DEAR
FGP, RSVP and SCP
DIRECTORS, STAFF, and
FRIENDS:
REAUTHORIZATION
As
National Senior Corps
Association (NSCA)
reported last week, the
GIVE Act was defeated in
the U.S. House. The bill
was only one vote shy of
passage!
We believe this
is a reminder to all of
us of the importance of
educating our elected
officials about our
programs, the ongoing
and dedicated work of
our volunteers and the
critical difference our
programs make in their
home districts. National
service programs need
their ongoing support!
Even
with the discouraging news
of the bill's defeat, we
want to share one story of
success. Last week, NSCA
learned of one House
member in an influential
position who, before
recording their vote,
changed it to a
"yes" as a
direct result of phone
calls and faxes to the
Congressperson's office.
One Senior Corps project
director organized the
efforts of other project
directors from all three
Senior Corps programs,
advisory council and board
members and
representatives from other
national service programs.
One person can make a
difference! Working
together can make an even
bigger difference! We
should have no doubt that
our elected officials rely
upon their constituents to
provide information about
our programs.
Thank
you to everyone who took a
few minutes to call your
Representatives last week.
We know there are many
similar success stories!
Now,
we encourage you to
call/fax your
Representative and express
either your thanks or your
disappointment - depending
upon how they voted - on
HR 5563, the GIVE Act. You
will find a complete list
of how each member voted
on our website www.NSCAtogether.org
under "Alerts".
Also
on the NSCA website are
these articles on the GIVE
Act:
Click
here to see "National-Service
Bill Defeated in U.S.
House by One Vote" by
Suzanne
Perry, Chronicle of
Philanthropy, 03/13/08
Click
here to see press
release from CEO on
the Status of the GIVE Act
Corporation
for National and Community
Service, 03/12/08
Click
here
to see "Bill to
Reauthorize AmeriCorps
Fails by One Vote in
House" by
Libby
George, Congressional
Quarterly, 03/12/08
Click
here to see press
release from Congressman
George Miller (CA)
Chairman
of the House Committee on
Education and Labor,
03/06/08
APPROPRIATIONS
Information
will be coming soon about
NSCA advocacy efforts to
eliminate the proposed 40%
cut to the Foster
Grandparent Program and
increase funding for all
three Senior Corps
programs.
Remember
that Senior Corps is Stronger
Together !
