February 23, 2011
Last week, the U.S. House approved a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011 that includes substantial cuts to community service programs across the country. Analysis released today shows that this plan would have a detrimental impact on projects throughout Iowa.
"Last summer, in Cedar Rapids, I saw firsthand what it means when students pitch in, hammer a nail and rebuild a family's home after disaster strikes," said Harkin. "There is no question that the time has come for tough budget decisions, but the smart way to bring down the deficit is for Congress to pursue a balanced approach of major spending cuts and necessary revenue increases, while continuing to take steps to strengthen the Iowa economy. At a time when budgets are stretching thin in Iowa and around the country, community service is extremely valuable. The benefits of these programs far outweigh the modest costs to fund them."
Specific Iowa programs that would be affected include :
AmeriCorps
Each year, approximately 80,000 Americans sign up to work at community service projects in exchange for a modest stipend and a $5,000 scholarship. Projects across Iowa include tutoring, mentoring, assisting as communities respond to tornadoes and floods, cleaning up parks, helping the elderly stay in their homes, and addressing a host of other community needs. Iowa students access more than $5 million of scholarships each year that they use at Iowa colleges and universities.
A map of volunteer service in Iowa can be found here.
VISTA
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) agree to work full-time for a year to alleviate poverty in their communities. In Iowa, 90 individuals create programs that could include setting up soup kitchens and shelters, weatherizing homes, organizing volunteer financial counseling programs, and developing school supply drives for children in need. All projects must be self-sustaining by the end of the VISTA service.
Senior Corps
Senior Corps engages over 400,000 Americans age 55 and older to devote 10-20 hours a week volunteering in their community. Under the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs, low-income Iowa seniors receive a small stipend ($2.65 an hour) to work with homebound seniors and children with special needs, respectively. Over 6,000 Iowa seniors volunteer.
A map of proposed cuts in the House budget to community service programs can be found here.
Learn and Serve
Across the country, almost 1.5 million students each year experience some form of service-learning as a result of the Learn and Serve program. Through service-learning, 11,000 young Iowans ?from kindergarteners to college students? use what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems, learning to be engaged community members, as well as educated adults.
Last year, service projects in Iowa provided a wide variety of services that would be lost if the programs above are eliminated:
· Over 11,000 students had the opportunity to engage in community service linked to academic achievement and civic engagement.
· More than 1,100 individuals affected by disaster received assistance and over 400 disaster affected homes were repaired with more than 20,000 sandbags filled and placed.
· More than 9,700 children had a mentor/tutor.
· More than 13,000 disadvantaged children and youth had access to youth development programming.
· Over 100,000 volunteers were recruited and utilized in Iowa communities.
· More than 90 houses were built for families in need.
· Over 11,000 youth were provided with safe places to play and learn during out of-school hours.
· Over 2,000 youth were engaged in "Healthy Start" programming to promote nutrition and exercise.
· 1,550 youth learned about school to work transition.
· Over 700 homebound seniors and older adults received help continuing to living independently in their own homes.
· Over 1000 community agencies get critical services to keep their doors open.
Harkin's full statement on the budget proposals before Congress can be found here.
For a compilation of all outreach pieces on this issue, please click here.
Last week, the U.S. House approved a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011 that includes substantial cuts to community service programs across the country. Analysis released today shows that this plan would have a detrimental impact on projects throughout Iowa.
"Last summer, in Cedar Rapids, I saw firsthand what it means when students pitch in, hammer a nail and rebuild a family's home after disaster strikes," said Harkin. "There is no question that the time has come for tough budget decisions, but the smart way to bring down the deficit is for Congress to pursue a balanced approach of major spending cuts and necessary revenue increases, while continuing to take steps to strengthen the Iowa economy. At a time when budgets are stretching thin in Iowa and around the country, community service is extremely valuable. The benefits of these programs far outweigh the modest costs to fund them."
Specific Iowa programs that would be affected include :
AmeriCorps
Each year, approximately 80,000 Americans sign up to work at community service projects in exchange for a modest stipend and a $5,000 scholarship. Projects across Iowa include tutoring, mentoring, assisting as communities respond to tornadoes and floods, cleaning up parks, helping the elderly stay in their homes, and addressing a host of other community needs. Iowa students access more than $5 million of scholarships each year that they use at Iowa colleges and universities.
A map of volunteer service in Iowa can be found here.
VISTA
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) agree to work full-time for a year to alleviate poverty in their communities. In Iowa, 90 individuals create programs that could include setting up soup kitchens and shelters, weatherizing homes, organizing volunteer financial counseling programs, and developing school supply drives for children in need. All projects must be self-sustaining by the end of the VISTA service.
Senior Corps
Senior Corps engages over 400,000 Americans age 55 and older to devote 10-20 hours a week volunteering in their community. Under the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs, low-income Iowa seniors receive a small stipend ($2.65 an hour) to work with homebound seniors and children with special needs, respectively. Over 6,000 Iowa seniors volunteer.
A map of proposed cuts in the House budget to community service programs can be found here.
Learn and Serve
Across the country, almost 1.5 million students each year experience some form of service-learning as a result of the Learn and Serve program. Through service-learning, 11,000 young Iowans ?from kindergarteners to college students? use what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems, learning to be engaged community members, as well as educated adults.
Last year, service projects in Iowa provided a wide variety of services that would be lost if the programs above are eliminated:
· Over 11,000 students had the opportunity to engage in community service linked to academic achievement and civic engagement.
· More than 1,100 individuals affected by disaster received assistance and over 400 disaster affected homes were repaired with more than 20,000 sandbags filled and placed.
· More than 9,700 children had a mentor/tutor.
· More than 13,000 disadvantaged children and youth had access to youth development programming.
· Over 100,000 volunteers were recruited and utilized in Iowa communities.
· More than 90 houses were built for families in need.
· Over 11,000 youth were provided with safe places to play and learn during out of-school hours.
· Over 2,000 youth were engaged in "Healthy Start" programming to promote nutrition and exercise.
· 1,550 youth learned about school to work transition.
· Over 700 homebound seniors and older adults received help continuing to living independently in their own homes.
· Over 1000 community agencies get critical services to keep their doors open.
Harkin's full statement on the budget proposals before Congress can be found here.
For a compilation of all outreach pieces on this issue, please click here.
