AmeriCorps, for those of you who don’t know, is like the domestic peace corp. The program changed my life, and I can honestly say that the three years I spend in it were some of the best three of my life. Do NOT let the government of George W. Bush, or anyone else de-fund it. Act now to save AmeriCorps.

Voices for National Service has learned that funding for AmeriCorps programs for 2009 is in jeopardy, and it is imperative that national service supporters contact their Members of Congress TODAY to intercede with Appropriators.

Action Item One – Sign-On Letter

By 4:00pm today, December 3rd, please email info@voicesforservice.org to sign-on to a letter from the national service field to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees that urgently requests $420.3 million for AmeriCorps and the National Service Trust in order to sustain the same level of participants in 2009 as in 2008. Copies of the letters are at the bottom of this email with signatures already collected from national service program leaders. To sign-on, email info@voicesforservice.org the name of your organization’s CEO or Executive Director.

Action Item Two – Call Your Member of Congress

Please call your Members of Congress immediately and ask them to protect AmeriCorps funding so that programs can deliver much needed services to communities across the country. Below is information on how to contact your Members of Congress and talking points for your use. We have also listed the Appropriators in the House and Senate. We especially need individuals residing or serving in Appropriators’ districts to reach out directly to them. If you do not reside or serve in an Appropriators district, please call your Members of Congress and ask them to weigh in with Appropriators.

To connect to your legislators in the Senate dial the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to connect you. To connect to your legislators in the House dial the switchboard at (202) 225-3121 ask them to connect you.

Background Information: At this very moment, congressional appropriators are in final negotiations on an comprehensive FY2009 funding bill. They expect to finish negotiating the details this week. It has recently been brought to our attention that AmeriCorps State and National and the National Service Trust require a combined appropriation of $420.3 million to sustain the same level of service communities have relied upon in 2008. This figure is $41 million above last year’s appropriations and $14.1 million above the Administration’s original request submitted to Congress in February.

We understand this is a significant increase over last year’s appropriation, but due to a perfect storm of conditions, that includes a significant administrative change at the Corporation, this increase is necessary to sustain the present field of programs and members. Level funding for AmeriCorps will not allow the same number of Americans to serve in 2009 as participated in 2008 due to a number of programmatic factors including: changes in AmeriCorps grant-making from two year to one year funding, the need to transfer funds from programs to the National Service Trust to cover AmeriCorps education awards, and increased support for disaster response and recovery in the Gulf region.

The next 24 hours are critical, as the Appropriations Committee is making decisions on the fiscal 2009 funding bills right now. We need our legislators to weigh in and ask that the appropriation be increased to avoid devastating program cuts. The brunt of the impact would likely fall on programs that are recompeting for funds. Under the present funding assumptions (i.e. 2008 funding levels), the pool of funds available to state competitive programs could be $20 million, 50% less than what is needed.

Talking Points :

Right now Congressional appropriators are negotiating fiscal year 2009 funding levels for AmeriCorps.
We’ve been told that AmeriCorps State and National and the National Service Trust need a combined appropriation of $420.3 million to sustain AmeriCorps programs that are delivering much needed service to communities. This is $41 million above the fiscal year 2008 appropriation.
We understand that this is a significant increase, but due to congressionally-mandated administrative changes at the Corporation for National and Community Service, the additional funds are needed to simply sustain the same level of service in 2009. This additional funding would not grow the program, just sustain it.
AmeriCorps grantees engage 75,000 Americans in providing important services through thousands of nonprofit community-based organizations, schools, land management agencies, and other groups that are meeting critical needs. Many of these organizations are already struggling with the recent economic downturn, and a cut in AmeriCorps would further reduce their ability to serve people in need.
A significant reduction in the federal appropriation will force groups to cut back or eliminate services to communities, and deprive thousands of young people the opportunity to serve their country and earn education awards to pursue their dreams of higher education. This is not the time to cut services to those in need and limit opportunities for young people to earn stipends and educational opportunities for their service.
An increased appropriation for AmeriCorps is urgently needed to prevent the collapse of our programs.
Your Congressperson should instruct the Appropriations Committee to increase the FY09 allocation for AmeriCorps.
SENATE APPROPRIATORS
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Sen. Tom Harkin (Chairman) (D-IA)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Arlen Specter (Ranking Member) (R-PA)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)

HOUSE APPROPRIATORS
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Rep. Dave Obey (Chairman)( D-WI)
Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-NY)
Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Rep. Michael K. Simpson (R-ID)
Rep. Dennis R. Rehberg (R-MT)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Ex Officio

Thank you for your quick response to this email. Without your help, AmeriCorps positions may be eliminated. We will continue to update supporters as we learn more. Please direct any questions to info@voicesforservice.org

Below are some sample letter in case you want some help.
Continue reading Act Now To Save AmeriCorps Funding! →