A resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives of the people of the United States.

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 136 Recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives of the people of the United States. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 29, 2023 Mr. CASSIDY (for Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. HEINRICH, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. REED, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. BENNET, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. KING, Mr. BROWN, Mr. MANCHIN, and Ms. COLLINS)) 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 prov- en to be a highly effective way— (1) to bring people of all backgrounds throughout the United States together in common cause to meet the most pressing challenges of communities in the United States; and (2) to promote the ethics of service and vol- unteerism; Whereas, each year, more than 200,000 individuals serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors at nearly 40,000 lo- VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:41 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR136.ATS SR136 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •SRES 136 ATS cations across the United States to give back in an impactful way to communities, States, Tribal nations, and the United States; Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors funds have been invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based groups, and those funds leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in outside funding and in-kind support each year; Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors vol- unteers have provided millions of hours of service nation- wide, helping— (1) to improve the lives of the most vulnerable peo- ple of the United States; (2) to protect the environment and restore public lands; (3) to contribute to public safety; (4) to respond to natural disasters; (5) to address food insecurity and public health; (6) to strengthen the educational system of the United States; and (7) to expand economic opportunity; Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors vol- unteers recruit and manage millions of community volun- teers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a power- ful force for encouraging people to become involved in volunteering and community service; Whereas, for more than 5 decades, AmeriCorps Seniors vol- unteers in the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs have played an important role in strengthening communities by sharing their experience, knowledge, and accomplishments with the individuals they serve; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:41 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR136.ATS SR136 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •SRES 136 ATS Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,250,000 AmeriCorps mem- bers have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ‘‘get things done for America’’ 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 $4,400,000,000 to use to further their own educational advancement at colleges and universities across the United States and to pay back student loans; Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway to employment, providing members with valuable career skills, experience, and contacts to prepare them for the 21st century work- force and support economic competitiveness in the United States; Whereas, in 2009, Congress passed the bipartisan Serve America Act (Public Law 111–13; 123 Stat. 1460), which authorized the expansion of national service, ex- panded opportunities to serve, increased efficiency and accountability, and strengthened the capacity of organiza- tions 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, with people solv- ing problems by working together to find community so- lutions; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:41 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR136.ATS SR136 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •SRES 136 ATS Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2023 from March 12 through March 18, is an appropriate time for the people of the United States— (1) to salute current and former AmeriCorps mem- bers and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for their positive impact on generations of Americans; (2) to thank the grantees, State service commissions, and community partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors for making the programs possible; and (3) to encourage more people in the United States to become involved in service and volunteering: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) encourages the people of the United States 2 to join in a national effort— 3 (A) to salute AmeriCorps members and 4 alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers; and 5 (B) to raise awareness about the impor- 6 tance of national and community service; 7 (2) acknowledges the significant accomplish- 8 ments of the members, volunteers, alumni, and com- 9 munity partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps 10 Seniors; 11 (3) recognizes the important contributions 12 made by AmeriCorps members and alumni and 13 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives of the 14 people of the United States; and 15 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:41 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR136.ATS SR136 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 5 •SRES 136 ATS (4) encourages individuals of all ages to con- 1 sider opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps and 2 AmeriCorps Seniors. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:41 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR136.ATS SR136 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB