FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Service Year Alliance Statement on the House Education and Labor Committee Inclusion of $1B for National Service
Funds would be used to expand and strengthen opportunities for national service
WASHINGTON, DC – Service Year Alliance, a national non-profit organization that is working to make national service a common expectation and opportunity for all young people, released the following statement in response to the House Education and Labor Committee including $1B in its portion of the budget reconciliation bill toward the expansion of national service opportunities.
“This investment from Congress is a significant step forward, and it builds upon the existing national service infrastructure to mobilize tens of thousands of additional service year corps members across the country,” said Jesse Colvin, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “At the same time, this signals a commitment to making service more accessible by increasing the living allowance service year corps members receive. As part of their service years, young people in every state have been supporting public health efforts, working with nonprofits to help address growing food insecurity, and helping families and children deal with the disruptions in their education as a result of the pandemic. This investment would further that mission. ”
“We are grateful to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee Bobby Scott, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro and Representative David Price for their leadership in including this money,” Colvin added. “We also want to thank Senators Chris Coons and Roger Wicker and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for their committed leadership on this issue. We look forward to working with them to get this over the finish line.”
Within the last two weeks, a poll conducted by Change Research for the Serve America Together campaign, led by Service Year Alliance, showed that 77% of respondents to the poll, including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans, support Congress passing legislation that would expand national service opportunities, such as AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. You can read more results from the poll here.
About Service Year Alliance
Service Year Alliance is working to make a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans. To achieve our mission, Service Year Alliance develops and documents evidence in priority focus areas to persuade decision makers to increase public and private investments in the service year ecosystem. We build coalitions and foster strategic corporate, community, and research partnerships and develop service year programs and resources in priority focus areas to strengthen the case for service years. We advance policy proposals that unlock public funds for service years to create the opportunity for all young Americans to serve. We elevate service years as an experience that transforms lives, strengthens communities, and fuels civic renewal. Finally, we manage ServiceYear.org, a technology platform that matches those who want to serve with paid service year opportunities. Learn more at ServiceYearAlliance.org.
