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

Summary:
This resolution acknowledges the accomplishments of AmeriCorps volunteers, members, alumni, and community partners and encourages AmeriCorps service.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 551 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 551

  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 17, 2022

   Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
 Boozman, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Carper, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cornyn, 
Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hassan, 
   Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
Lujan, Mr. Markey, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. 
 Smith, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Young, and Ms. Rosen) 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 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, each year, more than 250,000 individuals serve in AmeriCorps and 
        AmeriCorps Seniors at more than 40,000 locations across the United 
        States to give back in an intensive 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 donations 
        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;

    (3) to contribute to public safety;

    (4) to respond to disasters and public health emergencies;

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

    (6) to expand economic opportunity;

Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers 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, for more than 5 decades, millions of 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;
Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,200,000 individuals have taken the AmeriCorps 
        pledge to ``get things done for America'' by becoming AmeriCorps members 
        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 $4,000,000,000 to use to further their 
        own educational advancement at colleges and universities across the 
        United States;
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;
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, bringing people together to address the most pressing 
        challenges in their communities; and
Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2022 from March 13 through March 19, 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 the lives of people in the 
United States;

    (2) to thank the 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

    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 
                AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers; and
                    (B) to raise awareness about the importance of 
                national and community service;
            (2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the 
        volunteers, members, alumni, and community partners of 
        AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors;
            (3) recognizes the important contributions made by 
        AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers 
        to the lives of the people of the United States; and
            (4) encourages individuals of all ages to consider 
        opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.
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