Service

National Day of Service and Remembrance

September 11 has been designated by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.  It is a day to reflect on those lost eight years ago, but it also an opportunity to celebrate and renew the spirit that brought us together and made us stronger in the aftermath of tragedy.

Our nation has a long tradition of service to others.  It is that commitment to something greater than our individual selves, to our communities, which makes our nation and the American people great.

Visit www.serve.gov to learn how you can join the President, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the 9/11 families pay homage to their sacrifice and answer the call to action.

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

President Obama has called on Congress to create new service and volunteer opportunities for Americans that will help to build a stronger country. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act signed into law in April answers his call. It will launch a new era of service that will give Americans of all ages the opportunity to help our nation recover and make progress on education, health care, energy and other key goals by volunteering, whether it is helping students achieve in school, weatherizing homes and greening communities, rebuilding cities in times of disaster, feeding the hungry, helping seniors live independently, and much more.

Currently, more than 14,000 people of all ages and backgrounds are helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through 53 national service projects across Rhode Island. Additionally, more than 4,400 seniors in Rhode Island contribute their time and talents in one of three Senior Corps programs which will be expanded within the Serve America Act. Rhode Islanders will benefit tremendously from this legislation which calls for $6 billion over the next five years and aims to increase the volunteer force by 175,000. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act goes into effect October 1, 2009. For more information on this legislation and to get involved visit www.nationalservice.gov.

U.S. Public Service Academy

I am also the co-sponsor of legislation to create the U.S. Public Service Academy.  This Academy would be a four-year, tuition-free college and would be a civilian counterpoint to West Point and the military academies.  Students would spend four years gaining a liberal-arts education focused on public service before spending at least five years working as a civil servant at the local, state or federal level.  This program would help to address a shortage of persons entering these fields, while steering the best and brightest of younger generations to the communities who can benefit the most from their presence.