[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 98--RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICORPS 
 MEMBERS AND ALUMNI AND AMERICORPS SENIORS VOLUNTEERS TO THE LIVES OF 
                    THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                               S. Res. 98

       Whereas, since their inceptions, each of the AmeriCorps and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors national service programs have 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, each year, nearly 270,000 individuals serve in 
     AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors at 40,000 locations across 
     the United States to give back in an intensive way to 
     communities, States, Tribal nations, and the United States;
       Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors 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 and AmeriCorps Seniors 
     volunteers have provided millions of hours of service 
     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 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors 
     volunteers 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, for more than 5 decades, AmeriCorps Seniors 
     volunteers in the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior 
     Companion programs have played an important role in 
     strengthening communities by sharing their experience, 
     knowledge, and accomplishments with the individuals they 
     serve;
       Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,200,000 individuals have 
     taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ``get things done for 
     America'' by becoming AmeriCorps members through the 
     AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and 
     AmeriCorps NCCC programs;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for the 
     service of those members, have earned more than 
     $4,000,000,000 to use to further their own educational 
     advancement at colleges and universities across the United 
     States;
       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 2021 from March 7 
     through March 13, is an appropriate time for the people of 
     the United States--
       (1) to salute current and former AmeriCorps members and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for their positive impact on 
     the lives of people in the United States;
       (2) to thank the community partners of AmeriCorps and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors for making the programs 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 AmeriCorps 
     Seniors volunteers; 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 and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors;
       (3) recognizes the important contributions made by 
     AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors 
     volunteers to the lives of the people of the United States; 
     and
       (4) encourages individuals of all ages to consider 
     opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.

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