National Service

The American tradition of public service to others is a pillar of American society. When President John F. Kennedy delivered his inaugural address in 1961, he famously challenged his fellow Americans: "Ask not what your country can do for you: Ask what you can do for your country." Throughout his time in Congress, Congressman Larson has worked to honor the legacy of President Kennedy's call to service, supporting programs like AmeriCorps, to expand and promote opportunities for Americans to serve and volunteer in their communities.

Fighting Back Against Trump's Attacks on AmeriCorps

Service programs mobilize hundreds of thousands of Americans annually to support disaster recovery efforts, school mentoring programs, and more. It is extremely alarming that President Trump is working to dismantle critical programs to facilitate national service and volunteerism. In April, the Administration made a sudden decision to dismiss all student volunteers with the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), and has targeted AmeriCorps by firing over 600 workers, dismissing 32,000 volunteers nationwide, and terminating around $400 million in approved funding for youth, senior, and veterans' services. These actions have left communities scrambling and volunteers displaced.

Rep. Larson believes that no Administration has the right to shutter these programs without support from Congress, and he took action to oppose these cuts when he heard from a Southington resident who had been dismissed from her AmeriCorps program Rep. Larson sent a letter to President Trump demanding that he reverse his decision to gut AmeriCorps and eliminate the NCCC, as well as a letter to Congressional appropriators urging that these programs be provided adequate funding.

“AmeriCorps NCCC gave me the opportunity to support environmental stewardship with Arkansas State Parks, assist with long-term disaster relief in Houston, and support food security efforts in El Paso. My service term, while abruptly cut short, provided me with a unique experience to become fully immersed in diverse, resilient communities across the country, which expanded my worldview and molded me into a more empathetic, service-minded citizen. Programs like AmeriCorps NCCC, which foster national service, purpose, and our shared responsibility to serve our fellow Americans, are vital to the spirit of our nation and deserve renewed investment, not abandonment,” said Sarah Meade, Southington resident and former NCCC volunteer. 

Building Service Opportunities

Instead of defunding and degrading national service, we should be investing in it. Since 2015, Rep. Larson has worked with national leaders like Voices for National Service to propose legislation to allow for more young Americans to serve their country. Originally introduced with Congressman John Lewis in 2016, Rep. Larson has led the America's Call to Improve Opportunities Now (ACTION) for National Service Act to enhance access to national and community service opportunities, lower student debt, create a more engaged citizenry, and address national priorities in education, infrastructure, health care, disaster relief, and poverty. In 2021, the Congressman introduced the bipartisan Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Actto make education awards earned through AmeriCorps service tax free.

Rep. Larson's work to expand service opportunities in both Connecticut and across the country have earned him two separate awards from Voices for National Service, the Outstanding National Service Advocacy Award in 2017, and the John Lewis Bridge to Service Award in 2025. Both of these awards serve as acknowledgements of the Congressman's long-term commitment to national service.

Rep. Larson's work to expand service opportunities in both Connecticut and across the country have earned him two separate awards from Voices for National Service, the Outstanding National Service Advocacy Award in 2017, and the John Lewis Bridge to Service Awardin 2025. Both of these awards serve as acknowledgements of the Congressman's long-term commitment to national service.

America's Call to Improve Opportunities Now (ACTION) for National Service Act

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National and community service helps hundreds of thousands of Americans each year through disaster relief efforts, education initiatives, infrastructure and public works projects, public healthcare and outreach, and countless other fields. Currently, service organizations turn away more applicants than they accept—and communities in need of their assistance sometimes have to go without. John Larson and Jack Reed have a plan to change that.

America's Call to Improve Opportunities Now (ACTION) for National Service Act would achieve the following goals:

1. Reduce the burden of student loan debt by ensuring young people who serve two full terms of service are rewarded with an educational benefit equal to four years of average in-state tuition where their college is located.
2. Ensure that educational benefit is exempt from federal taxes.
3. Advance national and community service as a civic and national priority by elevating the Corporation of National & Community Service (CNCS) to a new Cabinet-level agency
4. Support at least one million full-time federal service positions a year—providing all who wish to serve the opportunity to do so.
5. Increase access to national service opportunities by raising Americorps living stipend amounts.
6. Create a 21st Century American Service Outreach Program to notify eligible individuals about opportunities to serve.
7. Creates a Civilian Climate Corps to help communities adapt to and fight against climate change.

Right now, less than 1% of the nation serves in the military, AmeriCorps, and the Peace Corps combined—but not through lack of interest. In 2012, AmeriCorps alone received nearly 600,000 applications, but was forced to turn away nearly 80% of those who just wanted to make a difference in their communities. Americans who wish to serve should be encouraged to do so, and we have the power to do that.