U.S. House Adopts Platts Resolution to Promote the Martin Luther King Holiday as a National Day of Service

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) continued his efforts to boost volunteer service in communities across America this week with the adoption of House Resolution 43, which he introduced to promote the Martin Luther King Holiday as a National Day of Service.  

H. Res. 43 was passed unanimously by the United States House of Representatives Wednesday.  The bi-partisan legislation was also sponsored by Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA-5) and David Price (D-NC-4), who serve with Congressman Platts as co-chairs of the National Service Caucus. 

“I urge my fellow Members of Congress and constituents to take time out of their daily lives and give back to their communities,” Platts said.  “I cannot think of a more appropriate way to honor the heroic life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King than by serving one’s community and fellow citizens.”

 Since the establishment of the Martin Luther King Holiday in 1994, millions of Americans have recognized this holiday as “a day on, not a day off” by volunteering in soup kitchens, organizing charity drives, mentoring children or aiding in urban revitalization efforts.  A list of such volunteer opportunities is available at MLKDay.gov.

 This year, the Corporation for National and Community Service, America’s Promise Alliance, and AmeriCorps NCCC are hosting a food drive across Capitol Hill to restock the shelves at the Capital Area Food Bank. Washington D.C. schools will be closed for a five day weekend with the Martin Luther King Holiday and the Presidential Inauguration this coming week, leaving over 50,000 students without nutritious meals they would otherwise have received through the school lunch and breakfast programs.  Non-perishable canned food items were delivered this week to the Washington, D.C. offices of Representatives Platts, Matsui, Price, and Mike Honda (D-CA-15).  AmeriCorps NCCC students delivered the canned food items to the Capital Area Food Bank.

 In addition to his service as co-chair of the National Service Caucus since January 2007, Congressman Platts is a co-sponsor of the “Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act” (H.R. 5563), which would strengthen federal service programs, such as AmeriCorps; a resolution to promote the ideals of “National Volunteer Week of 2008” (H. Res. 1119); a resolution to support the goals of “The Learn and Serve Challenge” (H. Res 1463), which enables over 1.5 million students to contribute to their community while building academic and civic skills; and he is a cosponsor of several other bills promoting national service goals. 

H.Res 1119 and H. Res 1463 passed the U.S. House of Representatives in the 110th Congress.  H.R. 5563 was not adopted in the House after failing to reach a 2/3rds majority vote required under suspension of the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.  All three bills will be reintroduced in the 111th Congress.