House Passes Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Dear Colleagues:

Earlier today, the House of Representatives voted on final passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Both chambers of Congress accelerated their coordinated work on the bill after the President called for its passage in his first address to a joint session of Congress just five weeks ago. The bill now heads to President Obama for signature. In a statement released by the White House, President Obama congratulated the House and called “on all Americans to stand up and do what they can to serve their communities, shape our history and enrich both their own lives and the lives of others across this country.”

The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Corporation and its programs for the first time since 1993, expands national service to meet the needs of communities across the country, and includes many needed reforms that will enable us and our field to expand appropriately and meet the expectations of the Administration and Congress. For more information on this historic legislation, please see a summary of the key provisions posted on our website.

Today, community needs are great, but the desire to serve is strong, and support for national service is at an all time high. I want to thank you for your continued commitment to national service and to your local communities. Your dedication and hard work have created the strong support from which we all now benefit. I am humbled by your strength and perseverance and truly honored to be a part of this turning point for the Corporation and the national service movement.

We look forward to working with all of you in the weeks and months to come as we put this groundbreaking legislation to work.

In Service,

Nicola Goren
Acting CEO
Corporation for National and Community Service