KENNEDY – HATCH NATIONAL SERVICE BILL PASSED THURSDAY INCLUDES THE ARTS

Thursday, 3-26-09, the Senate approved HR 1388, a bill that would greatly expand federally sponsored volunteer programs, marking the latest collaboration between Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy and Utah Republican Orrin Hatch.

Known as the Serve America Act, the Kennedy-Hatch bill would triple the number of AmeriCorp volunteers to 250,000 and boost the educational stipend they receive to meet President Barack Obama’s goal of teaming community service with tuition assistance.

Neither the AP report, nor the New York Timesmention the arts, but currently the bill includes this language:

A musician and artist corps program that trains and deploys skilled musicians and artists to promote greater community unity through the use of music and arts education and engagement through work in low income communities, education, healthcare and therapeutic settings, and other work in the public domain with citizens of all ages.

Full text of the bill at the Library of Congress site.

Who voted for and against, Look here.