Washington, DC – In recognition of his strong support for AmeriCorps, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) received the Congressional Service Award from Voices for National Service, a diverse coalition of national service programs, state service commissions and individual champions, who work to ensure Americans of all ages can serve and volunteer in their community. Bacon was recognized for his remarkable commitment to national service as a strategy to solve local and national problems. 

Working to improve and leverage AmeriCorps, Bacon has cosponsored both the CORPS Act, a bill to expand AmeriCorps to help communities respond to the pandemic, and the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act, which would exclude the service scholarship from taxable gross income. As a member of the For Country Caucus, he cosponsored the Inspire to Serve Act, bipartisan legislation to implement the recommendations of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service to unlock the full, transformational potential of service in all its forms.

“Encouraging a strong culture of national and public service is one aspect of American patriotism that makes our country the greatest in the world,” said Rep. Bacon. “Communities grow stronger when people offer their time, resources, and expertise to better the area. Whether it was commanding in the Air Force or being a member of Congress, it has and always will be my mission to serve our country. I will continue to work with organizations like Voices for National Service and inspire more Americans to invest in the future of our country.”

“Representative Bacon’s commitment to national service is grounded in his own distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force, as well as a strong belief that AmeriCorps gives people a way to invest in their communities while giving them an important opportunity to develop as leaders,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service. “Rep. Bacon frequently visits with AmeriCorps members serving in his district, and he has sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to expand AmeriCorps programs.”

Rep. Bacon joins a bipartisan group of distinguished leaders in government being honored, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Michael Waltz (R-FL). 

Background

Nearly 30 years ago, AmeriCorps was designed to provide a pathway to economic and educational opportunity for those who serve the nation and their communities. Every year, over 250,000 citizens of all ages and backgrounds play a pivotal role in their communities by serving with thousands of nonprofit faith-based and community-based organizations, including the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, City Year and United Way. 

Since 1994, more than 1.2 million Americans have earned AmeriCorps education awards totaling $4 billion in higher education credit, including many first-generation college graduates. Over $1 million in education awards are paid annually to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Furthermore, AmeriCorps is a proven pathway that helps young people prepare for future jobs, particularly for populations hardest hit by the pandemic. According to a survey of AmeriCorps alumni, eight out of ten say AmeriCorps advanced and benefited their career path.

Over the past two years, AmeriCorps members acted quickly and creatively to address gaps in services created by the COVID-19 pandemic. They supported vaccination efforts, collected, and distributed food, tutored and mentored students to help diminish the impacts of COVID-driven instructional loss, conduct wellness checks for homebound individuals, and more.

Voices for National Service is a diverse coalition of AmeriCorps programs, state service commissions and individual champions, who work to ensure Americans of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to serve and volunteer in their community. Founded in 2003, Voices for National Service has built strong bipartisan support among our nation's leaders and helped to elevate national service as a powerful strategy for tackling unmet needs, preparing young people for work, uniting our country, and developing civic character. 

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