[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 326--RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICORPS

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Jones, Mr. Markey, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Carper, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
Cardin, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Collins, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Van 
Hollen, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Reed, Mr. King, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Booker, Ms. 
Baldwin, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Tester, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Hassan, 
Mr. Peters, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Harris, Ms. Hirono, and Ms. 
Smith) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 326

       Whereas the spirit of service has defined the United States 
     and strengthened the bonds of community for nearly 250 years;
       Whereas September 12, 2019, will mark the 25th anniversary 
     of the first class of AmeriCorps members, who pledged to 
     ``get things done'';
       Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,100,000 individuals of all 
     ages and backgrounds have joined AmeriCorps, serving more 
     than 1,500,000,000 hours and improving the lives of countless 
     people in the United States;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members address the most pressing 
     challenges facing the United States by educating students for 
     jobs of the 21st century, expanding economic opportunity, 
     addressing the needs of military families and a generation of 
     veterans returning from war, helping communities rebuild 
     after natural disasters, supporting communities combatting 
     the opioid epidemic, and preserving the parks and public 
     lands of the United States;
       Whereas approximately 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve each 
     year in more than 21,000 locations nationwide and, along with 
     more than 200,000 Senior Corps volunteers serving in more 
     than 23,000 locations, bolster the civic, neighborhood, and 
     faith-based organizations that are so vital to the well-being 
     of the United States;
       Whereas AmeriCorps expands opportunities for AmeriCorps 
     members by providing experience, career skills, and support 
     for higher education, and, since 1994, AmeriCorps members 
     have earned more than $3,700,000,000 in Segal AmeriCorps 
     Education Awards to repay qualified student loans or pay for 
     other higher education expenses;
       Whereas AmeriCorps is a model public-private partnership 
     that generates hundreds of millions of dollars of 
     nongovernmental resources each year to strengthen community 
     impact and increase return on taxpayer dollars;
       Whereas AmeriCorps, working hand-in-hand with its network 
     of Governor-appointed State service commissions, has 
     developed an efficient and effective structure for engaging 
     individuals in results-driven service that is poised for 
     further growth and success in the future;
       Whereas AmeriCorps was built upon decades-old legacies of 
     citizen service established by the Peace Corps, the Civilian 
     Conservation Corps, the Volunteers in Service to America 
     (VISTA) program, the Senior Companion Program, the Foster 
     Grandparent Program, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer 
     Program (RSVP);
       Whereas national service programs create understanding that 
     unites citizens and bridges gaps across races, generations, 
     social classes, and geographic boundaries;
       Whereas national service brings tangible benefits to the 
     communities being served as well as to individuals providing 
     the service, including improved health, expanded economic 
     opportunity, and increased civic participation;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers 
     demonstrate commitment, dedication, and patriotism by making 
     an intensive commitment to service and, after their terms of 
     service, remain engaged in our communities as volunteers, 
     public servants, and civic leaders at disproportionately high 
     rates; and
       Whereas the Corporation for National and Community Service 
     has led efforts to improve lives, strengthen communities, and 
     foster civic engagement through service and volunteering in 
     the United States for the last quarter century: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) acknowledges the significant impact and value of 
     AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners over the 
     past 25 years;
       (2) recognizes the legacy of service of Senior Corps 
     volunteers and all of the national service members in the 
     United States; and
       (3) encourages citizens of all ages to find ways to give 
     back to their communities and the United States through 
     AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs.

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