Congress Passes Needed National Service Legislation
AARP Tracks 'Key Vote' on Government Watch for 40 Million Members
WASHINGTON, March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --AARP today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (HR 1388) -- a bill that will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages. The U.S. Senate passed similar legislation last week. Designated as a "key vote" by AARP on behalf of its 40 million members, each elected official's vote is posted on AARP's Government Watch site (www.aarp.org/governmentwatch) so individuals across the nation can see how their legislators voted on this important bill.
"AARP members stand ready to give, and offer a lifetime of acquired skills to meet a wide range of community needs," said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Dick Chevrefils.
"In a survey conducted for AARP last year, millions of boomers and older Americans said they want to increase their volunteer service over the next five years," he said. "The Serve America Act will help provide the additional service opportunities people age 50+ are seeking."
Below is the key vote summary of how Pennsylvania's elected officials voted on the Serve America Act, which can also be found at www.aarp.org/governmentwatch:
Elected Official VOTED YES TO PASS VOTED NO ON SERVE AMERICA ACT
SERVE AMERICA ACT
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Casey, Robert X
Specter, Arlen X
Altmire, Jason X
Brady, Robert X
Carney, Christopher X
Dent, Charles X
Dahlkemper, Kathy X
Doyle, Mike X
Fattah, Chaka X
Gerlach, Jim X
Holden, Tim X
Kanjorski, Paul X
Murphy, Patrick X
Murphy, Tim X
Murtha, John X
Pitts, Joseph X
Platts, Todd X
Schwartz, Allison X
Sestak, Joe X
Shuster, Bill X
Thompson, Glenn X
A recent letter from AARP CEO Bill Novelli to House leadership outlines the most important issues for older Americans in this legislation:
The bill is devoted to enhancing service opportunities for persons age 50+ so that they can apply a lifetime of acquired skills to address a range of identified service needs.
The bill includes provisions that improve the capacity of non-profit, service and philanthropic organizations to recruit, manage and apply volunteer skills to identified service needs in this period of economic recession and lower charitable giving.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
