WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and colleagues introduced a resolution in celebration of AmeriCorps Week, which runs March 9-15, 2025. Founded 30 years ago to increase national service opportunities while providing a pathway to education, AmeriCorps members come from all backgrounds and walks of life to engage in meaningful service for others.
“AmeriCorps members dedicate their lives to others. They empower students, support veterans, and build stronger communities,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This can’t go unnoticed.”
“More than one million AmeriCorps members have committed themselves to making a positive impact on our nation for over three decades,” said Senator Coons. “This week, we celebrate their efforts to mentor students, address food insecurity, improve public health, respond to disasters, protect our planet, and support local communities across the country. As Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus, I will continue to work with my colleagues to strengthen national service, and I encourage all those contemplating service to consider AmeriCorps as a way to make impactful change.”
“AmeriCorps works for America every day of the year,” said Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, Interim Agency Head, AmeriCorps. “Every single day, Americans of all ages dedicate their time to strengthening their communities and our nation as a whole. Whether they are building homes, feeding their neighbors, responding to disasters, or tutoring and mentoring students, AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers work alongside people from all walks of life to get the job done. We are thankful for those who serve and go on to be tomorrow’s leaders and public servants get their start.”
Cassidy and Coons were joined by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
AmeriCorps by the numbers, nationally:
- 200,000 members and volunteers in more than 2,000 organizations dedicated to strengthening their communities in 2024.
- 245,000 veterans and military families connected to education opportunities, jobs, and benefits they have earned annually.
- 310,000 elderly Americans provided with independent living services annually.
- More than $4.5 billion earned in education awards since 1994.
AmeriCorps by the numbers in Louisiana:
- 3,580 members and volunteers.
- 454 service locations, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations.
- $22.2 million total investment, including the generation of $5.9 million in outside resources from businesses, foundations, public agencies, and other sources in Louisiana.
- Since 1994, more than 19,000 Louisiana residents have served approximately 24 million hours and earned education awards totaling more than $56.3 million.
- Since 1994, higher education institutions and other organizations in Louisiana have received more than $25.2 million in education award payments.