President Expands Volunteerism

Saying volunteerism is the right and patriotic thing to do, President Obama, the former community organizer, signed a $5.7 billion bill that triples the size of the AmeriCorps national service program. The president was joined by Sen. Ted Kennedy, who championed the legislation and for whom the bill was named. Also on hand was Bill Clinton, Michael Bloomberg and Rosalyn Carter. Kennedy invoked his brother John Kennedy, who was an avid proponent of national service.

"Today, another young president has challenged another generation to give back to their nation," Kennedy said, citing his brother's advocacy for the Peace Corps.

The service law expands ways for students and seniors to earn money for college through their volunteer work. It aims to foster and fulfill people's desire to make a difference, such as by mentoring children, cleaning up parks or buildings and weatherizing homes for the poor.

"I'm asking you to help change history's course, put your shoulder up against the wheel," Obama said. "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."