[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E745-E746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF LEARN AND SERVE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the proposed 
elimination of Learn and Serve America, the only Federal program 
dedicated to investing in service-learning in local schools and 
communities, in this budget. This decision is reckless and short-
sighted, and I do not believe it reflects our values as a nation.
  We live in a world full of challenges that require the collective 
attention and action of citizens of all ages. Through service-learning, 
young people across the country learn to apply knowledge and skills 
they pick up in the classroom to address these challenges in their 
community. Thanks to Learn and Serve, students have conducted energy 
audits in their

[[Page E746]]

schools and homes, preserved the histories of their towns, tested the 
quality of water in local streams, refurbished homes of the elderly, 
confronted bullying and teen violence, promoted financial literacy, and 
helped communities prepare for disasters.
  By getting involved in the community in this manner, students not 
only learn valuable citizenship skills, they learn to succeed. Research 
has shown that service-learning increased academic engagement and civic 
engagement. It prepares young men and women for the transition to 
adulthood and gives them the skills they need to succeed in the careers 
of their choosing.
  Service, citizenship, community, opportunity--these are all values we 
treasure as a Nation, and values our budget should work to promote. 
That is one of the many reasons why I have been a longtime supporter of 
the Summer of Service, which works to increase the number of intensive 
summer service-learning programs for middle school youth. And yet, this 
budget resolution eliminates support for service-learning, and 
abolishes a clear pathway for youth under age 16 to engage as 
participants in national service.
  As a result of this short-sighted cut, nearly 1 million students will 
lose the opportunity to take part in service-learning. At a time when 
State and local budgets are shrinking, nearly 600 individual schools, 
450 school districts, 985 community colleges, and 240 colleges and 
universities--as well as 35,000 of our nation's most innovative K-12 
teachers and higher education faculty--will lose desperately needed 
funding. Almost 16,000 community-based organizations will lose more 
than 14 million volunteer service hours provided by students engaged in 
service-learning, diminishing their capacity to deliver urgently needed 
health and human services to those most in need. And towns and cities 
across the country will lose access to student volunteers, who 
contribute services valued at up to $310 million.
  In short, this cut is penny-wise and pound-foolish. I urge the 
administration to encourage the Corporation for National and Community 
Service to identify cost savings and provide a competitive innovation 
fund for high impact service-learning programs. Our students cannot 
afford to lose these opportunities. Our schools cannot afford to ignore 
their civic mission. Our local communities cannot afford to lose the 
critical support. And our future as a nation cannot afford to lose 
these values of citizenship.

                          ____________________