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Cutting Americorps Deprives Americans

Floor Speech

Date: May 15, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, one of the latest targets of President Trump's vicious cuts is AmeriCorps, a program that engages 200,000 Americans every year in community service.

In Pennsylvania, AmeriCorps supports 1,000 service sites, more than 10,000 teachers in the Philadelphia region, and various food pantries in the Lehigh Valley. However, with no justification, Musk and DOGE laid off 85 percent of AmeriCorps' staff and unconstitutionally froze more than $400 million.

Millions of Americans are losing access to services they rely upon: veterans receiving mental health treatment, children enrolled in public schools, homebound seniors in need of assistance and companionship.

AmeriCorps was born under President Bush and codified under President Clinton. Its mission: to improve lives and strengthen communities through the service of dedicated volunteers.

It has long enjoyed bipartisan support, and for good reason, because it is one of the best ways our government can do good things for real people right here at home.

To cut AmeriCorps is to deprive Americans. The Trump administration does not care. Their goal is to serve the rich while forsaking the poor.

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