[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14379-14383]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING AMERICORPS

  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 453) recognizing the significant accomplishments of 
the

[[Page 14380]]

AmeriCorps and encouraging all citizens to join in a national effort to 
salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, and raise awareness about the 
importance of national and community service.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 453

       Whereas the AmeriCorps national service program, since its 
     inception in 1994, has proven to be a highly effective way to 
     engage Americans in meeting a wide range of local needs, 
     national response directives, and promote the ethic of 
     service and volunteering;
       Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps provides opportunities for 
     75,000 citizens across the Nation to give back in an 
     intensive way to their communities, States, and to the 
     Nation;
       Whereas those same individuals have improved the lives of 
     the Nation's most vulnerable citizens, protect the 
     environment, contribute to public safety, respond to 
     disasters, and strengthen the educational system;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members, after their terms of service 
     end, remain engaged in their communities as volunteers, 
     teachers, and nonprofit professionals in disproportionately 
     high levels;
       Whereas AmeriCorps members serve thousands of nonprofit 
     organizations, schools, and faith-based and community 
     organizations each year;
       Whereas, on April 21, 2009, President Barack Obama signed 
     the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, passed by bipartisan 
     majorities in both the House and the Senate, which 
     reauthorizes and expands AmeriCorps programs to incorporate 
     250,000 volunteers each year;
       Whereas national service programs have engaged millions of 
     Americans in results-driven service in the Nation's most 
     vulnerable communities, providing hope and help to people 
     facing economic and social needs;
       Whereas, this year, as the economic downturn puts millions 
     of Americans at risk, national service and volunteering are 
     more important than ever; and
       Whereas 2009's AmeriCorps Week, observed May 9 through May 
     16, provides the perfect opportunity for AmeriCorps members, 
     alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a 
     spotlight on the work done by members--and to motivate more 
     Americans to serve their communities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) encourages all citizens to join in a national effort to 
     salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, and raise awareness 
     about the importance of national and community service;
       (2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the 
     AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners;
       (3) recognizes the important contributions to the lives of 
     our citizens by AmeriCorps members; and
       (4) encourages citizens of all ages and backgrounds and 
     from each state to consider serving in AmeriCorps.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Tonko) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous materials on House 
Resolution 453 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TONKO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the substantial contributions 
that AmeriCorps has made towards national and community service.
  AmeriCorps began in 1994 as an effort to engage Americans in the 
ethic of service and volunteerism. The organization launched following 
the establishment of the Corporation for National and Community Service 
under the National and Community Service Trust Act. The initial class 
of 20,000 volunteers established an immediate tradition of assisting 
communities across the country. This tradition involves improving the 
lives of the Nation's most vulnerable citizens, protecting the 
environment, contributing to public safety, responding to disasters, 
and strengthening our educational system.
  We recognize the real impact that AmeriCorps has and continues to 
have on our Nation's communities. Since 1994, more than 570,000 
individuals have served with the organization. These individuals have 
tackled some of the Nation's toughest issues, including illiteracy, 
gang violence, homelessness, and drug abuse. They have worked with 
thousands of organizations ranging from Habitat for Humanity to the Red 
Cross. After their terms of service, these members remain engaged in 
their communities as volunteers, as teachers, and as nonprofit 
professionals at disproportionately high levels.
  In my district, in the capital region of New York State, we have a 
large AmeriCorps program with the Self Advocacy Association of New 
York. The AmeriCorps members, all with developmental disabilities, 
travel around the State, giving presentations--promoting the importance 
of self-advocacy for people with disabilities, the general awareness of 
disability-related issues and the importance of full community 
inclusion of people with disabilities.
  This is important work, and I am so pleased we have these volunteers 
back home in my congressional district. We realize that, as this 
current economic downturn puts millions of Americans at risk, the need 
for volunteers and national service will be more important than ever.
  The recently signed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act expands the 
AmeriCorps program to incorporate some 250,000 volunteers each year. It 
is important to recognize the commitment of these volunteers so that 
future generations will continue to support the ideal of national 
service. The strength of our Nation depends upon individuals who take 
action towards building better communities.
  We observed AmeriCorps Week May 9 through May 16. AmeriCorps Week 
provides current volunteers, alums, grantees, program partners, and 
friends with the opportunity to highlight the important work done by 
this great organization. It is a chance for us to thank those 
individuals whose service to society cannot be fully measured.
  It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to motivate future 
individuals to pursue the ethic of service, whether in organizations 
such as AmeriCorps or in the various other service opportunities that 
exist in our Nation. The ethic of service is a manifestation of the 
greater ideal of democracy. The AmeriCorps pledge begins: ``I will get 
things done for America to make our people safer, smarter, and 
healthier.'' It is important that we recognize that service is a civic 
duty. Not only do we express gratitude for service, but we express 
gratitude through service. When we acknowledge the significant 
accomplishments of AmeriCorps as an organization, we affirm the 
importance of service as a necessary component of any democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate the 
contributions made by AmeriCorps. These volunteers are the muscle of 
America, and they deserve this recognition.
  I want to thank Representative Matsui for bringing this resolution to 
the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 453, a 
resolution recognizing AmeriCorps Week observed last month on May 9 
through May 16.
  AmeriCorps recognizes the individuals who have chosen to participate 
in the AmeriCorps program, and they have dedicated a significant amount 
of time helping others in local communities.
  In 1990, President George Herbert Walker Bush signed the National 
Service Act, a network of national service programs that engage 
Americans in intensive service to meet the Nation's vital needs in 
education, public safety, health, and the environment.
  In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the National Community Service 
Trust Act, which established the Corporation for National and Community 
Service, which brought the full range of domestic community service 
programs under the umbrella of one central organization.
  Finally, just a few months ago, President Obama signed the latest 
reauthorization of the Corporation for National

