Our friends over at Voices For National Service just sent aroound the following call for action. It’s a worthwhile call, so please, umm, act (and forward the alert):
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) Announces AmeriCorps Act of 2008
Help Secure CoSponsors and Support National Service
On Friday, May 16, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) will introduce the AmeriCorps Act of 2008, legislation which will:
–Raise the education award to $6,185, the average annual cost of tuition andfees for an instate student at a four year public university;
–Make the education award tax exempt;
–Restore the Corporation’s previous authority to partner with other Federalagencies to use national service as a strategy to carry out Departments’ priorities;
–and, Promote the Corporation for National and Community Service to Cabinet level status.
Voices for National Service strongly supports this effort to recognize the importance of service and to promote access to education by increasing the value of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Since inception in 1994, more than 540,000 citizens have served through AmeriCorps to address the unmet needs of our nation. These citizens have given over 700,000,000 hours toward improving the lives of other Americans.
Click here to read the bill language. You can build support for national service by encouraging your Senators to join as original cosponsors of the bill. Call today; the deadline for cosponsors is Thursday, May 15th at 4:00pm.
Action Steps for the AmeriCorps Act of 2008:
- Call the Capitol operator at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your Senator.
- Ask your elected official to be an original cosponsor of the AmeriCorps Act of 2008.
- To cosponsor, interested offices should contact Mary Ellen McGuire with Senator Dodd’s office by email: MaryEllen_McGuire@help.senate.gov. Deadline for cosponsors is Thursday, May 15th at 4pm.
Tags: AmeriCorps, Chris Dodd, Corporation For National And Community Service, Voices For National Service
