OPINION- Guest writer

Don't cut programs

Service initiatives good for state

Since 1994, more than 1 million Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service through AmeriCorps, helping millions of our most vulnerable citizens. Invaluable contributions have been made in communities in every corner of our country, on issues ranging from education to economic development and disaster response.

In spite of this, the budget blueprint recently released by the White House eliminates all funding for national service programs, including AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.

Elimination of these initiatives would harm our state. This year alone, more than 5,800 people are serving in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps in Arkansas. Many of these extraordinary people serve through organizations like Teach For America and City Year, which are fueled by AmeriCorps. These programs recruit diverse young adults and senior citizens to help promote opportunity across our state as public school teachers, mentors and tutors.

National service is not only a noble endeavor, it is a smart investment. A recent study from economists at Columbia University found that for every dollar the federal government invests in AmeriCorps, nearly $4 is generated in returns to society, through higher earnings, increased productivity and other community benefits that improve quality of life.

The total funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers AmeriCorps and other national service programs, is 0.03 percent of the overall federal budget. Unlike most federal grant programs, AmeriCorps requires grantees to leverage the federal investment to secure matching support from private, philanthropic, and local sources. In the last year alone, this requirement generated an additional $8.2 million to strengthen communities and to promote citizens' opportunity in Arkansas.

National service offers yet another benefit that should matter to Arkansans: work force development. Not only does AmeriCorps attract additional talent to our state, but it also provides young adults with experiences and benefits that prepare them for success in the work force.

AmeriCorps members receive an education award of $5,800 upon completion of a year of service, to be used for college tuition or to help pay back student loans--an increasingly important benefit for young people who face soaring costs for higher education. This provision of AmeriCorps has directly benefited more than 8,900 Arkansans and resulted in almost $30 million in education funding. In return, these individuals have served more than 15 million hours of service.

There will continue to be tremendous pressure on Congress to cut federal spending--and efficiency is an important priority. But cutting national service is not the way to do it.

Fortunately, such initiatives have overwhelming bipartisan public support. A recent poll shows that 83 percent of voters want to maintain or increase the federal investment in national service.

When many communities are struggling to fulfill unmet needs, AmeriCorps and other national service programs are low-cost, high-yield solutions that develop the American work force, build stronger neighborhoods and communities, and empower people to be more self-sufficient.

It's our hope that Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, along with Representatives Rick Crawford, French Hill, Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack will offer their support for continued federal investment in service programs as Congress engages on the budget.

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Jared Henderson served as executive director of Teach For America Arkansas for four years. David Rainey is a retired educator and former school district superintendent. John Riggs IV is the chairman of J.A. Riggs Tractor Co.

Editorial on 08/21/2017

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