FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 23, 2017
WASHINGTON, DC (June 23, 2017) - Service Year Alliance released the following statement today in support of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act:
“We applaud the bipartisan introduction of the 21CSC Act. This bold initiative will engage 100,000 youth and veterans in a year of service annually — through national service programs like AmeriCorps — improving parks, public lands, and tribal lands and waters across the country,” said Shirley Sagawa, President and CEO of Service Year Alliance. “The act is cost-effective, spurs economic development, and leverages private and local dollars to arm youth and veterans with the skills they need to succeed in today’s workforce.”
The 21CSC Act was introduced this week in the Senate (S.1403) by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Tom Udall (D-NM). It was introduced in the House (H.R.2987) by Reps. Martha McSally (R-AZ), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Scott Tipton (R-CO), and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ).
“We are extremely grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Reps. McSally and Moulton on the 21CSC Act in the House,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, CEO of The Corps Network and Co-Chair of the P-21CSC. “The 21CSC is a win-win: Corps train the next generation of leaders by putting young people and veterans to work helping land and water managers care for America’s natural resources. The 21CSC Act will help land and water managers achieve more with limited budgets and ensure that more young people have the opportunity to serve our country and veterans can find a pathway to careers through a continuation of their service.”
If signed into law, the 21CSC Act would allow federal land and water management agencies — like the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service — to meet their missions through public-private partnerships with over 200 21CSC member organizations.