[[Page 14381]]

and Community Service, a bill that was developed and passed in a strong 
bipartisan fashion in both Chambers. This legislation builds on the 
reforms to the corporation, started by the previous administration, to 
ensure additional accountability in national service programs. This 
most recent legislation will also help smaller organizations 
participate in national service, and it will ensure that the unique 
skills of America's veterans are well-utilized.
  AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and 
backgrounds to address a myriad of needs in communities all across 
America, such as tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged youth, fighting 
illiteracy, building affordable housing, and assisting communities in 
times of natural disaster. For example, in the last 3 years, more than 
4 million service hours have been spent helping gulf coast communities 
recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That's 4 million 
hours of service made possible by the organizations and by the 
individuals who chose to participate in the AmeriCorps programs.
  This resolution recognizes one week where we salute current and 
former AmeriCorps members for their important work. It also allows us 
to thank all community partners who make it possible for AmeriCorps 
members to serve.
  I want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow cochairs on the 
National Service Caucus, Representatives Matsui, Ehlers and Price, for 
introducing this resolution. I ask my colleagues to support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun).
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. I thank my colleague of Pennsylvania for 
yielding me some time.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill encourages Americans to support AmeriCorps. 
There are some around the country who would agree with that. There are 
others who would not because there are problems with AmeriCorps, such 
as moneys that have been expended on ACORN. Other funds and efforts by 
AmeriCorps volunteers have been utilized in campaigns, which I don't 
think is quite appropriate, particularly when we're trying to promote 
volunteerism.
  Whether people would support AmeriCorps or not, I think that there is 
another issue that, if the American people were to fully comprehend and 
understand, the vast majority of this country would not support. It's 
what the liberals in this Congress are calling cap-and-trade 
legislation. I call it tax-and-cap legislation because that's what it's 
all about. It's about taxes. In fact, the President recently said, if 
this bill were not passed, he would not have the money to fund his 
socialized medicine program for which he is actually pushing very hard 
and for which he wants passed by the end of this year.
  Now, socialized medicine is going to take people's choices away. It's 
going to take their choices of doctors away, their choices of 
hospitals, their choices of what medications they can utilize, whether 
they can even have a procedure or have surgery that is so desperately 
needed. It's going to be a program that's going to literally kill 
people because it's going to deny them care that's desperately needed.
  So this tax-and-cap legislation--``cap-and-trade'' as it's called--is 
about money. It's not about the environment. It's about money. It's 
about more funds being brought into the Federal government to foster 
what I call a ``steamroll of socialism'' that's being shoved down the 
throats of the American people. It's going to slay the American 
economy. It's going to cost jobs.
  The President has talked about using Spain as the icon for what we 
should look at. Well, in Spain, the icon that the President looks to, 
we have already seen that for every single green job that it has 
produced another 2.2 jobs, which were real jobs, permanent jobs, were 
destroyed.
  In my congressional district in northeast Georgia, right now, today, 
in many counties, we have an unemployment rate of nearly 14 percent. 
The national average is over 9 percent. In northeast Georgia, it's 
higher, much higher. I have manufacturing entities within my district 
that tell me, if this cap-and-trade/tax-and-cap legislation is passed, 
they're going to lock the doors, and the unemployment rate in northeast 
Georgia is going to go up markedly from what it is today, which is 
roughly 14 percent. I think we're going to see 18 percent, 20 percent, 
maybe 25 percent unemployment in northeast Georgia because of one bill, 
because of one bill that is being pushed down the throats of the 
American people: this cap-and-tax--``tax-and-cap'' as I call it--cap-
and-trade legislation, the Waxman-Markey bill.

