Governors Back Emergency Funding for AmeriCorps
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of more than 40 governors today is set to urge President Bush and Congress to approve $200 million for the AmeriCorps program, as Bush and a key House lawmaker indicated that they would not support the emergency funding.
Led by Republican Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, the state executives warn in a letter that AmeriCorps efforts across the country would be “devastated” by the loss of thousands of volunteers engaged in such activities as teaching in urban schools.
“We hope you will do everything possible to ensure that these programs are not closed or drastically cut,” wrote the governors, including Jeb Bush, the president’s brother.
The Senate on July 11 approved $100 million for the national service program. But the funding is not included in the supplemental spending bill the House is to take up today.
Bush has promised to expand AmeriCorps. Lindsey Kozberg, an administration spokeswoman, said Bush believes the bill should only pay for emergencies like flooding and wildfires.
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