President Obama Signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, expanding national service opportunities to address America's most pressing challenges. The President signed the act at the SEED School, an academically intensive public boarding school for underserved urban youth in Washington, DC. Among those attending the event were First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Rossalyn Carter, Members of Congress, nonprofit leaders and national service volunteers .

At the signing ceremony, the President drew significant attention to one of the bill's architects, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), highlighting the long-standing commitment by the senator and his family to service and the country. Stressing that the act works to "connect deeds to needs," President Obama urged all Americans to serve:

All that’s required on your part is a willingness to make a difference. That is, after all, the beauty of service. Anyone can do it. You don’t need to be a community organizer, or a Senator – or a Kennedy – or even a President to bring change to people’s lives.

He continued:

We need your service, right now, at this moment in history. I’m not going to tell you what your role should be; that’s for you to discover. But I’m asking you to stand up and play your part. I’m asking you to help change history’s course. Put your shoulder up against the wheel. And if you do, I promise you – your life will be richer, our country will be stronger, and someday, years from now, you may remember it as the moment when your own story and the American story converged, when they came together, and we met the challenges of our new century.

The President also thanked Senator Orrin Hatch for his hard work, selfless efforts and partnership with Kennedy. The House gave final approval to the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act on March 31 by a bipartisan vote of 275-149. The bill passed the Senate 79-19, followed by a unanimous approval to rename the legislation after the bill's sponsor. While the bill authorizes a massive expansion of national service programs for Americans of all ages, implementation is tied to the availability of funds. The President is expected to release a detailed budget for Fiscal Year 2010 next month, and Congress will consider the President's request as they make discretionary spending decisions and consider the twelve annual appropriations bills.

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