Senate Passes Serve America Act

Senate Passes Serve America Act: On March 26, the Senate passed the Serve America Act (S.277) by a vote of 78 to 20. The bipartisan legislation builds upon the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to boost service opportunities for Americans of all ages. "This bill renews a spirit of national service and will make volunteering easier and even more rewarding for all Americans," said Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.). The $5 billion bill provides funding for 250,000 new volunteers in areas of national need, including education, health care and energy conservation. On the Senate floor, amendments were made to encourage charitable giving and improve provisions related to criminal history checks, among others. The House must now approve the Senate's changes before the bill is sent to President Obama, who is expected to sign the legislation. More info.