Legislative Update, December 8, 2004

On November 20, Congress passed the FY05 Consolidated Appropriations bill, an omnibus package encompassing nine fiscal 2005 spending bills. The legislation, which was signed by President Bush on December 8, included $430 million for AmeriCorps, $11 million below the historic appropriation the program received in FY04. This 2.5% reduction will fund 70,000 AmeriCorps members, 5,000 less than the fiscal year 2004 bill.

Legislative Update, September 24, 2004

On September 21, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an FY05 VA-HUD Appropriations bill that includes $590 million for the Corporation for the National and Community Service and its programs and activities, an increase of $9 million over the fiscal year 2004 enacted level and $18 million above the House's FY05 bill.

This appropriation provides $292 million for AmeriCorps State and National operating grants; $150 million for the National Service Trust; $43 million for Learn and Serve; and $26 million for NCCC. The Senate bill will support 75,000 new full-time equivalent members for the AmeriCorps program. The House only provided sufficient funding to support 70,000 members.

The Committee commended the Corporation's efforts to run an expedited rulemaking process that will address some of their long-standing concerns with the AmeriCorps program. The Senate Appropriators urged the Corporation to develop a definition for assessing a program's sustainability that is sensible and flexible. According to the Committee report, "[T]he Committee rejects a `one-size-fits-all' approach and believes that in addressing this issue, the Corporation should use a performance-based method so that well-performing organizations are not unduly punished."

Subcommittee Chairman Christopher Bond (R-MO) indicated at the Sept. 21 hearing that he does not expect the VA-HUD bill to reach the Senate floor for consideration before the November elections. Congress is expected to return for a lame duck session, and will resume consideration of the funding bills.

Legislative Update, July 22, 2004

On July 22, the House Appropriations Committee passed an FY05 VA-HUD Appropriations that includes $572 million for the Corporation for National and Community Service, $70 million below the President's request. Josh Bolten, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, sent a letter to the full Committee and Subcommittee leadership responding to the Committee's recommendations. According to Bolten, "The Administration is disappointed, however, that many of the other priorities outlined in the President's FY 2005 Budget are not adequately funded in this bill, including the President's "Vision for Space Exploration," the HUD portion of the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative, and AmeriCorps...If the final version of this bill that is presented to the President does not include adequate funding levels for Presidential initiatives, his Senior Advisors would recommend that he veto the bill." Click here to read the letter.

In an interview with a Congressional Quarterly reporter, VA-HUD Chairman James Walsh (R-NY) acknowledged the Administration's veto threat, and expressed his desire to resolve the contentious funding issues with the White House and the Senate.

Legislative Update, July 2, 2004

On July 20, the House Subcommittee on VA-HUD Appropriations marked up its fiscal year 2005 spending bill, proposing to cut the budgets of most programs covered by the bill in order to provide more money for veterans' health care. The Subcommittee recommended $572 million for the Corporation for National and Community Service, $9 million below the FY04 enacted level and $70 million below the President's request. The Committee provides $290 million for AmeriCorps competitive and formula state grants and $144 million for the National Service Trust Fund. This appropriation can support 70,000 corps members, 5,000 less than FY04 but 20,000 more than FY03.

According to the Committee, "the reduction in volunteers supported by this bill is taken without prejudice, and is the consequence of broader funding constraints in this bill overall."

The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up the VA-HUD bill on Thursday, July 22nd. The Senate has not yet scheduled a committee hearing to review the funding measure.

Legislative Update, February 2, 2004

On February 2, 2004, President Bush released his fiscal year 2005 budget request, which included a nine percent increase for the Corporation for National and Community Service. The proposed FY05 budget requests $1.018 billion for CNCS, an $82 million increase over the fiscal year 2004 enacted levels.

