Nearly half a century ago, President John F. Kennedy called this nation to service. Today, the U.S. Senate has the chance to renew our country’s dedication to serving and helping others by not only re-authorizing AmeriCorps, but also bolstering it.
President Kennedy’s brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy, and Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, two ideological opposites, are sponsoring the bill to create 175,000 new service opportunities for Americans of all ages.
We urge Colorado’s U.S. senators, Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, to follow the lead of the House of Representatives, which already passed a similar bill, and vote to expand AmeriCorps and thus expand opportunities for thousands of Americans.
Considering the trillions being spent on bailouts for failing companies, the $6 billion that would be spent on this program over five years is a wise investment in the infrastructure and fabric of our country.
The proposal creates five groups to help poor people, improve education, boost energy efficiency and strengthen access to health care. The fifth group would be a Veterans Service Corps to support returning vets and allow them to continue their service to the country in new ways.
It also would establish 9/11 as a national day of service and remembrance — a fine tribute to those we lost that day.
In a grim economy, where hundreds of jobs are shed daily, Congress needs to make this small investment in human capital. It will pay dividends for years to come.
