Pelosi: Passage of GIVE Act Will Launch a New Era of National Service

Pelosi: Passage of GIVE Act Will Launch a New Era of National Service

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller and other Members of Congress held a press conference this morning on the steps of the Capitol to urge the House to pass legislation that will launch a new era of national service to help the nation get through the economic crisis. The House will consider the bill, the GIVE Act, on the floor later today. Below are the Speaker’s opening remarks:

"Thank you very much, George Miller. Just three weeks ago, President Obama came to the Capitol and called for legislation to ‘encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations.’

"Today, less than one month later, Congress has responded to President Obama’s call for national service during this critical time. That timetable could not possibly have been met without you, Chairman Miller â€" your extraordinary leadership, your long dedication to national service, and the important work of Members of your Committee on Education and Labor.

"I’m pleased to be joining you here, as well as joining our leader Mr. Hoyer, from whom we will hear, as well as Congressman Paul Tonka of New York, Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada, Congressman Tom Perriello â€" more on him in a moment â€" Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, whom I think you will be hearing from in a moment. I’d also like to join you in acknowledging the leadership of First Lady Michelle Obama, who has been an outspoken advocate in favor of volunteerism and for whom this legislation is important.

"Our new Members of the freshman class have brought a renewed enthusiasm to the Congress in many respects. They come here with all the optimism and enthusiasm of the new. And among this freshman class is Tom Perriello of Virginia. He’s new to the Congress, but he is not new to public service. He has helped to prosecute some of the worst dictators of our time. He has travelled around the world to bring aid to the world’s neediest. He uniquely understands the benefits of service during times of great challenge and so, of course, he would want to see this legislation passed. Tom Perriello, thank you for your leadership on this important legislation.

"It is a special privilege for me to acknowledge â€" Chairman George Miller called him Congressman Scott Quilty. But he has an even higher â€" we all noticed that didn’t we Scott? â€" But he even has a higher title: Captain, Captain Scott Quilty, a leader in the Survivor Corps. Scott is helping those who have endured the horrors of war around the world to rebuild their communities.

"Scott, we have a statue in the Rotunda of the Capitol. It’s a statue of President Eisenhower. And just apropos of Mr. Miller’s remark â€" when the family was consulted about how he would like to be portrayed, he said not as a President, but as a General. So we indeed respect your title of Captain. Thank you for your service to our country.

"In times of great challenge, Americans always risen to the occasion. And our economy, our health care system, and our schools need the help of the generous Americans who are willing to serve. Today, with this legislation â€" it will pass tomorrow in the House â€" we will launch a new era of national service.

"The GIVE Act will create 175,000 new service opportunities â€" more than tripling the number of volunteers nationwide involved in this program. And it will reward those who volunteer with real investments nationwide. It will make tremendous change.

"This is one of those times where we have a bill that has a clear connection to millions of Americans, and also, not only to them and the use of their time, but the generosity of their spirit.

"I began by quoting Barack Obama to Chairman Miller. I will close by quoting President Kennedy because today we are joined by many young people who are inspired by the call of President Obama to serve. Many of us â€" right Steny? â€" were inspired by President Kennedy to serve.

"It was President Kennedy who said: ‘Never before has man had such a great capacity to control his own environment, to end hunger, poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and human misery. We have the power to make the best generation of mankind in the history of the world.’

"We do indeed have the power to banish some of the greatest ills affecting our nation, and create a stronger nation for all Americans. And we will begin this week by passing the GIVE Act.

"It is now my pleasure to yield the podium to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland, inspired by President Kennedy, to be involved in public service, now taking the form of being the Leader of the House of Representatives, Steny Hoyer."