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March 28, 2024

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Letter: Budget would cut valuable programs

By Zach Teel, Sandy, Ore.
Published: March 21, 2017, 6:00am

The White House’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposal eliminates the Corporation for National and Community Service in an attempt to reduce federal spending. Eliminating CNCS, and its core programs including AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, would have a crippling impact on our community.

National service programs not only provide vital services to local residents here in Vancouver (and the rest of the Northwest). These programs also provide a pathway to employment for young Americans, including military veterans like myself. AmeriCorps members gain skills and experience, develop professional networks, and earn an education award that can reduce the cost of college.

I enrolled in an AmeriCorps program in 2015 through the Mt. Adams Institute. I spent almost an entire year as a VetsWork intern with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest helping to get youth outside, coordinating volunteers, educating classrooms of students and developing outreach materials. This provided me invaluable practical experience that assisted me in becoming a full-time employee with the agency.

AmeriCorps and Senior Corps have a history of bipartisan support. I am counting on our members of Congress, especially Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, to continue that legacy of support for this cost-effective, results-driven resource for our community.

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