III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 326 

Recognizing the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. JONES, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. CARPER, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. CASEY, 

Mr. CARDIN, Mr. WICKER, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. BROWN, Mrs. SHAHEEN, 

Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. REED, Mr. KING, Mr. 

MANCHIN, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. SANDERS, 

Mr. TESTER, Mr. KAINE, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. PETERS, Mr. BENNET, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Ms. HARRIS, Ms. HIRONO, and Ms. SMITH) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps. 

Whereas the spirit of service has defined the United States 

and strengthened the bonds of community for nearly 250 

years; 

Whereas September 12, 2019, will mark the 25th anniversary 

of the first class of AmeriCorps members, who pledged to 

‘‘get things done’’; 

Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,100,000 individuals of all 

ages and backgrounds have joined AmeriCorps, serving 

more than 1,500,000,000 hours and improving the lives 

of countless people in the United States; 


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•SRES 326 ATS 

Whereas AmeriCorps members address the most pressing 

challenges facing the United States by educating students 

for jobs of the 21st century, expanding economic opportunity, addressing the needs of military families and a 

generation of veterans returning from war, helping communities rebuild after natural disasters, supporting communities combatting the opioid epidemic, and preserving 

the parks and public lands of the United States; 

Whereas approximately 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve 

each year in more than 21,000 locations nationwide and, 

along with more than 200,000 Senior Corps volunteers 

serving in more than 23,000 locations, bolster the civic, 

neighborhood, and faith-based organizations that are so 

vital to the well-being of the United States; 

Whereas AmeriCorps expands opportunities for AmeriCorps 

members by providing experience, career skills, and support for higher education, and, since 1994, AmeriCorps 

members have earned more than $3,700,000,000 in Segal 

AmeriCorps Education Awards to repay qualified student 

loans or pay for other higher education expenses; 

Whereas AmeriCorps is a model public-private partnership 

that generates hundreds of millions of dollars of nongovernmental resources each year to strengthen community impact and increase return on taxpayer dollars; 

Whereas AmeriCorps, working hand-in-hand with its network 

of Governor-appointed State service commissions, has developed an efficient and effective structure for engaging 

individuals in results-driven service that is poised for further growth and success in the future; 

Whereas AmeriCorps was built upon decades-old legacies of 

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•SRES 326 ATS 

ian Conservation Corps, the Volunteers in Service to 

America (VISTA) program, the Senior Companion Program, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Retired 

and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); 

Whereas national service programs create understanding that 

unites citizens and bridges gaps across races, generations, social classes, and geographic boundaries; 

Whereas national service brings tangible benefits to the communities being served as well as to individuals providing 

the service, including improved health, expanded economic opportunity, and increased civic participation; 

Whereas AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers 

demonstrate commitment, dedication, and patriotism by 

making an intensive commitment to service and, after 

their terms of service, remain engaged in our communities as volunteers, public servants, and civic leaders at 

disproportionately high rates; and 

Whereas the Corporation for National and Community Service has led efforts to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and 

volunteering in the United States for the last quarter 

century: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) acknowledges the significant impact and 

3 value of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and commu4 nity partners over the past 25 years; 

5 (2) recognizes the legacy of service of Senior 

6 Corps volunteers and all of the national service 

7 members in the United States; and 


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•SRES 326 ATS 

1 (3) encourages citizens of all ages to find ways 

2 to give back to their communities and the United 

3 States through AmeriCorps and Senior Corps pro4 grams. 

Æ 


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