[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 540--RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICORPS 
   MEMBERS AND ALUMNI TO THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES

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

                              S. Res. 540

       Whereas, since its inception in 1994, the AmeriCorps 
     national service program has proven to be a highly effective 
     way--
       (1) to engage the people of the United States in meeting a 
     wide range of local and national needs; and
       (2) to promote the ethics of service and volunteerism;
       Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,100,000 individuals have 
     taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ``get things done for 
     America'' by becoming AmeriCorps members;
       Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps, in coordination with State 
     service commissions, provides opportunities for approximately 
     75,000 individuals across the United States to give back in 
     an intensive way to communities, States, Tribal nations, and 
     the United States;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members have served more than 
     1,600,000,000 hours nationwide, helping--
       (1) to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of 
     the United States;
       (2) to protect the environment;
       (3) to contribute to public safety;
       (4) to respond to disasters;
       (5) to strengthen the educational system of the United 
     States; and
       (6) to expand economic opportunity;
       Whereas, since 1994, AmeriCorps funds have been invested in 
     nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based groups, 
     and those funds leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in 
     outside funding and in-kind donations each year;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members recruit and supervise millions 
     of community volunteers, demonstrating the value of 
     AmeriCorps as a powerful force for encouraging people to 
     become involved in volunteering and community service;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members serve at more than 21,000 
     locations across the United States, including at nonprofit 
     organizations, schools, and faith-based and community 
     organizations;
       Whereas AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps 
     campuses in the States of Mississippi, Iowa, California, and 
     Colorado strengthen communities and develop future leaders 
     through team-based service;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for the 
     service of those members, have earned nearly $4,000,000,000 
     to use to further their own educational advancement at 
     colleges and universities across the United States;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members, after their terms of service 
     with AmeriCorps end, have been more likely to remain engaged 
     in their communities as volunteers, teachers, and nonprofit 
     professionals than the average individual;
       Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway to employment, 
     providing members with valuable career skills, experience, 
     and contacts to prepare them for the 21st century workforce 
     and to help close the skills gap in the United States;
       Whereas, in 2009, Congress passed the bipartisan Serve 
     America Act (Public Law 111-13; 123 Stat. 1460), which 
     authorized the expansion of national service, expanded 
     opportunities to serve, increased efficiency and 
     accountability, and strengthened the capacity of 
     organizations and communities to solve problems;
       Whereas national service programs have engaged millions of 
     people in the United States in results-driven service in the 
     most vulnerable communities of the United States, providing 
     hope and help to individuals with economic and social needs;
       Whereas national service and volunteerism demonstrate the 
     best of the spirit of the United States, with people turning 
     toward problems and working together to find community 
     solutions; and
       Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2020 from March 8 
     through March 14, is an appropriate time for the people of 
     the United States--
       (1) to salute current and former AmeriCorps members for 
     their positive impact on the lives of people in the United 
     States;
       (2) to thank the community partners of AmeriCorps for 
     making the program possible; and
       (3) to encourage more people in the United States to become 
     involved in service and volunteering: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) encourages the people of the United States to join in a 
     national effort--
       (A) to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni; and
       (B) to raise awareness about the importance of national and 
     community service;
       (2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the 
     members, alumni, and community partners of AmeriCorps;
       (3) recognizes the important contributions made by 
     AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of the people of 
     the United States; and
       (4) encourages individuals of all ages to consider 
     opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps.

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