FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 16, 2017
CONTACT: Aly Ferguson, [email protected]
Service Year Alliance releases statement condemning the Administration’s proposed elimination of national service programs
WASHINGTON, DC - Service Year Alliance — an organization working to make a year of paid, full-time service a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans — released the following statement today condemning the White House’s plan to cut funding for national service through the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service — including AmeriCorps.
“We need greater, not less, investment in national service,” said Gen. (Ret.) Stan McChrystal, Chairman of Service Year Alliance. “Civilian national service and military service are two sides of the same coin. At a time when our country is more divided than ever, national service offers an opportunity to bring Americans together in common purpose.”
National service programs like AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps and YouthBuild are cost-effective solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing local communities. Elimination of the national service program AmeriCorps means 80,000 fewer young people serving local communities and developing workforce skills; 590,000 students without mentors and teachers; 55,000 veterans and military families who are not receiving critical services; 40,000 economically disadvantaged individuals without housing assistance; and 800,000 people who are not prepared for natural disasters.
“Elimination of these programs would mean the Administration is missing an opportunity to make America great through national service,” said Shirley Sagawa, President and CEO of Service Year Alliance. “When asked on the campaign trail what he would do to expand national service opportunities for young Americans, then-candidate Trump pledged to look at the issue very seriously and said ‘there's something beautiful about it’ and 'it is a way for young people to get started’ in their careers. The White House and Congress should be expanding — not eliminating — funding for national service programs like AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and YouthBuild, to ensure young Americans are able to continue fighting poverty, rebuilding towns, educating hundreds of thousands of at-risk students, and tackling other locally identified challenges.”
National service enjoys broad bipartisan support from voters of both political parties — 78 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats are supportive of maintaining or increasing the federal investment in national service.
To learn more about the benefits of and support for national service, please contact Aly Ferguson at [email protected].
About Service Year Alliance
