President Signs Service Legislation

OpenCongress Blog

April 23, 2009 - by Avelino Maestas

President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, authorizing the largest expansion in federally-subsidized service in almost two decades. The bill enjoyed bi-partisan support in the House and Senate, and paves the way for a major increase in the number of volunteers across the American population.

The central theme of the legislation is to triple, from 75,000 to 250,000, the number of volunteers participating in AmeriCorps and other service programs. It also aims to provide students, seniors and veterans with more opportunities to help in their communities. For example, retiring seniors could participate in “encore fellowships” that transition them from the work-force into mentoring and other roles.

We’ve written about some of the controversy surrounding the bill before, and though it passed with wide margins in both chambers the legislation did have detractors. Here on OpenCongress, many of the negative comments on the bill were directed at an amendment introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), which prohibited service organizations and participants from lobbying, protesting or conducting certain religious activities while on the government dime.

While the legislation authorizes $5.7 billion over six years to fund the program, Congress must still appropriate the funds. President Obama has requested $1.1 billion in the FY 2010 budget for the program.

Image (used under a Creative Commons license) by JuAnne Ng.

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Anonymous 04/26/2009 10:51am

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That’s the motto of this administration…. spend, spend, spend until we have nothing left… Thanks President Obama! I’m sure my unborn grandchildren will thank you too…
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Anonymous 04/26/2009 5:27pm

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At least Obama’s spending will benefit America – it takes money to make money. By contrast, Bush also spent a fortune, but it did little to help the average American and it did a lot to lead us into the current financial crisis.
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mitchpamf 04/26/2009 5:50pm

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It is unfortunate that we are at the point now that more and more Americans see an opportunity to get something for “free” from the government. Oh people. When will you realize, that free-markets bring you the lowest cost or best quality product. The government gives you one choice – the one that benefits them the most (not you.) Sadly, the Tax-and-spenders have Main-Stream-Media to propagandize the masses about the wonders of socialism-in-action. The more people on-the-dole, the more votes at the pole.
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Anonymous 04/28/2009 3:35am

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What you will find here that is hidden is the young people that are involved. These involved young people will be indoctrinated to keep an eye on older people and report their performance to supervision. I think this type of service took place in another country the last century. Can any of you remember which country that was and how it worked?
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Anonymous 04/29/2009 2:34am

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Bush did spend a lot of money……..and we weren’t bombed again. Doesn’t excuse the excesses of the Congress that he wouldn’t veto…but we are alive and breathing. Kindly remember that. And the cover-up on this bill for volunteerism is astounding. Keep a sharp eye out on it. It’s a bad bill…..and lots of moderates voted it in and are proud of it…..including Lugar.

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