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Serve Michigan Update
A program of the ConnectMichigan Alliance
Issue #10
June 13, 2006
- Funding for National Service
- Funding for AmeriCorps
- What You Can Do to Support Adequate Funding of National Service
- Save the Date - National Service Hill Day, Sept 14, Washington, D.C.
- National Service Responds to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes
- National Conference on Volunteering and Service
STATE
- Recent House and Senate Action
- Amendment to Michigan Military Act re: Emergency Volunteers
- "SOS" or the "Stop OverSpending" Proposal
- Save the Date - Nonprofit Day 2006, Sept 27, Lansing Center
The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee recently reported out their FY07 funding bill which includes $26.7 million for the National Civilian Community Corps, but cuts AmeriCorps State and National grants by nearly 20%.
The House bill provides $822.9 million in funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs. This is below the level of funding requested by President Bush. Specifically, the bill targets:
- $218 million for AmeriCorps grants ($46.7 million below FY 06)
- $124.7 million for National Service Trust ($13.9 million below FY06)
- $34.2 million for Learn and Serve America ($3 million below FY06)
In addition, the bill provides $95.4 million for VISTA, $59.6 million for RSVP, $110.9 million for Foster Grandparent Program and $46.9 million for Senior Companion Program. Other funding is provided for innovation and demonstration, evaluation, partnership grants, state commission administrative grants, salaries and expenses, and Office of Inspector General.
The cut to funding for AmeriCorps is of concern to Michigan programs. Since 2004, funding for AmeriCorps has been on a steady decline. If these levels are put into place, AmeriCorps grants will have declined $94 million in just three years. Here in Michigan, funding for this program has also decreased. Funding levels in FY05 – FY06 were at $5.6 million, this coming fiscal year funds have decreased by $600,000. If the House levels were signed into law, Michigan could expect another cut of 20% in funding for FY07- FY08. This would mean that fewer grants would be provided to support AmeriCorps across the state.
What You Can Do to Support Adequate Funding of National Service
The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee funding bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration and then on to the House Floor. The Senate still needs to move a bill through the process. Although no Michigan members of Congress serve on the House Labor HHS Subcommittee, Michigan does have representation on the Appropriations Committee. Both Representative Joe Knollenberg (R- Bloomfield Hills) and Representative Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Detroit) serve on the House Appropriations Committee. It is particularly important for those who live in or serve Representative Knollenberg or Representative Kilpatrick’s districts to educate them on the importance of national service programs and the need to maintain funding. Also, for those located in other parts of the state, this is an ideal time for you to inform other members of the House, as well as Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, on how your programs serve the communities they represent.
To find your Representative and for their contact information visit www.house.gov.
The phone number for Senator Levin is 202/224-6221. The phone number for Senator Stabenow is 202/224-4822.
Save the Date - National Service Hill Day, September 14, Washington, D.C.
National Service Hill Day is a great opportunity to meet with Members of Congress and their staff to share stories of national service impact in your communities and to help make the case for sustained funding. For more information and to register for the National Service Hill Day visit http://www.voicesforservice.org/events.htm.
National Service Responds to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes
The Corporation for National and Community Service has released an issue brief which highlights the efforts of national service volunteers in hurricane relief and recovery in the Gulf and across the country. More than 21,000 national service volunteers, in cooperation with Red Cross, Fema and other state authorities, have contributed more than 1.2 million hours to relief efforts and have coordinated an additional 42,000 community volunteers. To learn more about these efforts visit the Corporation’s website.
National Conference on Volunteering and Service
Volunteers and supporters of service will gather in Seattle June 18 – 20 for the National Conference on Volunteering and Service convened by the Points of Light Foundation and the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information visit www.volunteerandservice.org.
Recent House and Senate Action
Recent action by the State House and Senate include efforts to change how charitable trusts can disperse funds, a revision allowing electronic transmission for board votes, and a provision allowing a tax refund/credit for nonprofits that hold auctions. Read the latest MNA public policy email update for more information on these efforts.
Most of the legislature’s time right now is dedicated to passing next year’s budget. The House and Senate have recently passed their budget bills, leaving the House and Senate conference committees to iron-out the differences between the bills. House conferees have already been appointed and the Senate is expected to name conferees shortly. A list of conferees is available on the House Fiscal Agency’s website.
Amendment to Michigan Military Act re: Emergency Volunteers
HB 6185, introduced by Representative John Espinoza (D-Croswell), amends the Michigan Military Act to provide the Governor with the authority to call on emergency volunteers to assist in times of emergency. Currently, the Governor may only call on these emergency volunteers when the President calls or orders the National Guard into service. The bill also changes the term “emergency volunteers” to “Volunteer Defense Force.” HB 6153 has been referred to the House Committee on Government Operations.
"SOS" or the "Stop OverSpending" Proposal
The “SOS” initiative is currently circulating petitions for signatures to place this proposal on the November Ballot. “SOS” is modeled on Colorado’s so-called “Taxpayers Bill of Rights” (TABOR) that was adopted in the state in 1992 and was recently suspended due to the state’s deteriorating public services and the prospect of more cuts. There is serious concern regarding the negative effect of this measure on education, public services, health care, social services and more. For more information on the impact of “SOS” and to learn what you can do visit http://www.mnaonline.org/tabor.asp.
Save the Date - Nonprofit Day 2006, September 27, Lansing Center
This annual one-day conference focuses on the public policy issues of interest to the Michigan nonprofit sector. To register and for additional information visit the Nonprofit Day page of the MNA website.