The FY04 Consolidated Appropriations Bill - signed by the President on January 23, 2003 - included the highest funding level for AmeriCorps in the program's history. That increase is expected to grow the federal program by 50 percent, from 50,000 members in FY03 to 75,000 members in FY04. The President's FY05 Budget requests fudning to sustain that growth and place another 75,000 Americans in service in 2005. The Budget includes $442 million for AmeriCorps grants and the National Service Trust.

In addition, the Budget includes $46 million for Learn and Serve America, a $3 million increase over FY04 and the first increase proposed in a decade. Learn and Serve America provides grants to state education agencies, schools, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to develop programs and curricula that link academic instruction with community service for more than one million students.

Legislative Update, January 23, 2004

On Friday, January 23, President Bush signed the Omnibus Appropriations bill into law.

Legislative Update, January 22, 2004

On Thursday, January 22, the U.S. Senate cleared the $373 billion fiscal 2004 omnibus spending package, voting 65-28 to send the measure to President Bush for his signature. The bill, which provides funding for eleven federal departments, dozens of agencies and a broad array of programs and projects, includes $444 million for AmeriCorps.

The funding - with a proposed split of $314 million for AmeriCorps programs and $130 million for the National Service Trust Fund - represents the largest appropriation for AmeriCorps since the program's inception in 1993 and the program dollars would be an 80% increase above last year's levels which forced cuts and closures to vital programs and services.

As previously noted, the FY04 appropriation is $100 million more than was originally included in either the House or Senate VA-HUD Appropriations bills and $11 million more than was requested by President Bush.

The President could sign the bill into law by week's end. Additionally, the White House will release their fiscal year 2005 budget request on February 2, 2004.

Legislative Update, December 9, 2003

On December 9th, the Senate adjourned for the year without completing the FY04 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which includes funding for AmeriCorps. Congress will reconvene on January 20, 2004 at which time the Senate is scheduled to resume consideration of the funding package. A vote on final passage could occur that week. Until the bill is passed, the federal government is operating under a continuing resolution (CR) which extends FY03 funding levels into the current fiscal year. The CR is due to expire on January 31, 2004.

Before adjourning on the 9th, the Senate confirmed David Eisner as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Read the CNCS press release on Eisner's confirmation here.

Legislative Update, December 8, 2003

The House of Representatives passed the Omnibus Appropriations bill today by a vote of 242-176. As previously noted, the VA-HUD portion of the bill includes $444 million for AmeriCorps. A roll call vote has not yet been scheduled in the Senate. Read the Associated Press article on the entire Omnibus bill here.

Legislative Update, December 1, 2003

Last week, conferees in the House and the Senate agreed on a $328 billion year-end spending bill. This bill, if approved by the full House and Senate, would allocate $444 million to AmeriCorps for fiscal year 2004, $100 million more than was originally included in either the House or Senate Appropriations Bills.

However, before adjourning for the Thanksgiving holiday, Congress passed its 6th Continuing Resolution, extending FY2003 funding levels until January 31, 2004. Both the House and Senate are expected to return to Washington the week of December 8th and will resume consideration of the Omnibus Appropriations bill at that time. Date of final passage is still unclear. Read the Senate Appropriations Committee's press release here .

Legislative Update, November 18, 2003

The FY04 VA/HUD Appropriations bill was unanimously passed by the Senate today, November 18th. Differences between the Senate funding bill and the House bill, passed on July 25th, will be reconciled by a conference committee of House and Senate members. This conference committee is expected to convene sometime before the end of the week.

Legislative Update, November 13, 2003, Part I

On Wednesday, November 12, the Senate brought the FY04 VA/HUD Appropriations bill to the floor. While the bill provides an increase in funding for AmeriCorps, the appropriation is nearly $100 million below the President's budget request. Read VA/HUD Subcommittee Chairman, Kit Bond's, introduction to the bill here.

