[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2429-S2430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Mikulski, 
        Mr. Casey, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Rockefeller, and Mr. 
        Nelson, of Florida):
  S. 464. A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 
1990 to improve the educational awards provided for national service, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to introduce four bills today: The 
AmeriCorps: Together Improving Our Nation (ACTION) Act, the Semester of 
Service Act, the Summer of Service Act, and the Encore Service Act--
legislation that would offer Americans the opportunity to serve their 
communities and work to improve their Nation.
  As we have discussed time and time again, the challenges facing 
America are mounting--from a struggling economy, 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, decade 
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. With these four important pieces 
of legislation, we are offering citizens of all ages even more 
opportunities to be involved.
  We already harness the enormous power of a dedicated group of 
individuals looking for ways to serve their communities is through the 
remarkably successful AmeriCorps program. Last year alone, 75,000 
AmeriCorps members gave back to our communities, serving in over 4,000 
schools, faith-based and community organizations, and nonprofits across 
the country. They also brought reinforcements--recruiting another 1.7 
million community volunteers to work alongside them. Because of 
AmeriCorps, our communities have been strengthened, and our democracy 
fortified.
  Unfortunately, as the hours AmeriCorps Members have contributed to 
our communities have increased, the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award 
created to help members pay for their college tuition has remained flat 
at $4,725. Meanwhile, the average college tuition has skyrocketed. The 
education award previously paid for two years of college, but currently 
it does not even cover the cost of single year. I am introducing the 
AmeriCorps: Together Improving Our Nation, ACTION, Act, in part, to 
update the education award to keep pace with 15 years of tuition 
increases.
  The ACTION Act will raise the education award to $6,585 and increase 
the award annually to match the average tuition at a 4-year public 
university. That figure, $6,585 is the average cost of tuition at a 
four-year public university according to the College Board. The Act 
will also make the education award tax exempt to ensure that alumni are 
able to use their entire award to advance their education.

[[Page S2430]]

  The Summer of Service bill would reach the youngest Americans 
interested in giving back to their communities, fostering a commitment 
to service that will last a lifetime. The Summer of Service Act would 
create a competitive grant program that would enable states and 
localities to offer middle school students an opportunity to 
participate in a structured community service program over the summer 
months. It would employ service-learning to teach civic participation 
skills, help young people see themselves as resources to their 
communities, expand educational opportunities and discourage ``summer 
academic slide.'' Providing tangible benefits to their communities, 
Summer of Service projects would direct grantees to work on unmet 
human, educational, environmental and public safety needs and encourage 
all youth, regardless of age, income, or disability, to engage in 
community service. The program would also grant participants with an 
educational award of up to $500 which can later be used to pay for 
college.
  The Semester of Service Act also engages students in service-learning 
at the high school level. We talk so much about ways to improve 
academic performance in our schools. Well, when service is integrated 
into our students' curricula at school, young people make gains on 
achievement tests. Service-learning results in grade point averages 
going up, and feelings about high-school are that more positive.
  And the benefits of service-learning go well beyond the classroom. 
When young people participate in service activities they feel better 
able to control their own lives in a positive way. They are less prone 
to engage in risky behavior, more likely to engage in their own 
education, and far more aware of the career opportunities before them.
  Indeed, research shows that for every dollar we spend on a service-
learning project, $4 worth of service is provided to the community 
involved. That means by authorizing $200 million for fiscal year 2009, 
as the Semester of Service Act does, our country will save more than 
half a billion dollars in service performed.
  This legislation works by creating a competitive grant program that 
gives school districts, or nonprofits working in partnership with local 
school districts, the opportunity to have students participate in a 
semester of service in their junior or senior year for academic credit. 
These students are required to perform a minimum of 70 hours of service 
learning activities over 12 weeks, with at least 24 of those hours 
spent participating in field-based activities--outside of the 
classroom.
  By engaging both the public and private sector, Semester of Service 
teaches civic participation skills and helps young people see 
themselves not merely as residents in their communities--but resources 
to them.
  Perhaps, the greatest untapped resource in our communities are older 
Americans. No one is more ready or more poised to make a difference--in 
our communities and throughout our country--than the gaining Baby 
Boomer generation.
  In the next decade alone, the number of Americans 55 years and older 
is expected to grow another 22 percent. But for all the well-publicized 
challenges that growth presents, it is time we also recognize something 
else:
  The opportunities it offers--if we seize them.
  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 serve as they enter their 
later years.
  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.
  We have so much to learn. Indeed, 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.
  Giving 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 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.
  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 to serve something greater 
than themselves, as they originally were by President John F. Kennedy. 
In introducing this legislation today, we once again remind all 
Americans of that call to serve.

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