Debbie Dingell: “the idea of terminating AmeriCorps is perhaps appealing if one does not know the issues, but it is very dangerous and…”

“the idea of terminating AmeriCorps is perhaps appealing if one does not know the issues, but it is very dangerous and unwise if the facts are analyzed which are involved here. Thousands of young Americans have been educated and benefited by this; enormous public good has been achieved by the program. The program is cost effective. It pays back better than $1.54 to $3.90 for every dollar that is invested. It has generated thousands of volunteer hours by nonparticipants. It has come in well below the costs per participants, better than a thousand dollars less per participant. It raised $41 million in the private sector during the first year alone. This is something which appeals to Republican Governors. Governor Engler, Governor Weld, Governor Wilson, Governor Merrill all support AmeriCorps. Religious groups, the Catholic Network of Volunteer Service, the Episcopal Church, Aguda Israel of America and more support AmeriCorps. Corporations like General Motors, IBM, Microsoft, American Express, Nike, Tenneco, Bell South, U.S. Health Care, Home Depot support AmeriCorps. Even the wives of our Presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and, to my Republican colleagues I would observe, Elizabeth Dole, support this program. In Michigan alone it has stimulated the creation of some 13 major programs. Better than 400 participants a year are involved in this, and the work on behalf of the State of Michigan has been productive indeed.”