Later that day, Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduced amendment S. AMDT. 2157 to increase funding for AmeriCorps grants and educational awards by $93 million. The bill currently includes $340 million in a combined account for AmeriCorps grants, national and state grants, and education awards. The Santorum amendment would increase the total to $433 million. Although the amendment was withdrawn, Chairman Kit Bond (R-MO) agreed to work with Senator Santorum in conference to fully fund the President's request for AmeriCorps. Read Senator Santorum's statement on the amendment here.

Two amendments to the bill, however, were unanimously accepted, helping to enhance national service opportunities in America.

S.AMDT.2173, co-sponsored by Senators Kit Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), requires notice and comment rulemaking, and prohibits disclosure of selection information, by the Corporation for National and Community Service. In summary, the bill aims to protect the integrity of the grant making process, by preventing Corporation officials from disclosing sensitive grant information and by insisting that the public has an opportunity to comment on any rule changes which would impact National Service programs. Read Senator Mikulski's statement on the amendment here.

S.AMDT.2184, sponsored by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) provides VISTA volunteers the option of receiving a national service educational award.

Historically, upon completion of service, VISTA volunteers have been eligible to receive a cash stipend or a scholarship toward their education. Nearly two-thirds of the individuals participating in the VISTA program have opted for the education award instead of the cash stipend. However, beginning in November 2002, VISTA volunteers were denied a choice and were provided with cash stipends regardless of their preference. The Clinton Amendment ensures that all eligible volunteers are again provided the option of receiving an education award instead of a cash stipend, consistent with the law and current practice. This amendment was co-sponsored by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). Read Senator Clinton's statement on the amendment here.

The FY04 VA/HUD Appropriations bill has now been temporarily laid aside, but the Senate is expected to resume consideration of the VA/HUD funding bill on Friday, November 14.

Legislative Update, November 13, 2003, Part II

On Thursday, November 12th, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) in response to S. 1584, the Senate's FY04 VA/HUD Appropriations bill. While the Administration supports the passage of the Senate bill, the SAP expressed concerns with a number of provisions.

On AmeriCorps, the White House repeated their support for the President's full budget request, $433 million for AmeriCorps grants, national and state grants and education awards.

The Administration opposes "harmful reductions to program costs that could not be sustained by AmeriCorps grantees, such as the increased [private sector] match... Further, while the Corporation and its grantees are implementing new management procedures to increase accountability, the Committee reduced funding for program administration and evaluation...The Administration strongly urges the Senate to fully fund this Presidential priority to ensure that the [Corporation for National and Community Service] can fulfill its mission of engaging more Americans in service to help strengthen communities." A more comprehensive excerpt from the White House SAP can be found by clicking here.

The Senate will resume consideration of the VA/HUD funding bill on Monday, November 17.

Legislative Update, October 20, 2003

Over the course of the summer, national service advocates across the country called on Congress to reverse the funding cuts to AmeriCorps for fiscal year 2003. Despite overwhelming support from 80 U.S. Senators, 233 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 44 Governors and 148 Mayors, Congress failed to include emergency funds for AmeriCorps in the final package of FY03 supplemental appropriations.

While this was disappointing, we have made significant progress on the fiscal year 2004 budget. The public outcry in support of AmeriCorps has been heard, and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs/Housing and Urban Development (VA/HUD) responded. For the first time since 1994, the House included appropriations for AmeriCorps in their annual funding bill.

While both the House and Senate recommend increased funding for AmeriCorps and suggest growing the program in 2004, their allocations are nearly $100 million below President Bush's $433 million budget request. In addition, several programmatic reforms have been proposed by Congressional appropriators and authorizers that could challenge program continuity and shift the mission of AmeriCorps.

The sustainability of national service is contingent upon strong programs with good design and the capacity to recruit, train, retain and leverage AmeriCorps members to meet critical community needs and mobilize citizen volunteers. We support an FY04 VA/HUD bill that funds AmeriCorps at the President's requested level, providing the Corporation for National and Community Service with the resources needed to restore AmeriCorps' impact and credibility, and reinvest in proven programs with broad community support.