[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 48 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        GENERATIONS INVIGORATING VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 18, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1388) to 
     reauthorize and reform the national service laws:

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Generations 
Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act which will renew our 
nation's commitment to service and volunteerism. Public service is 
something my family knows a little bit about. Countless Americans were 
called to public service by President Kennedy's famous appeal: ``Ask 
not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your 
country.'' It is my hope that with the passage of the GIVE Act, 
Congress and President Obama will create a new era of public service 
that goes beyond any one group or generation. The bill we are 
considering today expands opportunities for volunteerism to include 
disadvantaged youth, seniors and people with disabilities. If we are 
going to regain a sense of community and shared responsibility in this 
country, we must encourage national service among all people. I'm a 
strong believer in the abilities of the American people to confront our 
biggest challenges with perhaps our biggest asset: our manpower.
  The creation of new programs like the Clean Energy Corps, to focus on 
environmental conservation, will work with our economy as we forge a 
new direction on energy. I am pleased that this bill provides new 
incentives for middle and high school students to volunteer in their 
communities, and will allow them to earn a $500 education award to be 
used for college costs. In addition, this legislation will increase the 
number of AmeriCorps volunteers and increase the education reward they 
receive to match the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award.
  The benefits that this legislation would bring to our struggling 
communities, across this country, and in my home state of Rhode Island, 
are endless. When President Obama took office just a few short months 
ago, he called upon Congress to expand federally funded national 
service opportunities. Today, we fulfill that promise. I am proud to 
vote in favor of this bill.

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