CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE
NEWS RELEASE www.nationalservice.org
Office of Public Affairs 1201 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20525
CONTACT: (202)606-5000 J. Toscano ext. 277; Dan Kerrigan ext. 202; Bill
Barrett ext. 267
RELEASE DATE: July 21, 1997
NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS AMERICORPS LEARN & S
SENATE BOOSTS NATIONAL SERVICE FUNDING
WASHINGTON-The United States Senate today proposed $422.5 million for
AmeriCorps grant programs, Learn & Serve grant programs and the Points of
Light Foundation as part of the Fiscal Year 1998 VA-HUD appropriations
bill. The bill passed today includes $20 million for the America Reads
Challenge. The vote for increased funding from the current year's level
comes one week after the House proposed cutting national service grant
funding in half.
Also today, the Senate Labor-HHS subcommittee proposed to increase
funding for AmeriCorps*VISTA by $4 million, and the National Senior
Service Corps programs by $14.5 million, from current year levels. The
House Labor-HHS subcommittee has proposed a similar increase for the
Senior Corps and level funding for AmeriCorps*VISTA.
Corporation for National Service Chief Executive Officer Harris Wofford
released the following statement:
"I am delighted that the U.S. Senate has fully funded AmeriCorps and
Learn & Serve grant programs in its fiscal year 1998 appropriations
proposal, and the Senate Labor-HHS subcommittee proposed increased
funding for AmeriCorps*VISTA and the Senior Corps programs. Supporters on
both sides of the aisle and in communities across America value the
effectiveness of national service.
"I am also encouraged by the Senate's inclusion of $20 million for the
America Reads Challenge. However, it is not nearly enough to enlist and
deploy the army of community volunteers needed to help every child learn
to read by the end of third grade. I hope that the commitment made to our
children in the Bipartisan Balanced Budget will be fulfilled and that
AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn & Serve will be enabled to play the
vital role in this effort that the President proposed.
"House leaders acknowledge that national service grant programs will
likely be fully funded by the end of the appropriations process.
"But imagine being one of the 25,000 people who are right now completing
their AmeriCorps service year. They endured last week's House debate and
its sometimes careless characterization of their service. AmeriCorps
members are not "paid volunteers," they're not "bureaucrats in a
tee-shirt." They are Americans -- mostly young -- who choose to give back
to our country through hard work in local community service. They deserve
to be the subject of respect, not the object of partisan attack."
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