III
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 551
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 17, 2022
Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Carper, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Luján, Mr. Markey, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Young, and Ms. Rosen) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives of the people of the United States.
Whereas, since their inceptions, each of the AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors national service programs have proven to be a highly effective way—
to engage the people of the United States in meeting a wide range of local and national needs; and
to promote the ethics of service and volunteerism;
Whereas, each year, more than 250,000 individuals serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors at more than 40,000 locations across the United States to give back in an intensive way to communities, States, Tribal nations, and the United States;
Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors funds have been invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based groups, and those funds leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in outside funding and in-kind donations each year;
Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have provided millions of hours of service nationwide, helping—
to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of the United States;
to protect the environment;
to contribute to public safety;
to respond to disasters and public health emergencies;
to strengthen the educational system of the United States; and
to expand economic opportunity;
Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers recruit and supervise millions of community volunteers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a powerful force for encouraging people to become involved in volunteering and community service;
Whereas, for more than 5 decades, millions of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs have played an important role in strengthening communities by sharing their experience, knowledge, and accomplishments with the individuals they serve;
Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,200,000 individuals have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to get things done for America
by becoming AmeriCorps members through the AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC programs;
Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for the service of those members, have earned more than $4,000,000,000 to use to further their own educational advancement at colleges and universities across the United States;
Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway to employment, providing members with valuable career skills, experience, and contacts to prepare them for the 21st century workforce;
Whereas, in 2009, Congress passed the bipartisan Serve America Act (Public Law 111–13; 123 Stat. 1460), which authorized the expansion of national service, expanded opportunities to serve, increased efficiency and accountability, and strengthened the capacity of organizations and communities to solve problems;
Whereas national service programs have engaged millions of people in the United States in results-driven service in the most vulnerable communities of the United States, providing hope and help to individuals with economic and social needs;
Whereas national service and volunteerism demonstrate the best of the spirit of the United States, bringing people together to address the most pressing challenges in their communities; and
Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2022 from March 13 through March 19, is an appropriate time for the people of the United States—
to salute current and former AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for their positive impact on the lives of people in the United States;
to thank the community partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors for making the programs possible; and
to encourage more people in the United States to become involved in service and volunteering: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
encourages the people of the United States to join in a national effort—
to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers; and
to raise awareness about the importance of national and community service;
acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the volunteers, members, alumni, and community partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors;
recognizes the important contributions made by AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives of the people of the United States; and
encourages individuals of all ages to consider opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.