Obama Signs National Service Bill
Appearing at the SEED school in Washington, the president called the bill "the boldest expansion of opportunities to serve our communities and our country since the creation of AmeriCorps."
"What this legislation does, then, is to help harness this patriotism and connect deeds to needs," he said. "It creates opportunities to serve for students, seniors and everyone in between. It supports innovation and strengthens the nonprofit sector. And it is just the beginning of a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to involve our greatest resource, our citizens, in the work of remaking this nation."
The bill will expand AmeriCorps from 75,000 slots to 250,000 over eight years. It will "focus that service on today's challenges, including clean energy, education, health care, veterans care, and economic opportunity," according to the White House, and "provide new service opportunities for millions of Americans at all stages of their lives."
Mr. Obama was joined at the event by Kennedy, whom he called "one of the finest leaders we've ever had." The Massachusetts senator, who introduced the president, said Mr. Obama has "inspired a new generation of Americans."
Vice President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, Caroline Kennedy, Colin Powell, Nancy Pelosi, Michael Bloomberg and Rosalynn Carter were among the others gathered for the event. The president said he planned to plant trees in a park near the school following the speech, alongside Clinton, Michelle Obama and Joe and Jill Biden.
"We need your service, right now at this moment in history," the president said from the podium. "I'm not going to tell you what your role should be. That's for you to discover. But I'm asking you to stand up and play your part. I'm asking you to help change history's course, put your shoulder up against the wheel."
The bill passed Congress last month despite concerns from some Republicans that it meant spending taxpayer money on volunteer work that Americans already do for free. Most AmeriCorps volunteers now receive less than $12,000 per year for activites like working with children and the elderly and building houses.