Template for General Letter to Congress

Instructions:

1. Please copy onto your letterhead.
2. Please include your name and address to ensure a response.
3. Please FAX this letter to ensure its timeliness. AND Mail it.
4. Please consider sending a copy to your State Representatives. Their contact information is available at www.Congress.org

Dear << Senator or Representative >>:

Please support full funding for two core national service programs – AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America in the Labor/HHS Appropriations bill. AmeriCorps plays a vital role in this country, engaging citizens in service that addresses critical community needs. Learn and Serve not only helps students develop academically, but also engages them, at an early age, in solving community problems. Rigorous third party studies demonstrate the quality and impact of both programs, in terms of developing citizen leaders and in terms of meeting the needs of communities.

For fiscal year 2007 the recent House bill provides only $343 million for AmeriCorps ($60 million below FY06) and $34.2 million for Learn & Serve America ($3 million below FY06).

The report language also legislates a $675 per participant reduction in the post-service Education Award by tracking it to the maximum Pell Grant, which is $4050. Unlike the Pell Grant, however, the education award is subject to taxation. Earned through 1700 hours of intensive service, the Education Award has not increased in the 13 years since AmeriCorps began, despite escalating costs in education.

Our communities have enormous unmet needs, and national service represents a prudent and cost-effective investment in citizens who want to help meet those needs. Through national service citizens mentor and tutor disadvantaged youth, respond to natural disasters, leverage local volunteers, and help build the organizational capacity of local community and faith-based organizations.

I understand that the fiscal environment is extremely difficult, but this is not the time to cut funding for national service. Public, civic, and business leaders are calling for the expansion of national service programs and local and national media have published appeals to government officials to fully fund AmeriCorps. Citizens, as witnesses to their communities unmet needs, are eager to serve. National events such as September 11th and Hurricane Katrina spur a passion for service, which must be mobilized. We should be expanding opportunities for individuals to serve, not eliminating them. I urge you to support funding levels as follows for national service programs:

• AmeriCorps Education Award: $4,725 per full-time member
• AmeriCorps and the National Service Trust: $441M
• Learn and Serve America: $43M
• National Civilian Community Corps: $26M

Please do not disappoint the millions of citizens who want to step forward and serve. Please support full funding for national service.

Sincerely,