FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 08, 2003
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Corporation for National and Community Service
CONTACT: Sandy Scott
202-606-5000 x255
sscott@cns.gov |
House Approves Significant Budget Increase for AmeriCorps and Corporation for National and Community Service |
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Washington D.C. — Today's passage of the Omnibus Appropriations bill by the
House of Representatives brings the Corporation for National and Community
Service a step closer to receiving the largest funding increase in its history -
including a $170 million increase in funds for the AmeriCorps program.
If passed by the Senate, the Omnibus bill would provide $941 million to the
Corporation, nearly a 20 percent increase over the agency's fiscal year 2003
appropriation of $786 million. The funding is contained in the fiscal year 2004
Omnibus Appropriations bill. Corporation programs are funded by both the
VA-HUD-Independent Agencies and Labor-HHS portions of the bill.
"We are grateful to the President and the House for reaffirming the value of
national and community service, and we are committed to using this investment
efficiently and effectively," said Stephen Goldsmith, chairman of the board of
directors of the Corporation, which administers the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps,
and Learn and Serve America programs. "This vote supports our efforts to engage
more citizens in meeting vital needs in our communities."
The biggest funding increase came for the AmeriCorps program, which received
$444 million in the VA-HUD portion of the bill - an increase of $170 million
over the previous fiscal year. Most of the increase was included in the $314
million appropriation for AmeriCorps*State and National grants. In addition, the
Omnibus would provide $130 million for the National Service Trust, which pays
the education award that members receive upon completion of their term of
service; and $25 million for AmeriCorps*NCCC, a team-based residential service
program for individuals 18 to 24 years old. The Labor-HHS section of the bill
provides the President's full request of $94.3 million for AmeriCorps*VISTA,
which provides full-time, year-long volunteers to faith-based and community
organizations to develop programs, recruit volunteers, raise funds, and manage
projects to increase the self-sufficiency of the nation's poor.
AmeriCorps provides dedicated people to help nonprofit groups carry out their
missions in the areas of education, the environment, public safety, homeland
security, and other needs. Members tutor children, build homes, respond to
disasters, and provide a range of other services. In return for a year of
full-time service, most AmeriCorps members receive an education award of $4,725
to be redeemed to pay for college or graduate school or to pay off student
loans.
"This bill reflects the President's continued commitment to fostering a
renewed culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in our nation and
will enable more Americans answer his Call to Service," said John Bridgeland,
Director of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative that includes the
Corporation and its programs. "The President set an ambitious funding goal for
AmeriCorps and worked hard to achieve it. The President is also committed to
reforming national service programs to increase efficiency and results to help
more Americans meet important community needs."
The House also passed funding for two other key components of the President's
service initiative -- Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America -- at the
President's full request. Senior Corps, which comprises the RSVP (the Retired
and Senior Volunteer Program), Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion
programs, will receive a total appropriation of $215.5 million, the same funding
level as last year. More than 500,000 Senior Corps volunteers use their
experience and skills to help local organizations provide a wide range of
community services, such as tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged youth,
conducting neighborhood watch patrols, teaching English to immigrants, and
providing assistance to homebound seniors.
Learn and Serve America, which provides grants to state education agencies,
schools, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to develop programs and curricula
that link education with community service, received the President's requested
level of $43 million. More than a million students engage in activities
sponsored by grants from Learn and Serve America.
The Omnibus bill also provides $9.9 million for the Volunteers in Homeland
Security initiative launched by the Corporation in the wake of the September 11
terrorist attacks. This amount is nearly double the current funding level and
will allow the Corporation to support more citizen volunteer projects in public
safety, public health, and emergency preparedness and response.
While the President's request to fund the Corporation's grant programs
received full House support, several accounts were not fully funded, including
program administration, evaluation, and training and technical assistance.
"Although we're grateful for the increases proposed for national service
programs, we're disappointed that this bill does not contain the President's
full request for administration," said James F. Manning, acting CEO of the
Corporation "As a result, we will have some challenges to overcome and will have
to learn how to do more with less. But given the resourcefulness and commitment
of Corporation employees, we will work hard to fulfill our obligations and
provide the support that our programs require."
In addition to administering its own programs, the Corporation provides funds
to the Points of Light Foundation and America's Promise, two nonprofit
organizations whose missions focus on increasing volunteerism to provide needed
social services. In fiscal 2004, the Points of Light Foundation will receive $10
million, and America's Promise will receive $5 million - the same as last year.
The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country
through the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs.
Working with national and community nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups,
schools, and local agencies, the Corporation engages Americans in meeting
critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security,
and other areas while fostering the habits of good citizenship. The Corporation
and its programs are a key part of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative
to help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service. For more
information, visit
www.nationalservice.org.
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