Whereas, since its inception in 1994, the AmeriCorps national service program has proven to be a highly effective way to engage the people of the United States in meeting a wide range of local and national needs and promote the ethics of service and volunteerism; Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,000,000 individuals have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to get things done for America by becoming AmeriCorps members; Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps, in coordination with State service commissions, provides opportunities for approximately 80,000 individuals across the United States to give back in an intensive way to communities, States, and the United States; Whereas AmeriCorps members have served more than 1,400,000,000 hours nationwide, helping to— (1) improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of the United States; (2) protect the environment; (3) contribute to public safety; (4) respond to disasters; and (5) strengthen the educational system of the United States; Whereas, since 1994, more than $8,700,000,000 in AmeriCorps funds have been invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based groups and those funds leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in outside funding and in-kind donations each year; Whereas, in 2016, AmeriCorps members recruited and supervised more than 2,300,000 community volunteers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a powerful force for encouraging people to become involved in volunteering and community service; Whereas, in 2016, AmeriCorps members served at approximately 21,000 locations across the United States, including at nonprofit organizations, schools, and faith-based and community organizations; Whereas AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps campuses in Mississippi, Maryland, Iowa, California, and Colorado strengthen communities and develop future leaders through team-based service