This morning at the Service Nation Summit, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), represented by his niece, Caroline Kennedy, announced that they are introducing the Serve America Act of 2008. Barack Obama and John McCain have both agreed to co-sponsor the bill. They will be joined by Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Senator Hilary Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).

Some of the elements of the Act are:

• Build on the AmeriCorps and create new "Corps" focused on areas of national need. Ask 175,000 Americans to give a year of service through these Corps.
• Improve opportunities for low income young people to be of service in their communities.
• Establish a tax incentive for employers who allow employees to take paid leave for full-time service.
• Enhance incentives for retirees to give a year of service through the Corps,and establish "Encore Fellowships" to help retirees who wish to transition to longer-term public service.
• Establish a "Volunteer Generation Fund" to help nonprofit organizations recruit and manage more volunteers.
• Establish a Commission to study and improve how the federal government, nonprofits, and the private sector work together to meet national challenges effectively.
• Establish a network of "Community Solution Funds," venture capital funds for the nonprofit sector to support innovation in the sector.
• Support short-term international service opportunities and strengthen the Volunteers for Prosperity program, which supports short-term international service opportunities.

Pretty cool, huh? If you think this is a good idea, let your Congressperson know.

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