Title: A resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of the people of the United States.
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
This resolution encourages (1) the people of the United States to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni and to raise awareness about the importance of national and community service, and (2) all individuals to consider opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps. The resolution also acknowledges the accomplishments of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners, and recognizes their important contributions to the lives of the people of the United States.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 540 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 540

 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 11, 2020

    Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. King, Mr. Boozman, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Collins, Mr. Reed, Mr. Carper, 
Mr. Wyden, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Manchin, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. 
   Kaine, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Harris, Mr. Markey, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
 Booker, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Brown, Mr. Peters, Mr. Tester, Mr. Heinrich, 
Mr. Durbin, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Smith, and 
 Mr. Bennet) 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--

    (1) to engage the people of the United States in meeting a wide range 
of local and national needs; and

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

Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,100,000 individuals have taken the AmeriCorps 
        pledge to ``get things done for America'' by becoming AmeriCorps 
        members;
Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps, in coordination with State service commissions, 
        provides opportunities for approximately 75,000 individuals across the 
        United States to give back in an intensive way to communities, States, 
        Tribal nations, and the United States;
Whereas AmeriCorps members have served more than 1,600,000,000 hours nationwide, 
        helping--

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

    (2) to protect the environment;

    (3) to contribute to public safety;

    (4) to respond to disasters;

    (5) to strengthen the educational system of the United States; and

    (6) to expand economic opportunity;

Whereas, since 1994, 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 AmeriCorps members recruit and supervise 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 AmeriCorps members serve at more than 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 the States of 
        Mississippi, Iowa, California, and 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 nearly $4,000,000,000 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 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 to help close the skills gap 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 turning toward problems and working 
        together to find community solutions; and
Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2020 from March 8 through March 14, is an 
        appropriate time for the people of the United States--

    (1) to salute current and former AmeriCorps members for their positive 
impact on the lives of people in the United States;

    (2) to thank the community partners of AmeriCorps for making the 
program possible; and

    (3) to encourage more people in the United States to become involved in 
service and volunteering: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) encourages the people of the United States to join in a 
        national effort--
                    (A) to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni; and
                    (B) to raise awareness about the importance of 
                national and community service;
            (2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the 
        members, alumni, and community partners of AmeriCorps;
            (3) recognizes the important contributions made by 
        AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of the people of the 
        United States; and
            (4) encourages individuals of all ages to consider 
        opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps.
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