III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 136 

Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni and 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives of the people of the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 29, 2023 

Mr. CASSIDY (for Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. HEINRICH, Mrs. 

CAPITO, Mr. REED, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. BENNET, Mrs. SHAHEEN, 

Mr. KING, Mr. BROWN, Mr. MANCHIN, and Ms. COLLINS)) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and 

alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives 

of the people of the United States. 

Whereas, since their inceptions, each of the AmeriCorps and 

AmeriCorps Seniors national service programs have proven to be a highly effective way— 

(1) to bring people of all backgrounds throughout 

the United States together in common cause to meet the 

most pressing challenges of communities in the United 

States; and 

(2) to promote the ethics of service and volunteerism; 

Whereas, each year, more than 200,000 individuals serve in 

AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors at nearly 40,000 loVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:41 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR136.ATS SR136

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•SRES 136 ATS 

cations across the United States to give back in an 

impactful way to communities, States, Tribal nations, 

and the United States; 

Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors funds have 

been invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and 

faith-based groups, and those funds leverage hundreds of 

millions of dollars in outside funding and in-kind support 

each year; 

Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have provided millions of hours of service nationwide, helping— 

(1) to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of the United States; 

(2) to protect the environment and restore public 

lands; 

(3) to contribute to public safety; 

(4) to respond to natural disasters; 

(5) to address food insecurity and public health; 

(6) to strengthen the educational system of the 

United States; and 

(7) to expand economic opportunity; 

Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers recruit and manage millions of community volunteers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a powerful force for encouraging people to become involved in 

volunteering and community service; 

Whereas, for more than 5 decades, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior 

Companion programs have played an important role in 

strengthening communities by sharing their experience, 

knowledge, and accomplishments with the individuals 

they serve; 


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•SRES 136 ATS 

Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,250,000 AmeriCorps members have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ‘‘get things 

done for America’’ through the AmeriCorps State and 

National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC 

programs; 

Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for the 

service of those members, have earned more than 

$4,400,000,000 to use to further their own educational 

advancement at colleges and universities across the 

United States and to pay back student loans; 

Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway to employment, 

providing members with valuable career skills, experience, 

and contacts to prepare them for the 21st century workforce and support economic competitiveness in the United 

States; 

Whereas, in 2009, Congress passed the bipartisan Serve 

America Act (Public Law 111–13; 123 Stat. 1460), 

which authorized the expansion of national service, expanded opportunities to serve, increased efficiency and 

accountability, and strengthened the capacity of organizations and communities to solve problems; 

Whereas national service programs have engaged millions of 

people in the United States in results-driven service in 

the most vulnerable communities of the United States, 

providing hope and help to individuals with economic and 

social needs; 

Whereas national service and volunteerism demonstrate the 

best of the spirit of the United States, with people solving problems by working together to find community solutions; and 


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•SRES 136 ATS 

Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2023 from March 12 

through March 18, is an appropriate time for the people 

of the United States— 

(1) to salute current and former AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for their positive 

impact on generations of Americans; 

(2) to thank the grantees, State service commissions, 

and community partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps 

Seniors for making the programs possible; and 

(3) to encourage more people in the United States 

to become involved in service and volunteering: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) encourages the people of the United States 

3 to join in a national effort— 

4 (A) to salute AmeriCorps members and 

5 alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers; and 

6 (B) to raise awareness about the impor7 tance of national and community service; 

8 (2) acknowledges the significant accomplish9 ments of the members, volunteers, alumni, and com10 munity partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps 

11 Seniors; 

12 (3) recognizes the important contributions 

13 made by AmeriCorps members and alumni and 

14 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives of the 

15 people of the United States; and 


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•SRES 136 ATS 

1 (4) encourages individuals of all ages to con2 sider opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps and 

3 AmeriCorps Seniors. 

Æ 


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