Press Releases
Kuster Joins Effort to Bolster Public Health with National Service Corps** Kuster Cosponsors Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act**
Concord, N.H.,
May 6, 2020
This week, Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined her colleagues to cosponsor The Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act. The measure was introduced by Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-06), David Price (NC-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08). Supported by over one hundred national service organizations, the legislation would provide a comprehensive, locally focused, national service strategy to address, move forward and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill creates 750,000 AmeriCorps positions and establishes a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to manage a quick, federal deployment to crisis regions. These new roles would prepare Americans with meaningful opportunities to improve public health while supporting the needs of local communities and economies. To encourage participation from Americans of all backgrounds, this legislation would also increase AmeriCorps living stipends and grant educational awards equivalent to two years of public college tuition. Empowering AmeriCorps will enhance communities’ ability to address, respond, and recover from the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts on the financial wellbeing of Americans and our economy, and recovery is going to require smart solutions and an all hands on deck approach,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “This legislation is a win-win, as it creates jobs for those who need employment following this crisis, creates investments in the health and wellbeing of our communities, and provides support for our economy. I’m proud to join my colleagues in support of this commonsense measure as we look towards recovery efforts and the future of our nation.” “The COVID-19 pandemic has opened up fractures, but also new emergency and public health opportunities in our workforce that will live well into the future,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus. “As we move forward from this crisis, we must not only strengthen our country’s health infrastructure, but we must also prepare a workforce with skills and leadership that extend beyond this pandemic. In times good and bad, the great AmeriCorps workforce has proven its capability to bridge divides in our local communities and help implement a national plan for a better tomorrow.” “National service organizations possess the unique skills to rise to the challenge during this COVID-19 public health crisis,” said Representative David Price, Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus. “As we respond and recover, America needs dedicated individuals, like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps members, that stand ready to tackle a wide range of challenges like bolstering public health initiatives, ramping up contact tracing, and supporting parents and teachers as they transition to e-learning. As Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus, I am proud to introduce the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act to strengthen the response in our communities and our country.” “As they have so many times before in times of great need, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members are stepping forward to serve, meeting critical needs in our communities during this pandemic,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service. “AmeriCorps members are integral to the COVID-19 response, supporting testing by serving at drive-thru testing sites, providing childcare for health care workers, delivering food and medicine to our most vulnerable, supporting students struggling with distance learning and increasingly supporting emerging contact tracing efforts across the country. As we face the triple threat of a health, economic, and educational crisis, we should lean into the robust and flexible national service infrastructure offered by AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to meet the acute needs mounting in our communities. Voices for National Service is grateful to Representatives Price, Matsui, Houlahan, Bera, Schrier, Cole, DeLauro, Cicilline and the other original cosponsors for their bold vision for expanding AmeriCorps as a transformational force for our country at this critical time.” Specifically, the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act would:
A one pager on the bill can be found here. A copy of the legislative text can be found here. # # # |