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Kilili backs national youth service legislation
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Posted on Mar 11 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C.—CNMI Delegate Gregorio “Kilili” C. Sablan has signed on to co-sponsor the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education, or GIVE, Act.
The Act, co-sponsored by several prominent members of Congress including Rep. George Miller of California, chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, focuses on creating opportunities for young people to serve their communities and boosts educational and vocational training opportunities.
“It’s very important that young people in the Northern Marianas and everywhere in our country have more opportunities to serve their communities and get real-world work experience,” said Sablan. “The GIVE Act would do just that and I will be working very hard along with the rest of the Democratic party to ensure passage.”
National service is a key part of the agenda of President Barack Obama and the GIVE Act is being fast-tracked through Congress. The bill is expected to be marked up by Miller’s committee this week, then head to the floor of the House for consideration next week.
Among the provisions of the bill is an expansion of the AmeriCorps program from 75,000 members to 250,000. Education awards for AmeriCorps participants have also been increased, helping participants continue on to higher education without the burden of student loans.
The bill creates a new Summer of Service program to engage middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their own communities in return for an educational award of $500. For high schoolers and out-of-school youth, Youth Engagement Zones can help encourage volunteers in high-need, low-income communities.
Increasing volunteer opportunities for high-need communities is a major theme of the bill, with expanded opportunities for disadvantaged youth and those with disabilities, as well as four new service corps that help address key needs in low-income communities: a Clean Energy Corps, an Education Corps, a Health Futures Corps, and a Veterans Service Corps.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]
