WASHINGTON — The Senate has passed a major national service bill that triples the AmeriCorps program and encourages a broad range of Americans to give back to their communities.
The House could take up the bill as early as Monday, sending it to President Barack Obama for his signature.
The Senate voted 79-19 to increase AmeriCorps to 250,000 from its current 75,000 positions over eight years. The bill would also create five groups to help poor people, improve education, encourage energy efficiency, strengthen access to health care and assist veterans.
The bill won support in both parties despite assertions by some Republicans that it represents a costly and unnecessary intrusion by government. Colorado’s senators, both Democrats, voted for it.
