Obama signs landmark public service bill

President Obama signed landmark community service legislation on Tuesday and called on Americans to make a commitment to serve before the end of the first 100 days of his presidency, saying the efforts of government were not enough to meet the nation's challenges in a time of crisis.

"We need your service, right now, at this moment in history," Obama said. "I'm not going to tell you what your role should be; that's for you to decide. But we need you to stand up."

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will more than triple the size of the federal AmeriCorps service program, from 75,000 to 250,000 participants, and link funding for students who participate to the size of Pell Grants, which help provide education funding. The size of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award will rise from the current level of $4,725 to $5,350, and increase as the maximum Pell Grants increase. Colleges that offer substantial service learning courses and have high numbers of students participating in community service programs can apply to be designated Campuses of Service, and be eligible for additional funding for those programs.

The legislation also will create a fund to help finance promising volunteer programs, and connect them with foundations, faith-based groups, private sector companies and federal agencies that can help them grow.

The bill gives the Corporation for National and Community Service responsibility for the expanded AmeriCorps. Applications to the program have tripled from 6,770 in 2008 to 17,038 in 2009. Obama praised Maria Eitel, founder and president of the Nike Foundation, whom he nominated to lead the corporation on Tuesday, as "someone with bold vision and management experience." Eitel was Nike's first vice president for corporate responsibility, and worked at the Nike Foundation on programs for disadvantaged girls.

Obama said it was important to provide a range of opportunities for the younger generation of Americans who are newly passionate about public service. He said while government could do some of the work of fixing the economy, all Americans need to help care for the country's children, look after elderly citizens and ease the strain on military families. Obama praised Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., for whom the act is named, for volunteering every week to help children in a Washington public school learn to read.

Kennedy said the signing of the legislation reminded him of President John F. Kennedy's call to public service.

"I will never forget the fifth anniversary of the Peace Corps, where I sat with the very first group of volunteers," he said. "I asked each one of them why they decided to become involved. They said it was the first time that anyone asked them to do anything for their country."