FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Service Year Alliance released the following statement today in response to the markup of the FY18 budget by the Senate Labor-Health and Human Services and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations subcommittees:
“We are relieved to see the Senate reject President Trump’s FY18 budget proposal and provide level funding for national service programs like AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and YouthBuild,” said Shirley Sagawa, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “Thanks to the bipartisan support from members of Congress, the 80,000 young people who are in Texas responding to Hurricane Harvey, in West Virginia battling the opioid crisis, in Montana and California fighting wildfires, and all across the country will be able to continue serving these communities in need. This is a critical step towards our goal of universal national service.”
“Unfortunately, the Senate also outlines cuts to the National Service Trust. At a time when the cost of higher education is skyrocketing, the essential benefits provided by the Trust — like the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award — are critical to encouraging more young Americans to serve. However, the fight isn’t over. We are calling on Congress to reject the Senate’s cuts to the National Service Trust in the final 2018 budget," said Sagawa.
“When faced with potential elimination as outlined in the President’s budget, tens of thousands of national service advocates took action and made their voices heard. Their calls, emails, petitions, and rallies across the country were an unstoppable grassroots force that could not be ignored on Capitol Hill.”
“We extend our gratitude and appreciation to the national service champions on Capitol Hill for their steadfast support and we will continue to urge Congress to expand national service in future budgets so that every young American has the opportunity to serve.”
For more information please contact Aly Ferguson at [email protected] or (480) 363-6465.
