Whereas, since their inceptions, each of the AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors national service programs have proven to be a highly effective way— (1) to bring people of all backgrounds throughout the United States together in common cause to meet the most pressing challenges of communities in the United States; and (2) to promote the ethics of service and volunteerism; Whereas, each year, more than 200,000 individuals serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors at nearly 40,000 locations across the United States to give back in an intensive way to communities, States, Tribal nations, and the United States; Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors 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 support each year; Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have provided millions of hours of service nationwide, helping— (1) to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of the United States; (2) to protect the environment and restore public lands; (3) to contribute to public safety; (4) to respond to natural disasters; (5) to address food insecurity and public health; (6) to strengthen the educational system of the United States; and (7) to expand economic opportunity; Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers recruit and manage millions of community volunteers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a powerful force for encouraging people to become involved in volunteering and community service; Whereas, for more than 5 decades, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs have played an important role in strengthening communities by sharing their experience, knowledge, and accomplishments with the individuals they serve