City Year Alumni to March in Presidential Parade (Last updated: December 17, 2008)

On January 20th, look for City Year red jackets in the presidential inauguration parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.  Seventeen City Year alumni from various sites were chosen by lottery to join other AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni to powerfully represent the nation’s tradition of citizen service.  "These organizations embody the best of our nation's history, diversity and commitment to service," Obama said in a statement. "Vice President-elect Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade."  President-elect Obama has made service a theme of his inauguration, committing to serve with his family on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday the day before swearing in as the 44th President.   

President-elect Obama Posts National Service Plan

Presidential leadership has been a catalyst for new national service programs throughout history, including Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Civilian Conservation Corps, John F. Kennedy and the Peace Corps, and William J. Clinton and AmeriCorps.  On the website www.change.gov, President-elect Obama has declared his intention to grow AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps.  His plans include new service organizations to meet specific challenges, including a Classroom Corps to help underserved schools.  He has also suggested that all college students who engage in 100 hours of community service should receive a fully-refundable tax credit of $4,000 for their education.

City Year Alumni Respond to National Service Funding Alert

On December 3, City Year alumni responded to an action alert issued by the national service community to educate their Members of Congress about funding levels for AmeriCorps in 2009.  Thank you to those who took time to call their legislators in Washington.

Currently the Corporation for National and Community Service is operating under a stop-gap funding bill that keeps all government programs running at their 2008 funding levels.  The Corporation requires an additional $41 million, above the amount appropriated in 2008, to sustain its AmeriCorps grantees in 2009 with the same number of corps members.   The primary reason additional funds are needed is a new accounting procedure mandated by the Office of Management and Budget.

In January, Congress will consider an omnibus funding bill for all fiscal year 2009 government priorities, including national service programs.  To maintain the current number of members in service, Congress must provide AmeriCorps with $420 million for programs operating grants and for education.

For more information on national service funding visit www.voicesforservice.org/legis_update.htm

National Service Legislation Awaits Action by 111th Congress

Leaders in Congress have demonstrated strong support for national service, introducing at least 10 separate bills last year aimed at growing existing programs, increasing incentives for service, and creating new pathways for service and volunteerism:

* S.3487, Serve America Act
* S.3037, AmeriCorps Together Improving Our Nation (ACTION) Act
* S.3480, Encore Service Act
* S.1128, Summer of Service Act
* S.3479, Semester of Service Act
* S.3027, Coaching Our Adolescents for College Heights Act
* S.3028, Senior Year Community Service Act
* S.960, Public Service Academy Act
* H.R.5563, The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act
* H.R.6407, Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act

It has been 16 years since the passage of the National and Community Service Trust Act.  Since that time, demand for service opportunities has grown and the value of the AmeriCorps Education Award has remained static while the cost of higher education has skyrocketed.  Limited changes to national service programs have been implemented through regulation or the annual appropriations process. 

There is incredible opportunity in the coming year to leverage the support of a new President and Congress to pass a bold, new national service bill that expands upon what works and includes new ideas to grow national service.  When the 111th Congress convenes in January, we anticipate that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and House Committee on Education and Labor will be working on comprehensive national service legislation for introduction. 

Alumni can stay informed of new developments at www.voicesforservice.org/legis_update.htm