The 111th Congress lead by the Obama Cabinet is making history though greater and more optimistic legislative change than Americans have seen in many years. Facing with levels of unemployment rivaling that of the Great Depression, the stage was set for the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act sponsored by Representative Carolyn McCarthy [D-NY]. This act, endorsed by 37 co-sponsors became H.R. 1388: The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act.
The House and Senate made quick work of this act. McCarthy proposed the GIVE Act on March 9, 2009 and quickly passed the House (March 18; with a vote of 321-105) and the Senate (March 26; with a vote 79-19). The bill was signed by President Obama on April 21, 2009 and became public law 111-13.
AmeriCorps Opportunities and Service
The GIVE Act serves to booster the American volunteer engine known as the Corporation for National and Community Service from the current 75,000 to 250,000 volunteer service positions by 2014. The Corporation hosts the programs: AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America. In addition, the new law allows for the creation of four new service corps. They are:
- Clean Energy Corps- will focus on energy conservation and expand the focus of the existing AmeriCorps National Civilian Conservation Corps (NCCC). This Corps will work to weatherize homes, build trails and parks, establish gardens and other green spaces, and provide recycling programs etc.
- Education Corps- will increase opportunities for students to get involved with service focused on education, and include mentors programs geared to student achievement.
- Healthy Future Corps- is designed to improve health care access.
- Veteran Services Corps- is designed to offer new opportunities for veterans and will be run by veterans. Veterans are disproportionately represented among the unemployed and this corps will allow veterans to continue to be of service to their country.
Intergenerational Awards
One of the greatest strengths of the GIVE Act has been the inclusion of all age groups in service to their communities. Everyone has value, worth and something to contribute under this bill. There are incentives at nearly every level:
- Middle and high school students who participate in the Summer of Service Program will receive a $500 education award to be used for college costs.
- College students will receive an award for service from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, that matches the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award.
- Veterans through the Veterans Service Corps will have opportunities for education, mentoring, and job training by fellow veterans. It will be the first program of its kind.
- Baby Boomers, the highest volunteer rate of any group of Americans according to the Corporation for National & Community Service have a variety of awards. Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships will create opportunities for seniors to transition into service after they have retired. Silver Scholars will be able to earn up to $1,000 in exchange for 350 hours of service and may transfer their education awards to a child, foster child or grandchild to help them pay for college.
Will the 111th Congress under the auspices of the Obama White House be remembered as the session of powerful and far reaching laws? Time will tell. What is clear is this Congress has worked hard to build bipartisan support, and to create laws that support all Americans rather than a special privileged few. The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act was swiftly passed by a Congress and Senate interested in the conservation of resources, human and environmental, and a progressive turn toward stability and sustainability.
