March 17, 2009

TOMORROW - House to Vote on Legislation to Expand Service and Volunteer Opportunities for Students

News ● U.S. House of Representatives

EDUCATION & LABOR COMMITTEE

Congressman George Miller, Chairman
Advisory for Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Press Office, 202-226-0853


NATIONAL SERVICE NEWS
TOMORROW – House to Vote on Legislation to Expand Service and Volunteer Opportunities for Students
Legislation Answers President Obama’s call for Americans to Serve

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on legislation that provides the most significant expansion of national service and volunteer opportunities for college students in generations. The bill, titled the GIVE Act, will help our nation get through the economic crisis by making Americans of all ages a part of the solution to the many challenges we face.

The legislation comes as nearly 65,000 college students prepare to volunteer and serve on alternative Spring Breaks this year – up 11 percent over last year. Young Americans are serving in record numbers – and facing a difficult job market in today’s economy. Of the 1.2 million jobs lost last year, 60 percent were held by workers under the age of 25.

National and community service and volunteerism among college students is especially high. From September 2001 to 2006, the overall percent of college students who volunteer has increased to over 30 percent, exceeding the volunteer rate for adults. According to a 2006 report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, college students are twice as likely to volunteer as Americans of the same age who are not enrolled in an institution of higher education.

Specifically, the bill (H.R. 1388) will more than triple the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans, from 75,000 to 250,000, in key areas like education, clean energy, health care, and assistance for veterans. The bill will also increase the education reward they receive from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award. The education award will be linked to match future boosts in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.

Last President Obama called for Congress to take quick action on legislation to strengthen service. This bill answers his call. It is expected to be passed with bipartisan support in the next month in both the House and Senate – putting it on track to be one of the next major initiatives President Obama signs into law. For more information on the bill, click here.

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