Action Alert: Help Us Ask Congress To Support Pres. Obama’s $1.42 Billion Request For Service
Subscribe to the Blog RSS FeedWhen it comes to supporting funding for service on Capitol Hill it's important that our community stay engaged and continue to let our legislators know that we think full funding for the expansion of national service and volunteer service opportunities is critical to help address problems and provide meaningful work experience in a time of enormous economic challenges.
That's why we are so grateful that our friends over at Voices For National Service are always on the case. And today Voices is putting out a call for supporters of service to write to members of the House, asking them to sign onto a letter being circulated by the House National Service Caucus. The letter will be delivered to key Senate appropriators, and asks that the Senate support President Obama's FY2011 full budget request of $1.42 (go here for more background on the budget request) billion for service. Here is a key paragraph (full letter is here):
We are writing in full support of the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2011 $1.42 billion request for the service programs that are administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). This funding level would allow CNCS to mobilize more than six million Americans to solve critical problems through national service, foster higher levels of innovation and impact in the volunteer and nonprofit sector, improve agency management and strengthen performance measurement, recognize 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, and to continue to carry out the provisions of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
Keeping the momentum for service high is critical, and we (and Voices) could really use your help. Here's what you can do:
Please contact your representatives and ask them to sign the House letter. The deadline for signatures is Tuesday, March 16th. (Talking points can be found below.) If your representative agrees to sign, his or her office must contact one of the following congressional staff members by the close of business on March 16th:
Mara Lee (Rep. Matsui): mara.lee@mail.house.gov
Kate Roetzer (Rep. Price): kate.roetzer@mail.house.gov
Mollie Van Lieu (Rep. Platts): mollie.vanlieu@mail.house.gov
Rachel Fenton (Rep. Ehlers): rachel.fenton@mail.house.gov
If you need help determining the members of your congressional delegation, visit www.congress.org. This database will provide you with contact information for your elected officials.
If contacting by phone, you can call your representative directly or be connected through the House Operator (202-225-3121). Once connected, identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak to the Legislative Assistant in change of national service and education issues. Use the message below for talking points.
If contacting by email, please feel free to cut and paste the message below into an email or online form found on your congressperson's Web site. Remember to insert the representative's name in place of the blanks.
And here is a sample letter, which you can use in full, or for talking points:
A MESSAGE TO DELIVER BY PHONE OR EMAIL
I am writing to ask Representative __________ to sign a letter being circulated by the National Service Caucus in support of the President's FY11 request of $1.42 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
As our nation continues on a path towards economic recovery, national service is a strategy for helping to address staggering societal needs. CNCS and its programs provide citizens with skills and communities with much needed capacity at low cost and with no new bureaucracy.
The number of Americans taking the initiative to serve or volunteer has spiked significantly. AmeriCorps programs report 5 to 10 applicants for every available position, and many applicants are coming from demographic groups with high unemployment.
As more Americans prepare to do their part, the federal government must continue to invest in service and social innovation. These are critical tools for solving our nation's toughest challenges, while opening pathways to education, future employment and continued civic engagement for participants and those they serve.
I hope that Representative __________ will follow the directions below and sign this letter. Thank you.
Thanks so much for your help. Here's a video reminder of the hope and energy that made the April 2009 signing of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act such a transformative moment for service in America.
