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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2009

CONTACT: Ed Gilman, 202-225-6306

House Considers Service and Volunteerism Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Mike Michaud praised House action on H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act.  The GIVE Act would increase the number of volunteers to 250,000, and increase the education reward they receive to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award.  The education award would also be linked to match future boosts in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.  The House is expected to complete consideration on the GIVE Act tomorrow.

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, more than 9,200 people are helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through 28 national service projects across Maine. 

"This legislation will improve current programs and promote a stronger sense of service in our communities," said Michaud.  "I am not surprised that so many in our state are involved and willing to step up and do this valuable work.  Passing this bill will help encourage more people to serve their communities."

Serving with national and local nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations and other groups, participants tutor and mentor children, coordinate after-school programs, build homes, conduct neighborhood patrols, restore the environment, respond to disasters, build nonprofit capacity and recruit and manage volunteers.  This year, the Corporation for National and Community Service will commit more than $5,900,000 to support Maine communities through national service initiatives.

A detailed fact sheet on the GIVE Act by the House Education and Workforce Committee can be found below.

# # #

The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act

Calling Americans to Serve at a Critical Time

Specifically, the bill:

Creates 175,000 New Service Opportunities and Rewards Americans for Commitment

  • Grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. The bill also links the full-time education award to the maximum authorized Pell Grant award amount in order to keep up with rising college costs.

Provides Incentives for Middle and High School Students to Engage in Service

  • Establishes the Summer of Service program that engages middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs.

Makes High School Students Part of Solution to Challenges in their Communities

  • Establishes Youth Engagement Zones, a new service-learning program to help bridge partnerships between community based organizations and schools in high-need, low-income communities to engage high school students and out-of-school youth in service learning to address specific challenges their communities face.

Recognizes and Supports Colleges and Universities Engaged in Service

  • Establishes the Campuses of Service to support and recognize institutions of higher education with exemplary service-learning programs and assists students in the pursuit of public service careers.

Boosts Opportunities for Disadvantaged Youth

  • Expands opportunities for disadvantaged youth, including those with disabilities, to become more involved with service and strives to include people of all ages and those from diverse background in volunteerism.

Creates Green and Other New Service Corps to Meet Key Needs in Low-Income

Communities

  • Establishes four new service corps to address key needs in low income communities, including a Clean Energy Corps to encourage energy efficiency and conservation measures, an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement and graduation, a Healthy Futures Corps to improve health care access, and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans.

Broadens Scope of Collaborative Service Efforts

  • Expands the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include disaster relief, infrastructure improvement, environmental and energy conservation, and urban and rural development.
  • Encourages service partnerships with other federal agencies.

Recruits Scientists and Engineers to Service to Keep America Competitive

  • Recruits scientists, technicians, mathematicians and engineers into national service to help keep America competitive.

Expands Service Opportunities for Older Americans and Public-Private Partnerships

  • Creates two new fellowships to engage social entrepreneurs, boomers and retirees, the private sector and Americans from all generations in service.
    • ServeAmerica Fellowships: ServeAmerica Fellows are individuals who propose their own plans for serving in their communities to address national needs and are matched up with a service sponsor.
    • Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships: These programs offer boomers and seniors, age 55 or older, opportunities to transition into service post-career as well as entrance into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector.

Creates a nationwide community-based infrastructure to leverage investments in service

  • Builds a nationwide service infrastructure through community-building investments and social entrepreneurship.
    • Community Solutions Fund: Creates a Community Solutions Fund pilot program that awards competitive matching grants to social entrepreneur venture funds in order to provide community organizations with the resources to replicate or expand proven solutions to community challenges.

Establishes Call to Service Campaigns

  • Includes a Call to Service Campaign to launch a national campaign encouraging all Americans to engage in service and to observe September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.