In response to the White House including national service programs like AmeriCorps on a short list of programs that could be eliminated in their budget proposal, Rep. Long and Rep. Price testified at the House Labor, Health and Human Services subcommittee in support of national service. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQAUFo65rag

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 2017

CONTACT: Aly Ferguson, [email protected]

200 Flag and General Officers Sign Pledge to Make A Year of National Service a Common Opportunity for all Young Americans

Service Year Alliance is re-releasing the pledge, co-sponsored by eight leading military and veterans organizations, in response to potential cuts to national service.

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, in response to reports on the potential elimination of national service programs like AmeriCorps in the Administration’s budget proposal, Service Year Alliance re-released its Enlisting America Pledge. The Pledge has been signed by 200 flag and general officers and more than 50 senior enlisted veterans of the US military in support of making a year of national service a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans.

On Friday, February 17th, the New York Times reported that the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) — including AmeriCorps — is on a “hit list” of federal programs the new administration could propose to eliminate. 

Since that report, support has flooded in from across the country from major media outlets, local papers, editorial boards, and blogs.

Throughout history, presidents of both political parties have taken specific action to expand opportunities for young Americans to serve with programs like AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and YouthBuild. 

They have recognized the power of a young person from Birmingham serving alongside a young person from Brooklyn; Democrats serving alongside Republicans; Muslims serving alongside Christians and Jews. And they saw that service year is one of the most American experiences there is — one uniquely positioned to transform our country.

This President's Day, we reflect on and celebrate the long legacy of support for national service.

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The 114th Congress is coming to an end in a few weeks, and while the new Congress will bring new champions for the service year movement, it also means that our movement is losing one of our most ardent supporters.

Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) — the Godmother of National Service — is retiring at the end of the year.

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In 1838, a 28-year-old Abraham Lincoln declared that the greatest threat facing America comes not from a foreign invader:

“If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”

The thought that Americans, themselves, may destroy the ideals for which so many have sacrificed is sobering. Trust among Americans is at its lowest levels in generations, and stereotyping and prejudice have become substitutes for knowing and understanding one another as individuals.