During this political season, we’ve heard a lot about what our candidates disagree about, but not much about their points of agreement like expanding AmeriCorps and national service.

Earlier this month, Senators Hatch (R-UT) and Kennedy (D-MA) introduced the Serve America Act, that will expand national service opportunities like AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 participants a year. Senators McCain and Obama both signed on as co-sponsors as did Senators Hilary Clinton (D-NY), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Chris Dodd (D-CT). Governors Patterson (D-NY) and Schwartzenegger (R-CA) are mobilizing support among Governors. This is truly a bi-partisan effort.

Leaders across the political spectrum want to grown AmeriCorps because it works. AmeriCorps supports nonprofit organizations through a highly competitive process to recruit Americans to run after school programs, clean up rivers, teach adult literacy, promote public health and more. AmeriCorps requires program to identify specific measurable outcomes that will benefit their communities, and to secure private support so that it is a public-private partnership. More than 80% of AmeriCorps funds are given out by bi-partisan commissions appointed by Governors.

I am a graduate of Public Allies’ AmeriCorps program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a Public Ally, I served at the Boys & Girls Clubs, where I coordinated health education programs for kids in the Sherman Park neighborhood. Since graduating from Public Allies, I founded the Public Allies Teacher Fellowship Program at Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center.

The modest investment of AmeriCorps funds supported my service, my education, and the continued work I am doing here in Estes Park with Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center where I currently serve as the Associate Director of Professional Development. There are 84 Public Allies alumni like me around the country who got our start here in Estes Park at Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center because of the AmeriCorps funds and who continue to give back today. With passage of the Serve America Act, there will be thousands more like me serving our communities for years to come.

You can learn more about this effort at www.servicenation.org, www.voicesforservice.org, and you can contact Melinda Rodriguez at Public Allies to learn more about our program at melindar@publicalles.org.