                              {time}  1515

  It's going to be disastrous for the American economy, it's going to 
be disastrous for American workers, and it's going to be disastrous for 
the poor and those who are on limited incomes.
  Why do I say that? Well, I say that because every single person in 
this country utilizes energy. Every single person, when they flip on 
their light switch, their electric bill is going up. Every single 
person in this country is dependent upon gasoline or diesel fuel. Why? 
Even if they don't have a car, even if they use public transportation, 
it is gasoline and diesel fuel that motivates America. But it's more 
than that. Groceries don't grow in the grocery store. Grocery prices 
are going to go up markedly because of this tax-and-cap legislation. 
Every single good and service in this country is going to go up because 
of this tax-and-cap legislation.
  Now I'm a conservationist. I fought in the conservation movement for 
a long period of time. We have to be good stewards of our environment. 
There's no question. I want clean air and clean water just as much as 
the most ardent, rabid environmental activist in this country. I'm a 
physician, and I know what dirty air does to my patients who have 
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic asthma and lung 
diseases. We must have clean air. We can do that, but we can do that 
without destroying our economy. We can do that without costing American 
jobs.
  All we're going to do is run jobs overseas instead of having them 
here in America. We ought to have public policy that grows our economic 
base, not kills it. Tax-and-cap legislation would kill it. We ought to 
have public policy that stimulates the economy instead of kills it. 
Tax-and-cap will kill it.
  We are in a bad economic situation today. People are hurting all over 
this country. We are borrowing too much. We're spending too much. We're 
taxing too much. We see the policy from this administration and the 
liberal leadership of Congress in both the House and the Senate that is 
going to not only extend this current recession, but I believe it's 
going to deepen it. I believe it will even take us into a severe 
recession to the point of a frank, outright depression. Tax-and-cap 
legislation is going to be the locomotive that takes us down those 
tracks, and it's going to be a high-speed train taking us toward 
economic ruin. That high-speed train is going to run off a cliff, and 
it's going to take the American economy and the American people with 
it. It's going to kill small business. It's going to kill big business. 
It's going to kill jobs. It's going to hurt poor people. It's going to 
hurt the elderly, those on limited incomes. It's going to raise the 
cost of medicine, raise the cost of health care.
  And why are we doing this? It is so, as the President himself has 
said, that he can have the funds to create a bigger socialized medicine 
program and other socialized programs, bigger government, bigger 
spending, more economic doom and gloom that's going to be foisted upon 
the American people. We've got to stop it. And if the American people 
realized what was happening, they'd stand up and say no to cap-and-tax, 
cap-and-trade, what I call tax-and-cap legislation, as well as the 
socialized medicine program, the two big things that this 
administration and the liberal leadership in this Congress are pushing. 
Both of them are going to be disastrous. Both of them are going to kill 
jobs. Both of them are going to

