Sec. 2. Findings

461 words·~2 min read·/bill/116/s/3964/is/section-2

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Congress finds the following: The United States has a strong history of citizen response to national calls to service in order to help the Nation recover in times of crisis. More than 80 years ago, the Nation rose to the challenge of the Great Depression with the creation of citizen service programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (referred to in this section as the CCC ) and the Works Progress Administration (referred to in this section as the WPA ). Millions of participants benefitted from paid employment and opportunities to develop their skills while constructing national parks and public lands infrastructure and producing cultural works still enjoyed today.

Following decades of evolution, incorporating policies of both political parties, today’s national service programs carry on the legacy of the CCC and WPA. Founded in 1990, the Corporation for National and Community Service today coordinates national service by individuals in the United States across every State and territory, partnering with State-level commissions and supporting locally driven services in partnership with nongovernmental organizations and State governments.

National service programs provide public health, education, employment training, and nutrition services for which the Nation has a critical need in the current crisis. The signature programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which are the AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, and National Senior Service Corps programs, can and should be expanded to meet current needs. The novel coronavirus pandemic has infected and killed individuals in every State and territory, causing more than 2,000,000 cases and 115,000 deaths so far.

In response, States, tribal governments, and cities across the country have closed down businesses, schools, and public events, leading to a dramatic drop in economic activity and a sharp projected decline in the United States economy. More than 40,000,000 applications for unemployment benefits have been filed in recent weeks, with weekly filings repeatedly exceeding historic record levels. More than one in every 10 adults in the United States has applied for unemployment insurance since the crisis began.

The pandemic and the associated economic consequences have disproportionately impacted people of color across many States. To recover, the Nation also needs meaningful employment opportunities, as well as a significant expansion of the human capital working to address community needs around public health, behavioral health, hunger, education, and conservation. Experience has demonstrated the centrality of community participation in pandemic response, to overcome stigma and structural barriers and meet the full needs of all members of a diverse community.

As the Nation works to respond to and recover from the current twin challenges of a public health pandemic and an economic crisis, national service presents a unique opportunity for flexible, locally driven responses to meet State and local public health, employment, and recovery needs.