$100 Billion in cuts? No CNCS?
What does it all mean?
Early in the morning on Saturday, Feb. 19th, the Republican Majority in the US House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of 2011. As part of their plan, Republicans suggested the complete elimination of funding for the Corporation for National Service, among many other community programs.
Now, the U.S. Senate is the only thing standing in the way of the end of national service.
What kind of impact will that have on New Jersey?
The state will lose more than $26.3 million in funding for AmeriCorps, Learn & Serve, Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions and RSVP
18,000 volunteers of all ages who service in these programs will be left with little or no support
940 AmeriCorps positions will be terminated, which will also eliminate $5.4 million in Earned AmeriCorps education awards that help fund tuition or repay student loans
More than 675 Foster Grandparents and Senior Corps positions will be terminated. Low income members will lose the $2.65/hr stipend that they use to afford prescriptions and pay heating bills
More than 1,700 young people will lose Foster Grandparents, 760 homebound seniors will lose Senior Companions who help them maintain their independence, and 840 community organizations will lose the support of their local RSVP volunteers.
Since 1994 more than 16,000 AmeriCorps members in New Jersey have contributed over 21 million hours of service; the loss of their intensive, results-driven work will detrimentally impact education, environmental, health and other service providers across the state.
Now is the time to act. We cannot sit idly by and hope someone comes to our aid. Contact your legislators today. Spread the word to your volunteers, colleagues, friends and family.
We have the strength. We only need the voice!
To find the contact information for your legislators and the White House:
U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, White House
If you want an easy way to help, take a moment to sign the petition on Change.org to Save Senior Corps by Clicking Here.
You can also visit the site www.saveservice.org for more information.