[[Page 14382]]

take away choices. Both of them are going to destroy our economy. Both 
of them are going to put our children and grandchildren in severe 
economic peril. And believe me, I believe it's immoral. I think it's 
totally immoral because we are robbing our children and our 
grandchildren of their economic futures. They will live at a standard 
that's much below ours today.
  We have a clear picture of where the leadership in this Congress is 
taking us and the way the administration is taking us. All we have to 
do is look in Venezuela. This administration and the liberal leadership 
in this Congress is going down the same road that Hugo Chavez has taken 
the Venezuelans. Venezuela nationalized their energy systems. That's 
exactly what we're trying to do here with cap-and-trade. In Venezuela, 
Hugo Chavez nationalized the financial institutions. We've already done 
that. We've nationalized Chrysler and GM, and they're trying to force 
Ford into the same trap. We've nationalized the insurance industry. 
We're nationalizing everything of major consequence in this country 
economically. And now the leadership wants to nationalize, federalize, 
socialize the health care system in America.
  Now where is that train going to take us? We've got a clear picture 
of that, too. All we have to do is look in Cuba, look in the Soviet-
controlled Soviet Union prior to them making their reforms and turning 
toward a more capitalistic system. But we can look at Cuba. Cuba, prior 
to Fidel Castro taking over that government, was very prosperous. 
Certainly they had problems, but not the problems that they have today. 
In Cuba we have a very rich elite, headed by a Marxist, Fidel Castro. 
The vast majority of the people in that country are struggling, very 
poor, with no choices. That's exactly where we're heading in America 
today if we continue down this road, this steamroller of socialism, 
this high-speed train that's going to drive us off the economic cliff. 
We've got to stop it.
  Republicans have offered alternative after alternative. We had 
alternatives to the housing crisis. The liberals on the other side were 
obstructionists. They wouldn't let our alternatives be heard. We had 
alternatives to the stimulus bill. I call it the nonstimulus bill 
because it has not and will not stimulate the economy. We had 
alternatives. The other side were obstructionists. They would not allow 
our ideas to be heard or brought to this floor for debate.
  We've offered alternatives to the banking crisis. But what have we 
done? We've bailed out Wall Street. Republicans have offered many 
alternatives to bail out Main Street, but they are not heard on this 
floor. Over and over again, the other side has been obstructionist. 
They've blocked every effort that we have brought on our side, from the 
Republican side, to bring forth commonsense, market-based free 
enterprise solutions that would not have put our children and 
grandchildren's futures at peril. But the other side have been 
obstructionists. They have not allowed those things to be heard. They 
have been buried in committee. We introduced the bills. We had press 
conferences. The Main Street media around this country are very 
compliant with the leadership on the liberal side because they bury it 
and don't even report the alternatives.
  We hear on the other side that the Republicans are the Party of No. 
Well actually we are the Party of Know, but it's K-N-O-W. We know how 
to solve these problems in America. We know how to solve the banking 
problems. We know how to solve the stimulus/economic problems. We know 
how to solve the environmental problems, the energy problems, the 
health care problems that America faces. But are our ideas heard? The 
other side is the side of no, N-O, because they say no to every 
proposal that we've made on our side.
  The press also is the party of no, N-O, because they've not reported 
on any of the proposals that we've offered, and it's not right. It's 
actually going to be disastrous to the American people, and the 
American people need to stand up and say no to this steamroller of 
