Washington, D.C. – Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) today successfully saved 20,000 AmeriCorps volunteer slots by putting $100 million for AmeriCorps in the Supplemental Appropriations bill. Mikulski, who is senior democrat on the appropriations subcommittee that funds Americorps, offered an amendment as the full committee was considering the President’s emergency funding request. The committee passed Mikulski’s amendment by unanimous consent. Co-sponsors included Appropriations Committee Chair Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), Committee Ranking Member Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), and VA-HUD Subcommittee Chair Kit Bond (R-MO).

“AmeriCorps volunteers tutor teens, start neighborhood crime watches, turn vacant lots into neighborhoods, and help communities clean up and rebuild after natural disasters,” said Senator Mikulski. “These volunteers are needed now more than ever. But because of mismanagement, AmeriCorps has a severe shortfall of funds this year. That means 20,000 fewer volunteers to serve our communities. We shouldn’t make our volunteers and communities pay for AmeriCorps’ mistakes.”

“I asked President Bush to include money for National Service in his Supplemental appropriations request. But he did not. That’s why I am fighting to make sure we have enough money to keep promises made to our volunteers and the communities they serve.”

Because of overenrollment of volunteers and financial mismanagement, the Corporation for National and Community Service is unable to fund the 50,000 new volunteer slots intended by Congress this year. Senators Mikulski and Kit Bond (R-MO) introduced and passed the “Strengthen AmeriCorps Program Act of 2003” in June as a first step to solve this problem. This legislation gives AmeriCorps program flexibility that will enable them to hire 30,000 new volunteers in 2003. A supplemental appropriation of $100 million is the next step to ensure a full enrollment of 50,000 new volunteers this year.

Senator Mikulski wrote to President Bush in June requesting supplemental funding for AmeriCorps (see letter attached). She also asked the President to appoint a new CEO for the Corporation for National Service “with the management skills necessary to restore confidence in the Corporation’s abilities to make a real difference to our volunteers – and in our communities.”

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