    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [May 24, 2002]
    [Pages 884-885]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Proposed Citizen Service Legislation
    May 24, 2002

        I commend House Select Education Subcommittee Chairman Peter
    Hoekstra and Ranking Member Tim
    Roemer for their bipartisan leadership in
    introducing H.R. 4854, the ``Citizen Service Act of 2002.'' In January,
    I called upon all Americans to dedicate at least 2 years--the equivalent
    of 4,000 hours--over the course of their lives in service to others, and
    I laid out policies for fostering service all across the country and
    around the world. Increasing opportunities for all Americans to
    participate in meaningful service activities is a priority of this
    administration, and the bipartisan sponsors and co-sponsors of the
    ``Citizen Service Act of 2002'' are leading that effort in the House of
    Representatives.
        Programs such as Learn and Serve America, Senior Corps, and
    AmeriCorps offer Americans a variety of ways to help meet important
    community needs through service. Through their hard work on the
    ``Citizen Service Act of 2002,'' Chairman Hoekstra and Congressman Roemer are
    helping to strengthen and improve these programs based on the principles
    and reforms I outlined earlier this year. I also look forward to working
    with the Senate and to signing the ``Citizen Service Act of 2002'' this
    legislative session.

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