socialism. Stop this high-speed train running off the cliff of economic 
doom that's going to take our children and grandchildren down into the 
chasm of a poor economy, struggling to try to pay off the debt for this 
totally inappropriate outright steamroller of socialism that's being 
forced down the throats of the American people.
  We've got to stop it. And we can stop it if the American people rise 
up and say no to the steamroller, put a stop to this high-speed train 
that Nancy Pelosi's driving and Harry Reid's driving that is going to 
hurt our children, it's going to hurt our grandchildren, it's going to 
hurt America, and I'm not sure that we can recover in the next 10 
decades, century. It may take that long to put us back on the right 
track, if we can ever get back on the right track.
  We've seen over and over throughout history societies destroyed 
because of people doing things in a self-centered manner, and that's 
exactly what's happening in this country today. We are self-centered as 
a people. We need to look at serving other people, particularly our 
children and grandchildren, put this country back on the right track, 
and we can do that.
  Former U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen one time said, when he feels the 
heat, he sees the light. The American people need to put the heat on 
Members of Congress in the House and the Senate and say no to cap-and-
tax, cap-and-trade legislation, to the Waxman-Markey bill. They need to 
say no to the socialized medicine program that the liberal leadership 
on the Democratic side is trying to force upon us which will take our 
choices away. They need to say no to the steamroller of socialism, no 
to big government, and yes to free enterprise, yes to personal 
responsibility and accountability, yes to small business. We cannot 
borrow and spend our way to prosperity. We have to stimulate the 
economy by stimulating small business. We have to have money in the 
hands of small businessmen and -women around this country to create 
jobs. We have to have money in the hands of the taxpayers so that they 
can have money for a college education for their children, buy clothes, 
buy food.
  The bill just before this one was about encouraging physical 
education for our children. I'm a medical doctor, and I have seen over 
and over again how fat and out of shape the kids in this country are. 
But our economy is going to be skinny and poor because of a fat, 
bloated Federal Government that the liberal leadership in this House 
and this Senate are trying to force upon the American people.
  So the American people need to stand up and say no to all these 
steamroller of socialism programs, to the cap-and-trade, to socialized 
medicine; and say yes to the Republican alternatives that will look to 
the free marketplace and will stimulate the economy, get us back on the 
right track and help us have a strong economic future not only for us 
today but for our children and our grandchildren for the next decades 
to come.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any additional speakers, and I 
would yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, if there is a common thread woven through the 
fabric of volunteers across this great country of ours, it's a sense of 
positive, a positive spirit, a positive attitude, positive energy going 
forward and building stronger communities, enhancing the quality of 
life of American citizens. Their deeds speak to our needs.
  So to focus effectively and most positively on the subject at hand, 
bringing us to House Resolution 453, I will close with my comments 
focused in great respect for the volunteers of this country, the spirit 
of this House resolution. I would suggest that they are that muscle of 
America. They make a total difference. They enhance the quality of life 
of each and every American, and the recognition of our volunteers 
through AmeriCorps, the spirit of House Resolution 453, should be 
recognized and responded to by our colleagues. I would encourage a 
``yes'' vote on the resolution.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
453, which recognizes the significant accomplishments of the

