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President Barack Obama (L) talks with Sen. Ted Kennedy during the White House's forum on health care reform in the East Room of the White House on March 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON—Amid some of the biggest challenges that the United States has faced in recent history, the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a landmark national service bill, which the president is expected to sign upon his return from Europe.
"Just one month ago, in his address to Congress, President Obama called upon Congress to pass legislation 'to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations.' Today, The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act is on its way to his desk to become law,” said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in a statement after a vote of 275 to 149 in favor of the new legislation.
The Senate passed the act, formerly called the GIVE Act, last week and it now goes to President Obama for his signature into law.
In general, community service is growing during the economic crisis, with many displaced workers joining the ranks of citizens looking to give back. In 2007, more than 61 million Americans spent over 8 billion hours volunteering, and teenagers are more involved than ever according to the House Education and Labor Committee.
Investing in service as the act proposes may also yield economic returns. In 2007, volunteers generated $158 billion worth of economic benefits.
The House Education and Labor Committee also cites a recent cost-benefit analysis of AmeriCorps as reasoning for the new act. The analysis shows that every $1 invested produced returns of $1.50 to $3.90 in direct measurable benefits.
The act will provide the greatest expansion of national service since President John F. Kennedy first issued his call to serve over 50 years ago. Among other things, the bill will create 175,000 new volunteer opportunities for Americans to help meet the nation’s pressing challenges, including energy, education, health care, veterans’ needs, and more.
It will also strengthen our nation’s disaster relief efforts—a need highlighted by the severe flooding overwhelming North and South Dakota. Officials estimate that tens of thousands of volunteers are already giving of their time and effort to help with local recovery efforts.
Eighty thousand volunteers arrived to help in Fargo, a city with a population of 90,000.
Support From the President
“Because of this legislation, millions of Americans at all stages of their lives will have new opportunities to serve their country. From improving service learning in schools to creating an army of 250,000 Corps members a year dedicated to addressing our nation's toughest problems … this is legislation that will usher in a new era of service in America, and I look forward to signing it into law when I return to Washington,” said President Obama in a statement issued from Europe where he is attending the G-20 summit.
Service-oriented organizations also applauded the passage of the new bill.
Joseph DeMattos Jr., Senior State Director for AARP Maryland, released the following statement: “AARP members stand ready to give, and offer a lifetime of acquired skills to meet a range of community needs. The Serve America Act will help provide the additional service opportunities people age 50+ are looking for.”
“History has shown that in times of crisis, Americans turn to service and volunteering for healing, for rebuilding and for hope. The spirit and generosity of the American people is one of our nation’s greatest assets,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “This legislation is just what we need, at this pivotal moment, to get our nation back on track.”
Engaging Americans
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will engage Americans of all ages, from middle school through retirement, in service and volunteerism.
The legislation will more than triple the number of volunteers officially serving in this country from 75,000 to 250,000 and establish four new service corps: a Clean Energy Corps to increase energy efficiency and conservation; an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement, and graduation; a Healthy Futures Corps to help improve health care access; and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans.
These 175,000 new volunteer opportunities will expand current AmeriCorps programs and provide members for these four new service corps.
It will increase the education award that service members receive in exchange for their contributions to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship. The award will also be permanently linked to match any future increases in the Pell Grant.
New opportunities will be available for older Americans and retirees, and they will be able to transfer their education awards—up to $1,000 for at least 350 hours of service—to a child, foster child, or grandchild.
A new Summer of Service program will be established to engage middle and high school students in service and allow them to earn a $500 education award to put toward college.
Double the resources will be made available to help youth with disabilities get involved in service programs.
Disaster relief efforts will be strengthened, and the bill establishes an alumni corps of former service participants who can help respond during natural disasters and other emergencies.
The bill also establishes a call-to-service campaign that encourages Americans to volunteer and observe September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
