WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/19/07 -- More than two dozen senators and
representatives from both parties will introduce the Public Service Academy
Act in both chambers of Congress tomorrow.
The Public Service Academy Act will establish America's first national
public college devoted to developing civilian leaders. The Public Service
Academy would be a federally subsidized four-year college modeled on the
military service academies. More than 5000 students would get an intensive
undergraduate education focused on service and leadership development.
Following graduation, they would be required to serve for five years in
education, health care, emergency management, or other public service
fields at the local, state, and national levels.
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) are the leading
sponsors of the bill in the Senate. Rep. James Moran (D-VA) and Rep.
Christopher Shays (R-CT) are the leading sponsors in the House of
Representatives. Other co-sponsors include: Democratic senators Joseph
Biden, Barbara Boxer, Edward Kennedy, Mary Landrieu, and Barbara Mikulski;
Democratic representatives Danny K. Davis, Diana DeGette, Lloyd Doggett,
Sam Farr, Charles Gonzales, Al Green, Gene Green, Ruben Hinojosa, Sheila
Jackson-Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Nick Lampson, John Lewis, Doris Matsui,
Jim McDermott, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Solomon Ortiz, and Bennie Thompson;
and Republican Representative Tom Davis.
"Now, more than ever, it is imperative that our nation improve its capacity
to groom future public servants," said Sen. Clinton. "The Public Service
Academy is an innovative way to strengthen and protect America."
The Public Service Academy Act will address the growing shortage of public
servants at all levels of American society. Top students have grown
increasingly less likely to pursue public service careers due to mounting
college debts and a culture that belittles public sector work.
"The Academy will help meet America's need for public servants and
alleviate the financial burden faced by students who wish to enter the
field of public service," said Sen. Specter.
The Academy is the brainchild of two Teach for America/AmeriCorps alumni,
Chris Myers Asch and Shawn Raymond. They have spearheaded a grassroots
movement in support of the idea. "The Academy will transform the way young
Americans perceive, prepare for, and pursue public service," said Asch. "It
will reinvigorate our sense of public service and revitalize our public
sector."
Add to DiggBookmark with del.icio.usAdd to Newsvine
.gif)
