The Corps Network Honors Senators Jeff Bingaman, Norm Coleman, Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter with Congressional Champion Award

Washington, DC, February 13, 2007—This morning The Corps Network will award recipients of The Corps Network Congressional Champion Award at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. Honorees include Senators Jeff Bingaman, Norm Coleman, Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter. Each of these Senators has demonstrated leadership to secure funding for Service and Conservation Corps.

Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) will be honored for their leadership to secure Public Lands Corps funding. Senators Bingaman and Coleman took the lead on a Senate Dear Collegue letter encouraging funding for the Public Lands Corps. The Public Lands Corps program allows the Secretaries of the Departments of Interior and Agriculature to partner with Corps to complete priority conservation projects, especially those related to wildfires and invasive species.

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) will be recognized for leading the charge to secure additional funding for social programs that are critical to Corps. As chair and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, Senators Harkin and Spector supported Corps efforts throughout the country.

According to Sally Prouty, President of The Corps Network, “We applaud our Congressional Champion Awardees for the ir dedication to federal programs that support our Nation’s Service and Conservation Corps. Senators Bingaman, Coleman, Harkin and Specter have been champions on behalf of young people. They truly understand the critical role of Service and Conservation Corps in our communities.”


About The Corps Network
The Corps Network is the voice of the nation’s 113 Service and Conservation Corps. Currently operating in 42 states and the District of Columbia, Corps annually enroll more than 23,000 young men and women who contribute about 13 million hours of service per year. In 2004, Corps mobilized 124,000 community volunteers who contributed over 2.4 million additional hours of service.

Established in 1985 as the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps (NASCC), The Corps Network was at the forefront of the national service movement and remains so today. Corps are state and local programs engaging primarily young adults (ages 16-25) in service. The majority of Corpsmembers come to Corps looking for a second chance to succeed in life. In return for their efforts, Corpsmembers receive guidance by adult leaders who serve as mentors and role models, a modest stipend and a wide range of member development services
including significant educational opportunities, employment and training, life skill
development, and the opportunity to invest in their communities.

For more information, visit www.corpsnetwork.org or contact: Patrick Fitzgerald, The Corps Network at pfitzgerald@corpsnetwork.org or at (202) 737-6272.

Contact:

Patrick Fitzgerald
The Corps Network, Communications Director
(202) 737-6272
pfitzgerald@corpsnetwork.org

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