H.R. 1388 or The GIVE Act

H.R. 1388 or The G.I.V.E. (Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education) Act aims to:
-Authorizes funding to promote, operate, and expand service-learning programs in elementary and secondary schools through training, curriculum development, program assessment methods, and community outreach (Sec. 1201).
-Allows the Secretary of Education to designate up to 25Campuses of Service, or institutions of higher education where service-learning is an important component of the curriculum to receive a government award to develop or disseminate service-learning models (Sec. 1203).
-Establishes Youth Engagement Zones to involve middle and high school students in community service, including Summer of Service programs (Sec. 1204).
-Expands AmeriCorps openings over 8years, allowing for up to 250,000 AmeriCorps volunteers by fiscal year 2017 (Sec. 1301).
-Establishes the Education Corps to improve schools, the Healthy Futures Corps to serve unmet health needs within communities, the Clean Energy Corps to work on energy projects, the Veterans Corps to work with veterans and their families, and the Opportunity Corps to work with the economically disadvantaged (Sec. 1302).
-Raises the amount of the full-time national service educational award to the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant (Sec. 1404).
-Aims to increase the percentage of disadvantaged youths in the National Civilian Community Corps to over 50% by 2012(Sec. 1503).
-Expands the National Civilian Community Corps mission to include projects on energy conservation, environmental stewardship or conservation, infrastructure improvement, urban and rural development, or disaster preparedness needs (Sec. 1506).
-Establishes the Serve America Fellowship to assist with areas of national need, as determined by the State Commissions on National and Community Service (Sec. 1805, 1606).
-Establishes Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships and expands the Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program Grants, and the National Senior Service Corps to encourage community or national service among citizens age 55and older (Secs. 1805, 2142, 2143, 2144, 2145).
-Establishes the Social Innovation Fund, National Service Programs Clearinghouses, and Volunteer Generation Fund to help local groups train, develop, and maintain volunteers (Secs. 1807, 1808).
FLOOR SITUATION
H.R. 1388 was introduced by Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and reported out of the Committee of Education and Labor by a vote of 34 to 3on March 11, 2009. It is expected to be considered on the floor under a structured rule on Wednesday, March 18, 2009.
H. R. 1388 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House under a structured rule which makes in order 11 amendments. The rule provides one hour of general debate and waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI (earmarks and paygo). The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment.
SUMMARY
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (formally the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act) authorizes a dramatic funding increase for AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs, and the creation of new programs for seniors and veterans. It establishes a goal of expanding from 75,000 government-supported volunteers to 250,000, and would increase education funding and establish a summer volunteer program for students, paying $500 (which would be applied to college costs) to high-school and middle-school student who participate.
President Barack Obama signed the legislation on April 21, 2009. While it authorizes $5.7 billion over six years, Congress must still approve the funding as part of the budget.
SOURCES:

http://www.gop.gov/bill/111/1/hr1388

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1388/show