Dear NSCA Member,
In reading recent posts on the listserv, we see that there may be some confusion about the difference between reauthorization of national service programs and the Serve America Act which, if enacted, will launch new programming. We hope that this provides clarification.
Reauthorization of National Service Including Senior Corps
The National Senior Corps Association (NSCA) and our Washington Representative, Priscilla Chatman, JD, meets extensively with the Education and Labor Committee staff in the House of Representatives. As you know, that committee produced a bill last year called the GIVE Act which would have reauthorized national service, including Senior Corps Programs. Since the GIVE Act did not pass into law, the Education and Labor Committee is now working again to reauthorize national service.
Your National Senior Corps Association, including our Washington Representative, has worked diligently with the Committee to incorporate provisions that are most beneficial to Senior Corps into the GIVE Act. NSCA is also a member of Voices for National Service (VNS), a coalition of many national service programs. Because there is strength in numbers, we have additional weight in Congress by working in a coalition. VNS sought the unified voice of Senior Corps in making proposals to the Committee for the GIVE Act, which we expect to be reintroduced this Spring.
Serve America Act
Clarification is needed about the Serve America Act co-sponsored by Senator Kennedy and Senator Hatch. Senator Kennedy specifically sought out NSCA proposals for "big new programs" when planning the Serve America Act. NSCA submitted a written proposal to Senator Kennedy. Not all of our suggestions were accepted, but NSCA's support of the Silver Scholarships proposal was accepted and incorporated into the Serve America Act. According to the bill's current language, Silver Scholarships, transferable education awards, will be available to volunteers who serve 600 hours or more annually. Senior Corps, as well as other senior volunteers programs, would benefit from the Silver Scholarship Program. We are so thrilled that we helped to have that program included in the legislation.
In September 2008, Camellia Pisegna, NSCA Vice President, represented you as a delegate to the Service Nation Summit in New York. At this invitation-only Summit, Ms. Pisegna heard Senators Kennedy and Hatch announce their new Serve America Act. Immediately following, the leadership of NSCA met with Senator Kennedy's staff person overseeing the Serve America legislation. We dialogued with her on the bill and made further recommendations.
In summary, Senator Kennedy's staff person explained that the Serve America Act is, in fact, only for new programs. While the reauthorization legislation is starting again in the House, new programs can start in the Senate; the Serve America Act is not a reauthorization bill. It is an authorizing bill, authorizing new programs.
Senator Kennedy's staff also assured us of the Senator's strong support for both reauthorization and increased appropriations for Senior Corps. His staff welcomed NSCA's continued involvement and expressed appreciation for our efforts to work together as a unified association on behalf of all Senior Corps programs.
Every six months, your leadership of the NSCA meets with staff responsible for reauthorization, with staff of key legislators sponsoring service bills, and with key appropriations staff. We will be doing so again in February. Our Washington Representative has already scheduled our meeting with Senator Kennedy's office to further discuss the Serve America Act, as well as the expansion of Senior Corps. We will stress that we want to first see the reauthorization of national service, including improvements and upgrades to Senior Corps. Furthermore, any new Serve America legislation must come second and must include programs that are beneficial for and to seniors.
NSCA is Committed to YOU!
NSCA has represented you throughout the legislative process regarding the Serve America Act, the Stimulus Package proposed by President Obama and the GIVE Act (reauthorization). Throughout our advocacy on the national level, NSCA is the unified voice for Senior Corps expansion through broadening our vision of senior volunteer service, collaboration and innovation. As evidenced in the Serve America Act, Congress is recognizing the vast potential for volunteer service and the need for relevant programs to engage Americans of all ages. NSCA believes that Senior Corps has both the long history of success as well as the capacity to rise to new and yet undeveloped potential.
Much of this information has been explained in our monthly E-News. By being a member of NSCA, you get full updates on progress made and new issues. Please inform your colleagues of the work that NSCA is doing to strengthen Senior Corps programs.
Thanks for being part of NSCA.
Important Reminders: We advise Senior Corps project directors that program staff and stipended volunteers can only engage in lobbying activities on their own time and not "while charging time to a Corporation-supported program".
This communication may not be posted on NSSCTalk, the National Senior Corps listserv. It is supported with federal funding. Therefore, messages that are political in nature, partisan, or could be considered lobbying are prohibited.
