Voices for National Service is an advocacy coalition of City Year and was founded to expand federal funding for AmeriCorps. 1 It funds students and new graduates to work in left-of-center social service organizations, and to advocate for legislation that federally mandates tenure in such left-wing organizations.
Founding
Voices for National Service was founded in 2003 as the Save AmeriCorps Coalition after reductions in federal funding for AmeriCorps. Since its founding, the group grown to incorporate advocacy for other organizations such as Senior Corps, although most advocacy involves federal funding for these two groups. 2 3
Voices for National Service took part in a campaign called Serve America Together, whose goal is advocacy to Congress and the White House. 4 It advocates for government officials to require a tenure of work at certain left wing organizations, such as Teach for America and AmeriCorps. 5 6
Federal Advocacy
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act
In 2008, Voices for National Service advocated for the passage of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act, which would have eliminated the taxation of education grants provided by AmeriCorps. 7 Versions of the bill were reintroduced in 2008, May 2017 and May 2019 although no bill has yet been passed. 8 9 10 11
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
Voice for National Service helped create and pass the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that was passed in 2009, which allocated federal funds to expand AmeriCorps membership four times over. The law also created official ties between the Corporation for National and Community Service and five federal agencies. Service Nation’s 2014 report on the progress of the Serve America Act notes that “national service members” can be taken from other organizations to serve under AmeriCorps. 12
References
- “Q&A With AnnaMaura Connolly.” City Year. 2019. Accessed September 11, 2019. https://www.cityyear.org/qa-annmaura-connolly
- Beadle, Andrew D. “Inside the Fight to Save AmeriCorps.” Youth Today. September 1, 2003. Accessed September 20, 2019. https://youthtoday.org/2003/09/inside-the-fight-to-save-americorps/
- “Five Years Later: Grading Washington on its Progress to Expand National Service.” Service Nation, Voices for National Service. 2015. Accessed September 20, 2019. http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/servicenation/pages/452/attachments/original/1398082259/SAAReportCard_FINAL.pdf
- Schindelheim, Ramona. “New campaign calls on all young Americans to complete a national service year.” Working Nation. June 26, 2019. Accessed September 11, 2019. https://workingnation.com/serve-america-together-campaign-national-service-year/
- [1] “The Edward Mx. Kennedy Serve America Act Summary.’ Corporation for National and Community Service. April 21, 2009. Accessed September 20, 2019. https://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/09_0421_serveact_summary.pdf
- “About Us.” Voices for National Service. 2019. Accessed September 20, 2019. https://voicesforservice.org/about/
- “H.R. 6407 (110th): Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act of 2008.” GovTrack. May 31, 2019. Accessed September 11, 2019. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr6407
- “Call Congress to Say #NoTaxOnService.” Voices for National Service. March 12, 2019. Accessed September 11, 2019. https://voicesforservice.org/no-tax-on-service/
- “Help Us Make the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award TAX FREE.” City Year Alumni. 2019. Accessed September 11, 2019. https://alumni.cityyear.org/page/NoTaxOnService
- “Bennet, Isakson Reintroduce Legislation to Provide Tax Relief for AmeriCorps Members.” Michael Bennet. May 7, 2019. Accessed September 11, 2019. https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/5/bennet-isakson-reintroduce-legislation-to-provide-tax-relief-for-americorps-members
- “Action for National Service Reintroduced.” United States Representative John Larson. May 25, 2017. Accessed September 11, 2019.https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/action-national-service-reintroduced
- “Five Years Later: Grading Washington on its Progress to Expand National Service.” Service Nation, Voices for National Service. 2015. Accessed September 11, 2019. http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/servicenation/pages/452/attachments/original/1398082259/SAAReportCard_FINAL.pdf