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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 16, 2017

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 programs, through the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service — including AmeriCorps. 

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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On Saturday, February 11th, Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose, California made an audacious inspiring commitment. At his annual State of the City address, Mayor Liccardo shared the “Tale of One City”, a vision for a city diving headlong into its challenges with a focus on investing in its youth to help them growth into active, civically engaged community members.

Building on many of the city’s innovations such as San Jose Promise and Unleash Your Geek, Mayor Liccardo announced ServeSJ, which includes his commitment to increasing service year opportunities for San Jose’s own youth. 

Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics Winter 2017 Poll shows that the solid majority of America’s 18-29 year olds support a national service program.

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