The Proposed Elimination of Learn and Serve

Floor Speech

* Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the proposed elimination of Learn and Serve America, the only Federal program dedicated to investing in service-learning in local schools and communities, in this budget. This decision is reckless and short-sighted, and I do not believe it reflects our values as a nation.

* We live in a world full of challenges that require the collective attention and action of citizens of all ages. Through service-learning, young people across the country learn to apply knowledge and skills they pick up in the classroom to address these challenges in their community. Thanks to Learn and Serve, students have conducted energy audits in their schools and homes, preserved the histories of their towns, tested the quality of water in local streams, refurbished homes of the elderly, confronted bullying and teen violence, promoted financial literacy, and helped communities prepare for disasters.

* By getting involved in the community in this manner, students not only learn valuable citizenship skills, they learn to succeed. Research has shown that service-learning increased academic engagement and civic engagement. It prepares young men and women for the transition to adulthood and gives them the skills they need to succeed in the careers of their choosing.

* Service, citizenship, community, opportunity--these are all values we treasure as a Nation, and values our budget should work to promote. That is one of the many reasons why I have been a longtime supporter of the Summer of Service, which works to increase the number of intensive summer service-learning programs for middle school youth. And yet, this budget resolution eliminates support for service-learning, and abolishes a clear pathway for youth under age 16 to engage as participants in national service.

* As a result of this short-sighted cut, nearly 1 million students will lose the opportunity to take part in service-learning. At a time when State and local budgets are shrinking, nearly 600 individual schools, 450 school districts, 985 community colleges, and 240 colleges and universities--as well as 35,000 of our nation's most innovative K-12 teachers and higher education faculty--will lose desperately needed funding. Almost 16,000 community-based organizations will lose more than 14 million volunteer service hours provided by students engaged in service-learning, diminishing their capacity to deliver urgently needed health and human services to those most in need. And towns and cities across the country will lose access to student volunteers, who contribute services valued at up to $310 million.

* In short, this cut is penny-wise and pound-foolish. I urge the administration to encourage the Corporation for National and Community Service to identify cost savings and provide a competitive innovation fund for high impact service-learning programs. Our students cannot afford to lose these opportunities. Our schools cannot afford to ignore their civic mission. Our local communities cannot afford to lose the critical support. And our future as a nation cannot afford to lose these values of citizenship.

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