April 27, 2009

(Miami, FL) Miami Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President, Manny Diaz, commends President Obama for signing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and for his call to Americans to serve their communities, shape our history and enrich both their own lives and the lives of others across this country.

Mayor Diaz and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg led a Mayors’ Campaign during March in support of the two bills that became the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Sixty-one mayors from around the country urged Congress to pass the Serve America Act (S.277) in the Senate and the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act (H.R.1388) in the House. The legislation will expand and improve service opportunities for people of all ages.

“I commend President Obama for supporting this important act. As Mayor, I know first-hand how important service is to our cities and what a difference it can make in improving the quality of life and livability of our communities,” said Mayor Diaz. “The President’s signing of this bill demonstrates the importance of civic engagement and community service. I also thank USCM Vice-President Seattle Mayor Nickels and my fellow mayors whose support was so important to this effort.”

The Serve America Act includes significant provisions advancing the Administration’s goals for national service. It reauthorizes the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs through 2014 and dramatically increases funding for AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs, including those for seniors and veterans. It also establishes a goal of expanding the number of government-supported volunteers from 75,000 to 250,000, increases education funding and establishes a summer service program for students.

Mayors Diaz and Bloomberg circulated mayors’ letters supporting the legislation to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Ranking Member Michael Enzi explaining the support of mayors from across the country while also encouraging their support. Due to this intense campaign, the letter and legislation had the recorded support of 63 mayors from across the country.