Dear Colleagues:

Congress is beginning to take action on the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bill that funds the Corporation and its programs, and I want to give you a brief update.

On May 7, President Obama submitted to Congress a budget request of $1.149 billion for the Corporation and its programs, a $259 million or 29 percent increase over the FY 2009 enacted level. The President’s budget would strengthen and expand existing programs and invest in key initiatives authorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

Last Friday, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2010 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations bill that funds national service. The House bill includes $1.059 billion for the Corporation and its programs, a $169 million increase over the current fiscal year, but $90 million less than the President’s request.

Here is how the funding breaks down:

• AmeriCorps Grants: $331,547,000
• AmeriCorps VISTA: $97,932,000
• AmeriCorps NCCC: $26,300,000
• National Service Trust: $178,214,000
• Senior Corps: $220,900,000
  • RSVP: $63,000,000
  • Foster Grandparents: $110,996,000
  • Senior Companions: $46,904,000
• Learn and Serve America: $39,500,000
• Innovation and Demonstration: $40,500,000
• Training & Technical Assistance $7,500,000
• Disability Grants $5,000,000
• Evaluation: $6,000,000
• State Commission Grants: $17,000,000
• Salaries and Expenses: $80,923,000
• Office of Inspector General: $7,700,000

The increase proposed by the House is a significant and welcome step in what is a very tough budget year. As the bill moves through the legislative process, we are hopeful Congress will fully fund the President’s request. As social needs continue to grow, and as Americans look for ways to give back, national service is a critical, cost-effective investment that engages citizens in tackling our most serious challenges in education, health, housing, poverty, and other issues.

Further action on this bill is expected to take place quickly. The full House is scheduled to consider the bill on Friday, July 24, and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education is expected to hold a markup next Tuesday, July 28, with possible action in the full Senate Appropriations Committee on July 30. More details about the President’s request, including a chart showing the differences between the House mark and the President’s request, are on our budget page at http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/budget/index.asp. As always, we will keep you posted on further developments.

In Service,

Nicola Goren
Acting CEO
Corporation for National and Community Service