[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2444-S2445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 595--RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICORPS 
 MEMBERS AND ALUMNI AND AMERICORPS SENIORS VOLUNTEERS IN THE LIVES OF 
            THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Heinrich, and Mrs. Capito) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 595

       Whereas 30 years ago Congress established the Corporation 
     for National and Community Service--now known as AmeriCorps--
     to unite national service programs under 1 agency, to create 
     service opportunities that strengthen communities, and to 
     expand pathways to education, careers, and civic 
     participation for those who serve;
       Whereas, since their inceptions, AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps 
     Seniors national and community service programs have proven 
     to be highly effective ways to--
       (1) unite and engage the people of the United States in 
     meeting a wide range of local and national needs;
       (2) promote greater civic engagement; and
       (3) provide pathways to education and careers;
       Whereas each year 200,000 individuals serve in AmeriCorps 
     and AmeriCorps Seniors at nearly 40,000 locations across the 
     United States to give back in an intensive way to 
     communities, States, territories, Tribal nations, and the 
     United States;
       Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors funds have been 
     invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-
     based organizations, as well as local governments and Tribal 
     nations, and those funds have--
       (1) leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars in outside 
     funding and in-kind donations each year; and
       (2) expanded the capacity of local and national programs to 
     deliver on missions that strengthen the communities of the 
     United States;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors 
     volunteers have provided millions of hours of service across 
     the United States, helping to--
       (1) improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of the 
     United States;
       (2) protect the environment;
       (3) contribute to public safety;
       (4) respond to disasters and public health emergencies;
       (5) strengthen the educational system of the United States; 
     and
       (6) expand economic opportunity for all;
       Whereas service in AmeriCorps promotes bridge-building, 
     collaboration, and leadership skills, and AmeriCorps programs 
     bring the people of the United States together from different 
     backgrounds, generations, and geographic locations;
       Whereas AmeriCorps funds, conducts, and disseminates 
     research on the civic health of the United States and the 
     return on taxpayer investment in national service programs;
       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 
     community service;
       Whereas, for more than 5 decades, millions of 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, over the past 30 years, nearly 1,300,000 
     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 throughout the United States, in 
     return for completing their service terms, have earned more 
     than $4,500,000,000 to use to further their own educational 
     advancement and career readiness 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;
       Whereas leaders across political parties and ideologies 
     recognize the value that national service provides to their 
     communities and country, leveraging the power of AmeriCorps 
     members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to meet the most 
     urgent and pressing needs;
       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 including in 
     rural, urban, and suburban communities, providing hope and 
     help to individuals with economic and social needs; and
       Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2024 from March 10 
     through March 16, is an appropriate time for the people of 
     the United States to--
       (1) salute current and former AmeriCorps members and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for their positive impact on 
     the lives of people in the United States;
       (2) thank the community partners of AmeriCorps and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors for making the programs possible;

[[Page S2445]]

       (3) encourage more people in the United States to become 
     involved in service and volunteering; and
       (4) celebrate the lasting impact of AmeriCorps and 
     AmeriCorps Seniors programs over the last 30 years: 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 across a 
     30-year history of the volunteers, 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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