SC Yellow Dogs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement criticizing House Republicans for defeating the GIVE Act, HR 5563, legislation that promotes volunteerism and reauthorizes national service programs.

“What demonstrates true American values more than volunteering?  What better way to give back to our country and community than engage in service work? When our cities and our towns are in crisis, how do we rebuild them and get our neighbors back on their feet?  With volunteers-people giving their time, their care, their resources to make our neighborhoods and our nation a better place.  I am truly confounded as to why my colleagues would divide on partisan lines and defeat a bill that strengthens and provides for our national service organizations.

“This bill was approved unanimously by the Education and Labor Committee
44 to 0.  It authorizes extremely successful and effective organizations such as AmeriCorps, VISTA, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Foster Grandparent Program, and Senior Companion Program. It also creates a new service-learning program called Summer of Service, which engages youth in service through summer volunteer opportunities.

“What do my Republican colleagues have against volunteerism?”

WASHINGTON, DC-After attacks on an educational and recreational program for the children of military families, Majority Whip Clyburn spoke out on the House floor to defend military families who are fighting to protect our way of life. House Republicans criticized $3 million in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill for the First Tee Life Skills program, a character-building program which benefits low-income and minority children. The funding would implement the First Tee Life Skills program at military facilities, giving the children of military families a constructive educational and recreational outlet. To view Clyburn’s speech visit www.majoritywhip.gov.

Highlights from Clyburn’s speech:

“Not one dime of this request will go to any civilian facility in South Carolina or anywhere else in the United States of America.

“Every single dime of this is to be spent on defense facilities to the benefit of those children whose mothers and fathers are off defending our way of life, so that their children can have the same kind of opportunities that our children have.

“And I find it a little bit insulting that we said we were going to reserve this kind of activity for the elite and not make it available to the children of the men and women who are preserving our way of life. We know who is fighting this war. Rural, low-income families are carrying the burden of this war.”