III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 425 

Celebrating Volunteers in Service to America on its 45th anniversary and 

recognizing its contribution to the fight against poverty. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 25, 2010 

Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself and Mr. COCHRAN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 

Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Celebrating Volunteers in Service to America on its 45th 

anniversary and recognizing its contribution to the fight 

against poverty. 

Whereas Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) has made 

an extraordinary contribution to alleviating poverty and 

improving American society since the program began in 

1965; 

Whereas more than 175,000 individuals of all ages and from 

different walks of life have answered VISTA’s call to devote a year of full-time service living and working in lowincome communities to help eradicate poverty; 

Whereas VISTA members have helped create many successful 

and sustainable community initiatives, including Head 

Start centers, credit unions, and neighborhood watch 


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•SRES 425 IS 

groups, with VISTA alumni going on to serve in leadership positions in government, private, and nonprofit sectors throughout the United States; 

Whereas VISTA, which became part of AmeriCorps in 1993 

and is administered by the Corporation for National and 

Community Service, annually engages more than 7,000 

members in helping more than 1,000 local organizations 

build sustainable anti-poverty programs; 

Whereas AmeriCorps VISTA members improve the lives of 

the most vulnerable citizens in our Nation by fighting illiteracy, improving health services, reducing unemployment, increasing housing opportunities, reducing crime 

and recidivism, and expanding access to technology; 

Whereas AmeriCorps VISTA members develop programs, recruit community volunteers, generate resources, manage 

projects, and enhance the ability of nonprofit organizations to become and remain sustainable, thereby 

strengthening the nonprofit sector in low-income communities across the United States; 

Whereas AmeriCorps VISTA members generate more than 

$100,000,000 in cash and in-kind resources annually for 

organizations throughout the Nation, as well as recruit 

and manage more than 1,000,000 volunteers who provide 

10,000,000 hours of community service for local organizations; and 

Whereas AmeriCorps VISTA acted swiftly to help implement 

the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 

(Public Law 111–5), engaging more than 3,700 members 

in distressed communities to provide foreclosure prevention and financial counseling, expand college access, and 


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support health care and independent living services: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends the more than 175,000 men and 

3 women who have served in VISTA for their dedica4 tion and commitment to the fight against poverty; 

5 (2) recognizes VISTA members for leveraging 

6 human, financial, and material resources to increase 

7 the ability of thousands of low-income areas across 

8 the country to address challenges and improve their 

9 communities; and 

10 (3) encourages the continued commitment of 

11 VISTA members to creating and expanding pro12 grams designed to bring individuals and commu13 nities out of poverty. 

Æ 


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