By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

April 22, 2009 – The call to service is now immortalized in a bill signed Tuesday by President Barack Obama, giving $5.7 billion to triple the size of the AmeriCorps national service program and expanding opportunities for students and seniors wanting to earn money for college while volunteering for the country.

The signing ceremony for the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, named in honor of the senior senator from Massachusetts was the president’s way of creating a living tribute to his staunch supporter and mentor Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy.

“Now, Ted’s story and the story of his family is known to all,” Obama during the ceremony at the SEED school, a boarding school for underprivileged children in the District. 

 ”It’s a story of service. And it’s also the story of America — of hard work and sacrifice of generation after generation. Some called upon to give more than others, but each committed to the idea that we can make tomorrow better than today. I wouldn’t be standing here today if not for the service of others, or for the purpose that service gave my own life,” Obama said during his remarks.

With the hopes of promoting a new generation of volunteers the bill promotes mentoring programs, working with the poor and expands existing programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corp.

Frail but enthusiastically Kennedy recalled President Kennedy’s call to his generation to service. “You have inspired a new generation,” Kennedy told Obama. “You have walked the walk, and today you have paved it for many, many others.”

“This is a wonderful day, when all of our country and all Americans will now have a chance to, and the opportunity to, give back to their community, the nation that we love so much,” Kennedy said. 

The former secretary of State Colin Powell, and the inspiration for “America’s Promise,” a non-profit educational organization,  was on  hand for signing.   “Senator Ted Kennedy deserves all of the credit for this, but it also reflects President Obama’s commitment to service, getting more and more Americans involved in solving these problems,” Powell said.

Powell wasn’t the only all-star of politics on hand to witness the bill signing;  First Lady Michelle Obama, former president Bill Clinton, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Vice President Joe Biden were also there to show their support.

No doubt the struggling economy will create more interest and more attention to programs like those in the bill.  It could also attract a number of minorities who are finding it difficult in the current job climate. 

Obama is hoping this bill will make it attractive for folks to find rewarding work, provide a service to their communities and leave a legacy for future generations.

TAGS: AmeriCorps, Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, President Obama

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