Chairman Miller Floor Statement on the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act

Thursday, March 6, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, delivered the following floor statement today on H.R. 2857, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act.

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Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2857, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, the first reauthorization of national and community service laws and programs since 1993.  I am pleased that today this House is taking up this important measure that will take volunteerism and service into the 21^st Century.

It was in March of 1961 that President John F. Kennedy first challenged a generation of Americans to ask “not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

By establishing the Peace Corps and Volunteers in Service to America programs, he inspired millions of Americans to make a difference here at home and around the globe. He created a powerful legacy of hope and service that connects us as Americans.

Almost fifty years later, we should all be very proud that volunteering in America is at a 30-year high.

Through AmeriCorps and other service programs, new generations of Americans have become inspired to build stronger, more vibrant communities, help children succeed in school, and rebuild cities in times of disaster.

In fact, in 2006, more than 61 million Americans gave back to their communities through service. That same year, volunteers in my home state of California contributed more than 858 million hours of service to our state economy – a value of more than $17 billion.

In the 15 years since AmeriCorps was enacted into law, more than 500,000 Americans of all ages and backgrounds have participated in the program.

Our current and future generations of volunteers deserve our renewed support for these programs, just as President Kennedy first provided decades ago.

The GIVE Act recognizes this growing service movement that is taking place across the nation.

It builds upon the successful work being done in communities across the country by members of AmeriCorps, VISTA, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America.

AmeriCorps has become a successful model of a public-private partnership.  Last year, the AmeriCorps program leveraged more than $200 million in matching funds, mobilized more than 1.4 million volunteers and worked with 2,000 small and large faith-based and community-based organizations across the country. 

The GIVE Act would strengthen the AmeriCorps service model by putting us on the path to increasing the number of AmeriCorps members from 75,000 to 100,000 by 2012 with a focus on engaging low-income, disadvantaged and at-risk youth.         

With soaring tuition prices making it harder for many students to get a college degree, the GIVE Act would help AmeriCorps members pay for college by increasing the scholarship they earn in exchange for their service from $4,725 to $5,255 by 2012.     

This bill would also introduce young people to community service by creating a new Summer of Service initiative that will offer middle school and high school students the opportunity to spend a summer working to improve their communities while earning a $500 education award that can be used for college or for college preparation. 

Alumni of these programs remain a valuable resource to their communities. More than 72 percent of AmeriCorps members continue to volunteer in their communities after their term of service ends. After Hurricane Katrina devastated Gulf Coast communities, AmeriCorps alumni played a key role in relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts.

To help tap into those resources in times of emergency, this bill would expand the number of volunteers ready to respond by creating an Alumni Reserves Corps of service alumni with previous experience serving during disasters.

Volunteering also provides critical opportunities for older Americans to make a difference in their communities.

Each year, nearly half a million older Americans participate in the Senior Corps Programs, mentoring children of prisoners, providing independent living services to seniors, assisting victims of natural disasters, and mobilizing other volunteers.

The GIVE Act would expand the purpose of Senior Corps programs by adding an emphasis on recruiting retired STEM, health care, law enforcement and military professionals to help with education, after-school, public safety and technology needs.

In addition, it would phase in competition for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs – an important part of Senior Corps – by 2013, allowing new grantees and volunteers to join the service movement and encouraging innovation and evolution among high performing programs. I want to thank the RSVP program for working with us to ensure a responsible transition.   

I want to thank the many members on both sides of the aisle, in particular Reps. McCarthy, McKeon and Platts for their leadership, as well as the Service Caucus for their support.

I also want to thank our Committee staff for their hard work on this bill, including Alex Ceja, Denise Forte, Stephanie Moore, Deborah Koolbeck with Mrs. McCarthy, Brad Thomas with Mr. McKeon and Becky Wolfkiel with Mr. Platts.

Let me also thank Voices of Services and its member organizations, who were invaluable in helping us develop this legislation.

Madam Speaker, it is clear that service has played an important role in our nation’s history – and will continue to help us meet the challenges and needs of our communities.

And it is clear that interest in volunteering reaches across all generations: Our young people, retiring baby boomers and older Americans.

The GIVE Act reflects their commitment – and our commitment – to building a stronger country through service. I urge my colleagues to join us in this effort by supporting this bill.

Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853