"USA Freedom Corps will expand and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to recruit more than 200,000 new volunteers," President Bush told the joint session of Congress. "Through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of service and decency and kindness, I know we can overcome evil with greater good."

USA Freedom Corps is a comprehensive, integrated citizen service initiative to engage more citizens in service at home and abroad by strengthening AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and the Peace Corps, and by establishing a new Citizen Corps for homeland defense. Americans can learn more about service opportunities by visiting www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

"September 11 reminded that ours is a nation worth serving, and how important it is that all Americans give back to our neighbors and country," said Leslie Lenkowsky, CEO of the Corporation. "Service is an essential part of being an American, and the President's bold proposals will create new ways for citizens to express their pride in America by helping others."

The President will propose an additional 25,000 AmeriCorps members next year, a 50 percent addition to the 50,000 AmeriCorps members now serving with community and faith-based organizations to meet critical needs in education, public safety, public health, the environment and disaster relief. The additional AmeriCorps members are expected to help enlist at least another 75,000 Americans in serving their communities part-time. The President will submit a reauthorization bill to Congress next month that aims to strengthen national service programs in a variety of ways including making AmeriCorps more accountable and responsive to local needs.

The President will also expand the Senior Corps by 100,000 volunteers next year, up from its current level of 500,000, so that more older Americans can serve in homeland security and meet other community needs. The President will propose reforms to lower the age of participation and provide greater flexibility to local projects. For further details download the USA Freedom Corps Blueprint (83KB PDF).

"The outpouring of patriotism that followed September 11 clearly showed that Americans have a great desire to give back to their country and to show their gratitude for the freedoms that they have inherited," said Stephen Goldsmith, chair of the Corporation. "The USA Freedom Corps will meet critical needs and strengthen our democracy, the Corporation is proud to play a vital role."

Created in 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service engages more than 1.5 million Americans annually in improving their communities through three programs: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.org/about.