Evan Bayh: “I am privileged to reintroduce the ``Call to Service Act'' with my colleagues, Senator John McCain, Senator Ted Kennedy…”

“I am privileged to reintroduce the ``Call to Service Act'' with my colleagues, Senator John McCain, Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Barbara Mikulski--all great leaders on national service. I am proud to join with them today to offer this significant expansion of national service opportunities for all Americans--young and old, affluent, people of more modest means, all united in their devotion to serving America. In November 2001, Senator McCain and I introduced the ``Call to Service Act'' in an attempt to harness the spirit and overwhelming patriotism of our citizens after September 11. We wanted to give concrete opportunities to the countless Americans who were asking what they could do to give back to their country. Weeks after we introduced our bill, we were encouraged when the President made his own more modest service proposals a rhetorical centerpiece of his 2002 State of the Union address. In that speech, President Bush promised a significant expansion of the AmeriCorps program. He said, ``We want to be a nation that serves goals larger than self. We've been offered a unique opportunity, and we must not let this moment pass.'' Unfortunately, the President is in danger of letting the moment pass. And now, almost a year and a half later, the promises of that speech sound hollow. The administration's efforts to expand service have been disappointingly lackluster.”