Pelosi Remarks at National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco

San Francisco -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the National Conference on Volunteering and Service this afternoon in San Francisco.  First Lady Michelle Obama, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady of California Maria Shriver also participated in the event.  Below are the Speaker's remarks as prepared. 

"Thank you, Alan [Solomont].  For Alan, service is not what he does, it is who he is.  As Chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service, he is encouraging millions to join in strengthening America.

"Thank you, Neil [Bush] for your work as the Chairman of the Points of Light Institute, continuing the fine tradition of the Bush family in living a life of public service and volunteerism.

"I would like to acknowledge Governor Schwarzenegger for being the first governor in the nation to create a cabinet position for service and volunteering.  I congratulate Secretary Karen Baker for being the first person to hold such a position and for her leadership.

"We are all honored to be joined today by First Lady Michelle Obama.  In his first joint address to Congress, President Obama called for ‘a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations.' No one has done more to answer this call than Michelle Obama herself.

"This year, Michelle has bagged lunches for hungry children.  She's grown lettuce at the White House and donated it to a local soup kitchen.  She's read books at elementary schools.  And this morning, she helped build a playground for the children of San Francisco.

"That playground on the grounds of Bret Harte Elementary School will be named in honor of Cesar Chavez.  Cesar Chavez's words are appropriate today.  He said: ‘We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.'

"The ambitions of all of you are clearly broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others.  In these times of great challenge, America needs more people like all of you - rolling up your sleeves and pitching in to turn challenges in your communities into opportunities to serve.

"I come here today proud of what Congress has done to help provide those opportunities.  For more than four years, California's own Congressman George Miller, Chair of the Education and Labor Committee, and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of New York, Chair of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, worked together to launch a new era of service.

"The legislation, which was named for its Senate champion, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and signed by President Obama ,creates 175,000 new service opportunities - more than tripling the number of volunteers nationwide.  And it rewards volunteers with real investments in their education.

"We are very proud that the Kennedy Serve America Act expands the diversity of our nation's volunteer corps - encouraging Americans from middle school students to retirees to give to their communities.

"It was a priority for us to create a Service Corps to address key needs in low-income communities, a Clean Energy Corps to encourage energy efficiency and conservation, and the Veterans Service Corps to involve those who have proudly worn our nation's uniform.

"It is appropriate that this bill is named for Senator Kennedy, as his entire life has been lived in service to our nation.  That's a Kennedy family value - and that leadership is continued today by California's First Lady Maria Shriver.

"We all know America may face unprecedented challenges, but Americans always rise to the occasion.

"David Karst is one of those Americans.  He served as an AmeriCorps volunteer to provide compassionate care to people with AIDS.  David thought he would serve for a little while; instead service changed the entire course of his life, and the lives of others.  After his work with AmeriCorps was complete, David built a health center to offer his community lifesaving HIV-tests.  The CDC has just funded his center for the next five years.

"I love the story of Thelma King - or Granny King - as the children call her.  Thelma works with inner city youth through Senior Corps.  She speaks for children who cannot speak for themselves, literally, those with no linguistic ability.  When asked how they communicate, she says, ‘All kids understand the language of love.'

"Millions of Americans have been inspired by President Obama's call for national service.  Some charitable organizations have twice the number of people volunteering this year than they did last year.

"Americans always rise to the occasion.  During the Great Depression, Americans banded together to renew our forests, electrify the countryside, and build infrastructure that stands strong today.   In the 1960s, we created VISTA and the Peace Corps, sending volunteers to the communities with the greatest needs here at home, and around the world.   Recently, volunteers continue to help rebuild New Orleans after the hurricane and California after the fires.

"We will be called upon again and again to rebuild America.

"You have answered that call.  You have decided to make this your moment.  All of us gathered here have been called to service to help our neighbors and our nation.  Seeing the enthusiasm gathered here - the grassroots, the grass tops, the public, private, and non-profit partnerships - I am confident that this will be the ‘civic. energy. generation.'

"Thank you."