III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 86 

Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni to the 

lives of the people of the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 9, 2017 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. COCHRAN, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. WICKER, Mr. 

CARPER, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. TESTER, Ms. 

HIRONO, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. HEINRICH, Ms. 

DUCKWORTH, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. 

MARKEY, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. REED, Ms. WARREN, Mr. PETERS, Mr. VAN

HOLLEN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. MORAN, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. 

MANCHIN, and Mr. CASEY) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and 

alumni to the lives of the people of the United States. 

Whereas, since its inception in 1994, the AmeriCorps national service program has proven to be a highly effective 

way to engage the people of the United States in meeting 

a wide range of local and national needs and promote the 

ethics of service and volunteerism; 

Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,000,000 individuals have 

taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ‘‘get things done for 

America’’ by becoming AmeriCorps members; 


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•SRES 86 ATS 

Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps, in coordination with State 

service commissions, provides opportunities for approximately 80,000 individuals across the United States to 

give back in an intensive way to communities, States, and 

the United States; 

Whereas AmeriCorps members have served more than 

1,400,000,000 hours nationwide, helping to— 

(1) improve the lives of the most vulnerable people 

of the United States; 

(2) protect the environment; 

(3) contribute to public safety; 

(4) respond to disasters; and 

(5) strengthen the educational system of the United 

States; 

Whereas, since 1994, more than $8,700,000,000 in 

AmeriCorps 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 donations each year; 

Whereas, in 2016, AmeriCorps members recruited and supervised more than 2,300,000 community volunteers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a powerful force 

for encouraging people to become involved in volunteering 

and community service; 

Whereas, in 2016, AmeriCorps members served at approximately 21,000 locations across the United States, including at nonprofit organizations, schools, and faith-based 

and community organizations; 

Whereas AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps 

campuses in Mississippi, Maryland, Iowa, California, and 


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Colorado strengthen communities and develop future 

leaders through team-based service; 

Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for the 

service of those members, have earned more than 

$3,300,000,000 to use to further their own educational 

advancement at colleges and universities across the 

United States; 

Whereas AmeriCorps members, after their terms of service 

with AmeriCorps end, have been more likely to remain 

engaged in their communities as volunteers, teachers, and 

nonprofit professionals than the average individual; 

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 turning toward problems and working together to find community solutions; and 

Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2017 from March 4 

through March 11, is an appropriate time for the people 

of the United States to salute current and former 

AmeriCorps members for their positive impact on the 

lives of people in the United States, to thank the commuVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:38 Mar 09, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR86.ATS SR86

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•SRES 86 ATS 

nity partners of AmeriCorps for making the program possible, and 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 to— 

4 (A) salute AmeriCorps members and alum5 ni; and 

6 (B) raise awareness about the importance 

7 of national and community service; 

8 (2) acknowledges the significant accomplish9 ments of the members, alumni, and community part10 ners of AmeriCorps; 

11 (3) recognizes the important contributions 

12 made by AmeriCorps members and alumni to the 

13 lives of the people of the United States; and 

14 (4) encourages individuals of all ages to con15 sider opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps. 

Æ 


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