[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14590]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICORPS ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2014

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments of twenty years of service to our communities from 
AmeriCorps members. I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating 
with AmeriCorps members past and present the many lives changed and 
neighborhoods improved through the immensely important work of these 
volunteers.
  On September 12, 1994, the first class of 20,000 AmeriCorps members 
was sworn-in and began serving in 1,000 communities across the country. 
President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act 
of 1993 to create AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, and participated by swearing-in the first AmeriCorps 
members in the Oval Office twenty years ago tomorrow.
  Since 1994, more than 900,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed 
more than 1 billion hours in service across the country. In my hometown 
of Sacramento, I have met AmeriCorps members serving in places like 
Pacific Elementary, the Sacramento Food Bank, and at Volunteer Income 
Tax Assistance sites. In total, we have 796 AmeriCorps positions in 
Sacramento for the 2013-2014 program year. I am grateful for the 
outstanding service this group of volunteers has performed in the 
Sacramento community, making Sacramento a better place to live, work 
and learn.
  Today, September 11th, we honor the fallen in the terrorist attacks 
by designating September 11th as the National Day of Service and 
Remembrance. I thank the AmeriCorps volunteers, and all volunteers 
across the country, who join together to make our country better, 
stronger and more united through service.
  Mr. Speaker, again I thank the past, present and future members of 
AmeriCorps for their tremendous service to our country. This twenty 
year anniversary marks a successful milestone for the program, and I 
look forward to seeing the accomplishments of AmeriCorps over the next 
twenty years and beyond.

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