SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 11

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JANUARY 29, 1996

By Senator BENNETT

A Joint Resolution acknowledging the valuable contributions to New Jersey communities and residents made by AmeriCorps volunteers.

Whereas, Americans and New Jerseyans of all ages and backgrounds have always performed service to their community and nation in many different ways, from military service to the Peace Corps to teaching literacy at the local library; and

Whereas, The democratic ideals on which our nation was founded are strengthened by acceptance of service to others as an obligation of citizenship; and

Whereas, People can choose to serve in any way they deem appropriate, from volunteering at the community hospital to running errands for an elderly neighbor to involvement in more formal programs of service; and

Whereas, One way people can perform service to others is by becoming part of the AmeriCorps, the new national service program created by Congress in 1993 and described as the "domestic Peace Corps;" and

Whereas, AmeriCorps programs in New Jersey have accomplished a great deal for the benefit of the people of New Jersey; and

Whereas, Over 600 New Jerseyans are participating in AmeriCorps. It is a program that stresses the concept of reciprocal obligation, that you must give something in order to get something. For a rigorous year of service to others, participants receive a minimum-wage living stipend, health benefits, and an education award to pay for college costs; and

Whereas, Accomplishments to date include cleaning up urban waterways, providing vital social services to vulnerable children and adults, preventing incidences of child abuse and neglect, and providing after-hours programming in urban school districts; and

Whereas, There is no cost to the State of New Jersey for all this good work; the federal government pays 75% of the costs involved, and local programs are responsible for raising the balance; and

Whereas, The future of AmeriCorps is uncertain because of difficult decisions which Congress must make about the federal budget, and it is possible that spending for even the most worthwhile programs will be reduced or eliminated; and

Whereas, The debate over the program's future should not diminish the achievements that current AmeriCorps volunteers have brought about; whether or not the program continues, the selfless decision of over 600 New Jerseyans to spend a year in the service of others is to be commended and applauded; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Governor and the New Jersey Legislature hereby recognize and commend the hard work of the AmeriCorps volunteers throughout the State and urge them to continue their commitment to helping others in the future.

    2. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This Joint Resolution recognizes and commends the hard work of AmeriCorps volunteers throughout the State and urges them to continue in their commitment to helping others in the future. AmeriCorps is a federally funded program, created in 1993 for the purpose of encouraging national service through involvement in community based initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for all people. AmeriCorps has been referred to as the domestic Peace Corps. The participants, who commit to up to two years of service with AmeriCorps, are as diverse as the populations they serve, and range in age from 17 to 65 years. New Jersey AmeriCorps volunteers have engaged in such diverse projects as teaching the developmentally disabled independent living skills in Essex County, counseling troubled adolescents in group home situations in Bergen and Passaic Counties, ensuring the safety and purity of water along various stretches of the Passaic River, and staffing urban literacy programs in Paterson.

Acknowledges valuable contributions made to New Jersey by AmeriCorps volunteers.