[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 21 (Monday, May 27, 2002)]
[Page 907]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Proposed ``Citizen Service Act of 2002''

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.