Senators Coons, Cassidy introduce bill to reauthorize and strengthen AmeriCorps programs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Co-Chairs of the National Service Congressional Caucus, introduced legislation today that would reauthorize and strengthen AmeriCorps programs, which provide vital national service opportunities to more than 200,000 Americans each year in thousands of communities around the country. In addition to Senators Coons and Cassidy, the Promoting Service Through AmeriCorps (PSA) Act is also cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.). U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Garret Graves (R-La.), Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) have introduced bipartisan companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

"If you value your community and want to see local solutions to big problems, all while building a more united nation, you should support the reauthorization of AmeriCorps," said Senator Coons. "AmeriCorps members and volunteers serve on the front lines addressing the unique needs of their communities, from responding to natural disasters and public health emergencies, to improving youth literacy and mental health. They deserve a modern program that works for them and opens new doors to education and career opportunities. By investing in service through AmeriCorps, we are investing in a brighter future where more Americans can better themselves, help their neighbors, and serve our country."

"AmeriCorps members devote considerable time to meet the needs of their communities and help improve lives," said Senator Cassidy. "This legislation strengthens AmeriCorps and provides more opportunities for Americans to serve."

"Part of our country's essence is the willingness and desire to serve our fellow Americans," said Congresswoman Matsui. "That's why, as Co-Chair of the National Service Congressional Caucus, I have fought hard to ensure service opportunities are accessible and impactful across the nation. By aligning incentives and improving the member experience, the Participating in Service Though AmeriCorps Act will help preserve the promise we made to the first AmeriCorps class 30 years ago - to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier. I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation that will enable the next 30-plus years of Americans to step forward and answer the call to serve."

The PSA Act would reauthorize the AmeriCorps programs authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. These programs were last reauthorized in 2009.

AmeriCorps members serve in more than 50,000 locations across the country each year. Bringing together federal, state, and philanthropic resources, AmeriCorps programs address the critical needs of at-risk youth, seniors, and veterans and promote education, public safety and health, and the environment. Since 1993, more than 1.2 million Americans have served their communities through AmeriCorps.

The PSA Act would:

• Increase the flexibility of the Segal Education Award, which AmeriCorps members can use to repay student loans or pay current tuition and educational expenses, in order to expand workforce development opportunities through service and improve the pathway from AmeriCorps to post-secondary education.
• Standardize eligibility requirements and benefits across AmeriCorps programs to better support members during and after their service terms.
• Create more opportunities to serve by authorizing positions with shorter terms of service and codifying an expanded age eligibility range for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.
• Establish an Office of Alumni Engagement to strengthen recruitment and foster a shared identity among current and former AmeriCorps members.
• Reauthorize the national service laws through 2029.

The PSA Act is endorsed by Voices for National Service, City Year, America's Service Commissions, States for Service Coalition, 9/11 Day of Service, Service Year Alliance, With Honor Action, Third Way, Hunger Free America, The Corps Network, Public Allies, College Possible, Colorado Youth Corps Association, GO Foundation, Jumpstart for Young Children, Partners for Rural Impact, Points of Light, Reading Partners, Resolutionaries, YMCA of the USA, Campus Compact, Habitat for Humanity International, America Forward, Bay Area Community Resources, CoGenerate, College Possible, Conservation Legacy, iFoster, Improve Your Tomorrow, Lead for America, Massachusetts Service Alliance, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers, OneStar Foundation, Teach for America, The Child Abuse Prevention Center, SBP, YouthBuild USA, Team Democracy, Move for America, Civic Health Project, Community 3.0x, and Afterschool Alliance.

"At a time when the demand for the services AmeriCorps members provide to their communities is so high, it is important that Congress invests in and reauthorizes this vital resource for the nation," said AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service. "The PSA Act provides more opportunities for Americans to serve, expands member benefits to support recruitment and improve the member experience, strengthens pathways to education and employment for AmeriCorps members, and authorizes federal funding for the next five years. We are extraordinarily grateful to Senators Coons and Cassidy and Representatives Matsui and Graves for their unwavering support of AmeriCorps and look forward to working with them and their colleagues to advance the PSA Act through the legislative process."

"On behalf of state and territorial service commissions, we applaud the bipartisan work that has gone into developing and introducing this important legislation," said Kaira Esgate, CEO, America's Service Commissions. "This bill reflects key reforms that states and local programs have been working toward to improve national service and volunteering in America, expand opportunities to serve our communities, and ensure our states, AmeriCorps members, and volunteers are best supported to make those impacts. We look forward to working with the bill sponsors on passing and improving on these important reforms, and increase funding, to set up our states and national service more broadly for success in the future."

The full text of the bill is available here.

A section-by-section summary is available here.

A one-pager is available here.

A full list of endorsement quotes is available here.

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