WASHINGTON–“Service Year Alliance commends today’s announcement of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Departments of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Labor, and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and AmeriCorps to work together to implement the American Climate Corps. This interagency collaboration is a promising and important next step in bringing the vision of the American Climate Corps to life. 

Cassidy, Bennet, Bacon, Larson Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Provide Tax Relief for AmeriCorps Volunteers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) reintroduced the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act. This legislation would provide tax relief for AmeriCorps members who earn Segal Education Awards to help pay for higher education costs that they earn through their service. U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-CT-01) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) also introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“AmeriCorps members dedicate their time to national service for the betterment of their communities,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The least we can do to honor their service is not stick them with taxes that other Americans don’t pay.”

“In Colorado and across the country, AmeriCorps volunteers contribute to our communities and help improve the lives of our kids and neighbors through countless hours of service,” said Senator Bennet. “Congress should recognize their commitment and help them further their education without an unnecessary burden. I’m grateful to work with my colleagues to ensure the education assistance they earn is not unfairly taxed."

Service Year Alliance released the following statement in response to the launch of the inaugural cohort of the Service Year Option and Maryland Corps Program:

“Service Year Alliance congratulates Governor Moore and Secretary Monteiro on the launch of the inaugural cohort of the Service Year Option and Maryland Corps Program - a bold and innovative approach to expanding service year opportunities in Maryland. Just ten months since Governor Moore signed an executive order creating the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation and six months since the passage of The SERVE Act, 300 Marylanders are embarking on a transformative experience.

Service Year Alliance Released the Following Statement Following the Passage of the Unity Through Service Act by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: 

“We applaud Senators Reed and Young for the vision demonstrated in the Unity through Service Act and thank Senator Peters for supporting the bill through the Committee. With bipartisan agreement on the bill, we are excited for the opportunities this legislative action can provide. 

Strengthening connections between military, national, and public service through the creation of an Interagency Council on Service would improve recruitment across all streams of service and expand national service access across the board. Enactment of this bill, based on the recommendations of the bipartisan National Commission on Military, National and Public Service, would also better support those who serve in their transition after service. 

Service Year Alliance Released the Following Statement Applauding the Launch of More Perfect’s National Service & Volunteering Plan: 

“We are excited to see the launch of More Perfect’s Ask and All: A Plan to Expand National Service & Volunteering and are proud to be partnering on this effort with the top leaders in the national service, volunteering, and bridge-building community. This bold plan represents collaboration among the brightest minds in our sector and outlines a roadmap to renew and expand national service and volunteering to build bridges across politics, backgrounds, faiths, races, and regions of the country and enable more Americans to tackle public problems together.  

Service Year Alliance released the following statement today in response to the White House’s announcement launching the American Climate Corps: 

“The White House announcement today launching the American Climate Corps (ACC) is an important advancement from the Administration in fulfilling its commitments to the next generation and meeting the urgency of the climate crisis. The American Climate Corps, which will be formalized by interagency collaboration across the federal government, has the potential to mobilize young people to tackle pressing climate and environmental resilience challenges through national service. If these federal agencies embrace President Biden’s call to action and bring the ACC to fruition, it has the power to build the future workforce our country needs to fill the clean energy and infrastructure jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act..."

Service Year Alliance Released the following Statement in Response to the Senate’s FY24 Appropriations Markup:

“We are grateful to the bipartisan leaders in the Senate who recognized the critical value of AmeriCorps to local communities and youth workforce development in the recent markup of the FY24 appropriations bill. The Senate’s bill is a dramatic improvement from the spending proposal in the House — sustaining support for vital service year programs by providing level funding for both AmeriCorps and YouthBuild national service programs and proposing a slight increase in funding for the Peace Corps. 

Service Year Alliance Released the Following Statement Celebrating the State Budget Victory for Service Years in California:

“Despite a challenging fiscal year for the state, the California legislature fully funded the Climate Action Corps and Youth Jobs Corps service initiatives in the 2024 state budget, both of which are designed to make service more accessible to youth from all backgrounds and lived experiences. These state resources are a major victory for service years — both in California and across the country — and Service Year Alliance is proud of our team’s efforts to help ensure these investments were sustained.

Service Year Alliance released the following statement in response to the House Appropriations L-HHS Subcommittee’s Proposed Cuts to AmeriCorps in the FY24 Budget: 

“Service Year Alliance is deeply disheartened by the House Appropriations Labor, Health, and Human Services FY24 Subcommittee markup released last week, which would cut funding for AmeriCorps by 50 percent from FY23 levels — the lowest level of resources for the agency in nearly three decades. If enacted, the bill would remove tens of thousands of AmeriCorps members from communities nationwide, devastating nonprofits as well as faith-based and community organizations that rely on them to meet local needs. To make matters worse, the bill also shockingly cuts the entirety of the National Service Trust, a critical tool to increase postsecondary education access and affordability for those who serve, leaving AmeriCorps members empty-handed, without the education awards they rightfully earned.