FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 02, 2004
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Corporation for National and Community Service
CONTACT: Sandy Scott
202-606-5000 x255
sscott@cns.gov |
President's 2005 Budget Would Engage Record Number of Americans in Service |
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Washington D.C. — President George W. Bush proposed a nine percent increase
in funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service in his
2005 budget request
released today. The funding would allow more Americans than ever to meet
community needs through serving in the Corporation's Senior Corps, AmeriCorps,
and Learn and Serve America programs.
The proposed 2005 budget, which covers the fiscal year starting October 1,
2004, requests $1.018 billion for the Corporation and its programs. This
represents an increase of $82 million over the fiscal 2004 enacted levels. The
budget would support 600,000 senior volunteers, 75,000 AmeriCorps members, and
more than 1.5 million youth in service-learning activities.
"Once again President Bush has demonstrated his strong support for the
Corporation and its programs," said Corporation CEO David Eisner in a
statement.
"Coming on the heels of the historic increase recently enacted for AmeriCorps,
the 2005 budget request is another affirmation of the value of national and
community service and the good our programs and grantees accomplish for our
nation."
Highlights of the budget request include:
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$224 million for Senior Corps,
including $70 million for RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), $107
million for the Foster Grandparent Program, and $47 million for the Senior
Companion Program. In addition, the budget requests $20 million for the Silver
Scholarships program, which will train and deploy 9,800 seniors to mentor and
tutor young children in their communities. Each tutor who volunteers 500 hours
will receive a $1,000 scholarship that can be transferred to a grandchild or
other young person. The proposed funding increase of $12 million for RSVP,
coupled with seniors serving in the Special Volunteer Program, the new Silver
Scholarship program, and funding to expand online recruiting, will allow
Senior Corps to reach the President's goal of 600,000 senior volunteers in
2005.
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$46 million for Learn and Serve America,
a $3 million increase over fiscal 2004 and the first increase proposed in a
decade. Learn and Serve America provides grants to state education agencies,
schools, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to develop programs and
curricula that link academic instruction with community service for more than
one million students. The added funding will be targeted toward providing
high-quality training for educators in service-learning.
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Funding to continue AmeriCorps at
75,000 members, the same class size as fiscal 2004. AmeriCorps received a
historic funding increase in the 2004 omnibus appropriations bill signed by
the President on January 23, 2004. That increase allowed the program to grow
by 50 percent, from 50,000 members annually to 75,000 members annually.
AmeriCorps members serve with thousands of national and local nonprofit and
faith-based organizations. They teach and tutor children, make neighborhoods
safer, respond to natural disasters, build affordable homes, and recruit
community volunteers. The 2005 request includes $442 million for AmeriCorps
grants and the National Service Trust, $96 million for AmeriCorps*VISTA, and
$27 million for AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps).
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$15 million for Special Volunteer Programs, a 50 percent increase over fiscal
2004, to support homeland security activities in public safety, public health,
and disaster relief and preparedness. The majority of volunteers are expected
to be over 55.
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$10 million for Challenge Grants, a $7.6 million increase over fiscal 2004.
This program, launched in 2003, awards grants for nonprofit organizations that
match the Corporation's dollars at a ratio of more than 2 to 1. Grants were
awarded to eight organizations, although 53 applied. The proposed increase
will support more challenge grants and spur additional private support for
nonprofits and charitable groups.
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$4 million for Next Generation Grants, a $3 million increase over fiscal 2004.
Last year the Corporation launched this program to provide seed money to help
plan and implement new service programs that have the potential to become
national in scope. Grantees had received no prior funding from the Corporation
and have organizational budgets of $500,000 or less. The Corporation received
a record 1,100 applications for funding, the highest number of applications
ever received for a Corporation grant competition. The proposed increase will
allow the Corporation to support more high-quality grantees and is an
important way to assist small faith-based and community organizations.
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The budget restores the operational and administrative line accounts required
to oversee the Corporation's large network of programs and support its
aggressive management reform agenda. Several accounts were not fully funded in
the 2004 budget, including program administration, evaluation, and training
and technical assistance. The 2005 budget restores those accounts, doubles
investment in employee training, supports further improvements in the
web-based grants management system, and provides funds for more active grantee
oversight, including regular site visits and targeted technical assistance for
high-risk grantees.
"This budget request is a sign of how vital our programs are to President
Bush's goal of creating a new culture of citizenship, service, and
responsibility in our nation," commented Corporation CEO Eisner. "Our employees,
our members and volunteers, and the tens of thousands of community and
faith-based organizations that are getting results and making a difference on
the local level should feel that their work is being recognized and appreciated
at the highest levels."
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, the 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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