Thursday, July 10, 2003 | 8:11 a.m.
EIGHTEEN MONTHS HAVE PASSED since President George W. Bush gave millions of Americans a pleasant surprise in his 2001 State of the Union address. His big domestic surprise came as he told us, "Our country also needs citizens working to rebuild our communities. We need mentors to love children, especially children whose parents are in prison, and we need more talented teachers in troubled schools. USA Freedom Corps will expand and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to recruit more than 200,000 new volunteers."
Today you may wonder why this was a surprise. AmeriCorps was a successful program promoted by President Bill Clinton, so many Republicans believed it had to be bad and a waste of money. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., called AmeriCorps a program for "kids to stand around a campfire to hold hands and sing 'Kumbaya' at taxpayers' expense." Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was also a critic but following Bush's speech he said, "I'm glad he's doing this. I was skeptical at first of whether it would work or not, but it's worked extremely well."
Seven years ago I watched AmeriCorps volunteers at work with the poor and homeless in Las Vegas. They didn't have campfires but they had plenty of long hours working with people many Americans want to ignore. The volunteers working with the Catholic Workers at E and Van Buren carried a heavy load. They also found great value in their work experiences under the Catholic Worker leadership of Julia Occhiogrosso and her husband Gary Cavalier.
David Gergen, writing in U.S. News & World Report, notes that 67,000 volunteers signed up last year and more are in line this year. Gergen goes on to write: "There are countless stories across the nation of AmeriCorps volunteers tutoring young children, working with HIV-AIDS patients, helping the elderly. As anthropologist Margaret Mead said, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'
"But now unbelievably, AmeriCorps is heading for a smashup. Officials in Washington say they have only enough money this coming year to support 28,000 volunteers -- a calamitous cut of more than half. Of some 700 community programs, at least 300 could be wiped out; an additional 100 will be at serious risk."
Here we have a valuable American program that may be stifled because of political maneuvering in Congress. Some of the funding hesitation appears to be among a few Republicans who hate to admit that such a worthwhile program was started by Clinton. In the meantime Bush and his wife Laura have taken time to review the program and give it strong support. Add the support of AmeriCorps converts McCain and Santorum and a supplemental spending bill of $200 million should be forthcoming.
More than 600 Nevada residents have participated in this program. This year 180 volunteers are working in Nevada communities. This opportunity to serve and prepare for college shouldn't be denied the young people of our state and nation. It's a great program that is good for individuals and our entire society.
Sadly, even if Congress comes through with an appropriation, Nevadans may not be able to participate. The $300,000 of state funds needed for the program died in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. That's $150,000 a year designed to bring in 1.8 million federal dollars and $453,600 in scholarships annually.
So what does this mean? Shawn Lecker-Pomaville of Fallon, the executive director of the Nevada Commission for National and Community Services Inc., tells us: "Over 1,900 homeless Veterans of the United States Armed Forces will not receive comprehensive services in Clark County. 2,400 disadvantaged children won't receive academic assistance at the Boys and Girls clubs of Las Vegas and in Clark County schools. The public safety program at the BEST Coalition will no longer reach over 1,000 at-risk youth with alcohol and drug abuse prevention and violence intervention programs. 30,000 trees won't be planted, streambeds won't be restored and acres of wilderness near our rural communities won't be cleared of fire fuel by the Nevada Conservation Corps."
My mother would say Nevada's lack of action is penny-wise and pound-foolish. What else has the 2003 Nevada Legislature done that is detrimental to the people needing help?
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