Recap: S. 277 would improve and expand
national and community service programs
and strengthen the infrastructure for
volunteerism within the nonprofit
community. The bill would triple the
number of service volunteers – from
75,000 to 250,000 – and expand service
opportunities to all stages of life,
focusing on such targeted areas as
veterans’ services, the environment,
disaster relief, and arts education. S.
277 would also create a nationwide
community-based infrastructure fund to
leverage investments in service and set
up a volunteer generation fund to help
build the capacity of nonprofits
to coordinate, train and manage
volunteers.
Status
March 18,
the Senate Health, Education, Labor &
Pensions Committee approved by a voice
vote a revised version of the Serve
America Act (S.277). The bill is
expected to be considered by the full
Senate during the week of March 23 (we
do not know what day it will be voted
on, but debate is expected to begin
early next week).
Also on March 18, the House of
Representatives passed similar
legislation, the “Generations
Invigorating Volunteerism and Education
Act,” or GIVE Act, by a bi-partisan vote
of 321 to 105. (See my previous email on
this subject for a summary of the GIVE
Act.) The House-passed bill includes
the Serve America Act’s Volunteer
Generation Fund, which was added by way
of an amendment.
Action Opportunity
We ask all interested parties to take a
few minutes to call your United States
Senators at the numbers below and ask
them to vote for the Serve America Act
when it comes up for a vote during the
week of March 23, 2009. Below are
talking points you can use to make the
case. Alternatively, you can send a
letter by adding information about your
organization to the sample letter
attached to this message.
Download Legislation Summary |
Download Sample Letter
The Senate
Passed this legislation on March 27,
2009. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
The
Senate passed the Edward M. Kennedy
Serve America Act (H.R. 1388/S. 277)
by a vote of 79 to 19.
This is a major victory for the
nonprofit community and brings us
much closer to enacting legislation
to expand national and community
service programs and strengthen the
infrastructure for volunteerism
within the United Way system and
beyond. A special “thank you” goes
out to all those who contacted their
Senators to urge support of this
historic legislation.
Here
are a few of the highlights and
additions:
-
Music and Arts Education:
The Senate also accepted an
amendment offered by Sens.
Shaheen (D-NH) and Gregg (R-NH)
that expressly includes music
and arts education in the
Education Corps activities. The
amendment will encourage the use
of “skilled musicians and
artists to promote greater
community unity through the use
of music and arts education and
engagement through work in
low-income communities, and
education, health care, and
therapeutic settings, and other
work in the public domain with
citizens of all ages.”
Next Steps
Because of the differences between
the House and Senate versions of the
service legislation, it is now up to
the House to decide whether to pass
the Senate version or insist on a
joint House-Senate conference
committee to work out a compromise
bill.
We will keep everyone informed as
the bill progresses.
