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The U.S Senate yesterday passed the “Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act”, which would significantly raise the number of Americans who can participate in national service programs, including those to help prepare for and respond to disasters. The legislation calls for tripling the size of the AmeriCorps to 750,000 and expanding incentives for students and seniors to give back to their communities. 

The new positions would be focused on particularly challenging national problems: tackling the dropout crisis, strengthening schools, improving health care and economic opportunity in low-income communities, cleaning up parks, aiding efforts to boost energy efficiency, as well as dealing with disasters and other emergencies.

A provision in the legislation would also establish September 11th as a “National Day of Service and Remembrance.” According to a sponsor, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), “September 11 should not only be a day for mourning — it should be a day to think about our neighbors, our community and our country.” I agree and hope the subject of citizen preparedness (which is such an important legacy of 9/11) plays a role in the Day of Service’s activities.

The House of Representatives have passed a similar version of the “Serve America Act”, and President Obama yesterday expressed his intent to sign the legislation when it gets to his desk.