Mikulski: A New Spirit of Service
SPECIAL GUEST BLOG FOR SHAARPSESSION
BY SENATOR BARBARA A. MIKULSKI:
"There is a new, invigorated spirit of service in the United States of America. Americans everywhere are looking to serve and give back to their country. They want to know how they can give and how they can help. They want to be part of an effort to improve society.
"Last month, more than 9,700 applications were submitted to AmeriCorps, more than triple the amount of applications submitted at the same time last year. Last year, 35,000 college seniors applied for 4,000 Teach for America positions.
"This week we brought legislation to the floor of the United States Senate which will allow millions more Americans to answer the call of service. The Serve America Act is the most sweeping overhaul and expansion of national service programs in 16 years. It is not a Democratic bill, it is an American bill.
"The Serve America Act updates and strengthens national service programs administrated by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency I helped create in 1993. It increases the number of AmeriCorps volunteers from 75,000 to 250,000 a year. And it creates new programs to address specific areas of national need. Volunteers will be actively engaged in mentoring and tutoring kids, weatherizing low-income homes, promoting health and wellness, and increasing access to health care. The bill will also engage boomers and older Americans in Encore Fellowships to allow this generation to put their skills and experience to work at home and overseas.
"Many years ago I, too, answered the call to serve. After graduate school, I went down to the VISTA training center in Baltimore to teach volunteers how to be effective in the communities they serve. Seeing that group of determined people making a difference through gumption and hard work really made an impact on me. It was a wonderful experience. One that has colored everything I've done since. And, in giving back, I discovered I got more than I ever gave. This bill is an investment that will engage Americans of all generations and pay dividends long beyond anything we can imagine. It represents the best of America's ideals--spirited volunteerism and the willingness to lend a helping to those in need."
Tags: Mikulski, Senate, Serve America Act, service, volunteer, volunteering
Comments
Sheila R. Iskra says:
I recently retired from a large healthcare insurance provider. Being in sales, I saw the effect of high cost insurance on companies and their employees.
I would like to volunteer to enact healthcare reform.
Can you point me in the right direction?
Thank you for your time,
Sheila Iskra
03/25/09 9:41 AM
Lawrence Wiles says:
If one would just check locally with various charities they would discover that there no need for a federal/Democratic Party program. I know personally of 10 plus agencies here in the Upstate of South Carolina that need volunteers everyday. The Serve America Act is just another feel good and expensive program to expand the influence of the federal government and by extension the ruling party. Get the real facts before endorsing such drival.
03/26/09 11:11 AM
Christy says:
How can you call something like this drivel...perhaps what Barbara is addressing, through this new and improved programs, is a wider view than just found through one's state or town. Anything that expands the opportunities and possibilties cannot be thought of harshly.
03/26/09 11:37 AM
Joe in Louisiana says:
I support the idea of public service. I have served as a Math Mentor at our local Jr High for 8 years and I have help run a PC club for Senior Citizens at our local Council on Aging for over 5 years.
I would fully support the bill IF provisions are in to prevent political activities and the support of controversial social programs that could give an edge to ANY political party.
Too often community action groups are active in political campaigns and pro union activities.
House member, GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx, successfully attached an amendment to the GIVE Act to bar National Service participants from engaging in political lobbying; endorsing or opposing legislation; organizing petitions, protests, boycotts or strikes; providing or promoting abortions or referrals; or influencing union organizing.
This is what I am talking about and I support this fully.
If you want to help your community then I support you.
03/26/09 12:07 PM
J L Newton says:
Maybe if the elite ruling class hadn't figured out how to over stuff their bank accounts by having all their labor cost outsourced to China, and what couldn't be outsourced performed here at home by cheap working ILLEGALS, all those 35,000 college grads could have found work in the private sector.
03/26/09 11:13 PM