Yesterday, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (MO), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (DE) and Roger Wicker (MS) in reintroducing the Cultivating Opportunity and Recovery from the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act. The legislation would increase the number of AmeriCorps positions available to support a variety of response and recovery efforts based on community needs, including expanding food bank capacity, mentoring and tutoring students recovering from learning loss, helping to improve housing, and more.
“The CORPS Act will build upon the existing AmeriCorps framework, providing Americans wishing to serve with more opportunities to fill critical needs in their communities,” said Blunt. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation, which will expand the role that national service organizations play in helping our communities recover from the pandemic.”
“The past year has shown us that America can overcome any challenge so long as we do so together – when we look out for our neighbors, give back to our communities, and unite behind a common purpose,” said Coons. “We still have work to do to end this pandemic, rebuild, and recover, and one of the best ways we can do that is by investing in our strengths – in the thousands of young people who are eager to roll up their sleeves and serve their country, and in our locally-driven national service network that is already on the ground meeting urgent needs in our communities. I’m proud to introduce the CORPS Act with Senator Wicker and this impressive group of colleagues, and look forward to passing it into law so we can build back stronger than ever.”
“Our nation’s full recovery from the pandemic will require an all-hands approach,” said Wicker. “Boosting the ranks of our service corps is a cost-efficient way to get communities the help they need. I am glad to join Senator Coons in reintroducing the CORPS Act, which would expand national service opportunities at a crucial time for our nation. The COVID-19 outbreak has presented many challenges for our nation, and national service can help us emerge even stronger from this crisis.”
Blunt cosponsored similar legislation in the previous Congress. During his time as Labor/HHS Chair, Blunt lead efforts in the Senate to increase funding for national service programs. Under Blunt’s chairmanship, the Labor/HHS subcommittee increased funding for AmeriCorps State and National Grants by $119.67 million, or 35.6%, and Senior Corps by $22.9 million, or 11%. Blunt was recognized last year for his support of national service programs.
For a one-pager on the bill, please go to https://www.blunt.senate.gov/download/corps-act-one-pager.
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