On April 4, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $106.5 billion Fiscal Year 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill to support defense and foreign aid and hurricane relief and recovery efforts. The Senate funding package includes $20 million for the NCCC to continue their disaster relief work in the Gulf Coast and other affected areas.
This is a positive step in the effort to restore funding for NCCC and to keep that critical program in operation.
The Supplemental is expected to come before the full Senate for debate during the week of April 24. After its passage, the Senate’s bill must be reconciled with the House-passed bill, which does not include funding for the NCCC.
In addition to the Supplemental, the annual appropriations process is still underway. Voices for National Service continues to call on our Congressional leaders to reject the White House-proposed funding cuts for AmeriCorps, NCCC, and Learn & Serve.
Recent Press
Mikulski Announces Funding for Key AmeriCorps Program in Katrina Supplemental, American Chronicle.
Action Items
This is a critical time to contact your Members of Congress and express your interest in federal funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and its core programs. We recommend you write letters to your local paper, send letters to Washington, and invite your elected leaders to visit your program.
- Write a letter to the Editor of your local newspaper. View a sample template letter.
- Contact your Members of Congress and tell them you support a robust appropriation for national service programs. View a draft letter that you can customize for your Member of Congress.
- Visit the Senate or the the House of Representatives web site to identify your Congressional representative and his or her contact information or call the congressional operator to speak with your senator (202-224-3121) or representative (202-225-3121).
- Invite your Member of Congress to visit your service site. Congress will recess April 10-21 and May 29-June 1. We encourage you to invite the members of your congressional delegation to visit your programs during these breaks. View a sample letter of invitation.
Visit www.VoicesForService.org for other important tips on scheduling a visit with a Member of Congress. Fax letters of invitation to Capitol Hill and avoid lengthy postal service delays.
