[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF AMERICORPS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Bera) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about one of the great 
service-based programs in America, the AmeriCorps program.
  Since 1994, more than 1.1 million Americans have served in 
AmeriCorps. Today, more than 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve each year 
at over 21,000 locations across the country, including nonprofits, 
schools, public education agencies, and community and faith-based 
groups.
  AmeriCorps members come from all across this country. They are young 
men and women looking to learn leadership and give back to our country 
and our communities.
  They serve critical needs like fighting poverty, sustaining national 
parks, responding to and preparing for disasters, and mentoring youth.
  They mobilize and coordinate millions of volunteers to serve 
alongside them, which promotes a lasting impact on the volunteers and 
the communities that they serve.
  I was recently fortunate to speak at the induction ceremony for the 
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, one of three AmeriCorps 
programs. AmeriCorps NCCC members are assigned to one of four regional 
campuses, one being Sacramento, California, the district I represent.
  Before becoming AmeriCorps members, the inductees have to take the 
AmeriCorps member pledge; and, as I read that pledge, I thought this is 
something that we ought to think about as Members of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, let me read that pledge to you right now. It says:

       I will get things done for America, to make our people 
     safer, smarter, and healthier.
       I will bring Americans together to strengthen our 
     communities.
       Faced with apathy, I will take action.
       Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
       Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
       I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
       I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

  Imagine, if these young Americans can take that pledge, what if we 
just changed that last line to ``I am a Member of Congress, and I will 
get things done''?
  We can learn something from these young people. Let's come together 
as a body. Let's emulate what we are teaching that next generation, and 
let's get things done, Congress.

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