[[Page 14383]]

AmeriCorps programs, encourages all citizens to join in a national 
effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, and helps raise 
awareness about the importance of national and community service to our 
country.
  AmeriCorps Week is celebrated each year to honor the important work 
that AmeriCorps volunteers provide to our communities.
  This year, we celebrated National AmeriCorps Week with a renewed 
sense of purpose after the passage of the Senator Edward M. Kennedy 
Serve America Act. Already we have seen a rise in AmeriCorps 
applications and a tremendous interest in national and community 
service as a direct result of this legislation.
  The Serve America Act restores the promise of our national service 
programs by expanding the AmeriCorps programs' volunteer capacity from 
75,000 to 250,000 volunteers across the country, and reauthorizes the 
Corporation for National and Community Service for the first time in 15 
years.
  In my district of Sacramento, AmeriCorps National Civilian Community 
Corps, or as we say NCCC, volunteers provide immense benefits to our 
community and our region. Trained in CPR, first aid, disaster response 
and firefighting, NCCC teams have responded to every national disaster 
since the program was established.
  As a Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus, it is a pleasure to 
call attention to the tremendous work of those involved at every level 
and in every AmeriCorps program.
  As a result of the great work of these volunteers, extraordinary 
things are happening all around America. The service programs and new 
initiatives help address some of our nation's toughest problems, from 
poverty and unmet education needs, to natural disasters.
  I urge my colleagues to continue to support AmeriCorps volunteers and 
take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication to our country 
and to their communities.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I rise in support of House Resolution 453 which 
recognizes the significant accomplishments of the AmeriCorps and 
encourages all citizens to join in a national effort to salute 
AmeriCorps members and alumni, and raise awareness about the importance 
of national and community service.
  I want to commend my good friend from the 5th district of California, 
Ms. Doris Matsui, for introducing this important resolution. I also 
want to recognize the cosponsors for their strong support of House 
Resolution 453.
  Ever since its creation in 1993 by President Clinton, AmeriCorps has 
honorably served our nation's communities. I am also encouraged by the 
recent decision by the Obama Administration to increase the total 
number of volunteers in AmeriCorps to 250,000 by the year 2012, which 
further demonstrates that AmeriCorps is fulfilling its mission and 
honorably serving its purpose.
  Today, this legislation honors the thousands of volunteers who have 
selflessly served communities in areas such as education, public 
safety, health, and the environment. As a result of all their hard work 
and service, communities across the nation have benefitted 
tremendously. For example, AmeriCorps has provided mentoring programs 
to children of incarcerated parents. The program recruits and provides 
knowledgeable and caring mentors for these children with parents in 
prison. In 2007, statistics show the program provided mentoring to 
93,400 children of incarcerated parents, more than double its target 
goal of 36,000 children. In addition, AmeriCorps has also been endorsed 
by a growing number of higher education institutions. In the 2007 
fiscal year, 76 institutions matched the AmeriCorps Education Award, an 
award that provides up to 5,000 dollars a year to volunteers who 
demonstrate outstanding service in the AmeriCorps programs. This goes 
to show the support the AmeriCorps is getting from higher-education 
institutions around the country.
  Back in 2003, I co-sponsored House Resolution 2125, introduced by my 
friend, Ms. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the Rite of Passage Community 
Service Act, which created a national network of service programs that 
allowed for young people who were part of community-based, after-
school, and summer service corps programs to work with older AmeriCorps 
members who could organize service projects and act as mentors to new 
AmeriCorps members. In the midst of this economic downturn millions of 
Americans are without jobs and AmeriCorps can provide opportunities for 
many to become involved in their communities and benefit our nation.
  I recognize that there are still some areas that need improvements, 
but the overall purpose of AmeriCorps programs has been a success. The 
program has become the number one catalyst for service and voluntary 
work, in the country.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
announce my support for AmeriCorps and to salute all AmeriCorps members 
nationwide. Since AmeriCorps was created in 1994, Texas has benefited 
from over 22,000 young people serving a year or more in our 
communities. Through programs such as the National Civilian Community 
Corps, City Year and Teach For America, AmeriCorps volunteers address 
critical Texas needs in education, public safety, disaster response and 
recovery, and environment preservation. These programs serve an 
important role as they provide an outlet for people to serve their 
country in a manner that had previously not been afforded.
  In the last 14 years more than 500,000 individuals have served 
through AmeriCorps and have earned education awards worth more than 
$1.5 billion, making the dream of higher education more attainable. 
This national service program has provided opportunities for growing 
numbers of Americans to serve our nation.
  AmeriCorps members serve thousands of nonprofit organizations, 
schools, and faith-based and community organizations each year. With 
the enactment of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which 
President Obama signed on April 21, 2009, three times as many 
American's will now have the opportunity to serve. This program has 
engaged millions of Americans in results-driven service in the Nation's 
most vulnerable communities, providing hope and help to people facing 
economic and social needs. With the current economic downturn putting 
millions of Americans at risk, national service and volunteering are 
more important than ever.
  Mr. Speaker, the AmeriCorps program has done great things for Texas 
and the country as a whole. I am indeed honored to support the 
significant accomplishments of this wonderful program which represents 
the very best of the United States of America.
  Mr. TONKO. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 453.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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