger 
generations.
  Best of all, that stipend can be transferred to children or 
grandchildren. Imagine what that means for a grandmother or a 
grandfather who could literally put thousands of dollars into their 
newborn grandchild's college savings fund as a result of this program--
funds that can only be used after the

[[Page S8416]]

child turns 18 and can be kept for up to 20 years. Of all the new ideas 
in this legislation, perhaps this one is the most exciting.
  This legislation also creates an Encore Fellows program that places 
older Americans in one-year management or leadership positions in 
public or private not-for-profits. These year-long fellowships not only 
increase the capacity of public service organizations already doing 
tremendous work in our communities, they also promote those who have 
already had full, successful careers, perhaps in the private sector, to 
lend their expertise and experience to the cause of community or public 
service.
  The Encore Service Act also creates a Silver Scholars program that 
awards older Americans with an education scholarship of up to $1,000 in 
exchange for volunteering with public agencies or private nonprofits 
between 250 and 500 hours a year. As with the Encore Service Program, 
they can use these awards for themselves or transfer them to children, 
grandchildren or other qualified designees.
  Lastly, this legislation expands the capacity and builds on the 
success of current Senior Programs by raising the authorization funding 
levels for the Foster Grandparent, Senior Corps and RSVP programs. We 
all know that seniors and these programs have already made a remarkable 
difference in our communities. That is why our legislation raises 
program eligibility levels from 125 to 200 percent above poverty and 
ensures that all programs will be open to any individual 55 years and 
older.
  The Encore Service Act authorizes $326.7 million in new funding for 
fiscal year 2009, and such sums as necessary for subsequent years. 
Ultimately, this bill is about unlocking the remarkable potential in 
older Americans. It is about creating ample opportunities for them to 
use their skills and talents to give back to their communities--to 
elementary schools, retirement homes, soup kitchens operating out of 
local churches, libraries, and other centers of our communities.
  It is about harnessing the power of experience. We all know that when 
called upon, every generation of Americans has risen to the challenge, 
often beating great odds to pass on a stronger, safer, more prosperous 
world to its children and grandchildren.
  Americans are ready once again for leadership that marshals the same 
unity, purpose and generosity that so defined our country in the wake 
of 9/11, and has so defined our Nation so many times before. That is 
what the Encore Service Act of 2008 is about. I am honored to introduce 
it today.
                                 ______