Date: 2009-03-18
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Members of the House. I want to begin by thanking all of you for your support for this legislation. for the bipartisan support we have received throughout the committee deliberations in our committee. and the support that we received both in the Rules Committee and on the floor today. As we went through the amendment process. Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle spoke in favor of this most important American value. and that is service to our country. service to our neighbors. service -to our communities. and thats whats reflected in this legislation. It is a rather remarkable mosaic of organizations and individuals from every corner of this country. from large cities to small rural towns that have responded tb the needs of others. and they have responded without question. They have responded with their skills. their talents. and they have come forth to build a stronger America and a better community. Earlier today at an event that we had with many of the volunteers to discuss this legislation. we were honored with the presence of Captain Scott Quilty. who retired from the Army after 10 years of service as a decorated infantry captain and Army Ranger during his tour in Iraq. where he led a platoon assigned to train. assess and build the operational capacity of a 460man element of the Iraqi Army. March .18. 2009 In that tour of duty. he lost an arm and a leg. When he returned to America. as if he hadnt given enough service to America. he immediately joined the organization of Survivor Corps to help our returning vets when they come back to this country after serving in Afghanistan. Iraq. and other places around the world. to reintegrate with their families. their communities. their schools. their jobs. their friends. their neighbors. We were honored with Scott Quilty. And at that very same service. a gentleman walked up to me and handed me these. many of us see this when we tour our Army bases or our Air Force Bases or meet with the troops. its called the Young Marines. and they do much of the same service. They give their time to our veterans. But they are not the only ones. We have senior grandparents. we have Teach For America. we have Jumpstart. we have Americans doing all Of this. We have Americans in the AmeriCorps that organized over 300.000 hours of volunteer service when the floods hit Iowa. They were there first. They came with their first responders in California with the wildfires and with the floods. They showed up early and they stayed late with Katrina and Rita. This is what we celebrate with this legislation. and I want to thank you for your support and your good words on behalf of these people. Americans all. who step forward every time one of us needs them or the community needs them. This legislation will strengthen and enable more Americans to be able to do so. It will tie in an educational benefit so that young children can have a service experience in middle school and high school and schools will become the center of service for young people in their communities. Now let me get to the motion to recommit. I think. as we have only seen it for a few minutes. I think most of the motion to recommit is. in fact. already covered in statutes. regulations and the grant agreements that are issued. We are well aware of these issues. The Members on both sides of the aisle have spoken to them. and they have offered statutes. not only in this act. but in other acts. making sure that people who get these grants dont engage in activities that they should not be. So we plan to accept this amendment. I appreciate the gentlewoman offering it. and we will take it to conference. But. again. I want to thank you for supporting this legislation in advance of your support. and I would ask that you feel free to vote for the motion to recommit. Again. I ask for passage of the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.