Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON, DC – As the recession continues, the San Joaquin Valley will be able to receive assistance from national volunteers who are answering their nation’s call to serve in communities hit hardest by the economic crisis.

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1388, the GIVE Act, which included language introduced by Congressman Cardoza to ensure the communities hardest hit by the economic downturn would benefit through President Obama’s call for increased volunteers.

The sweeping bill creates new volunteer programs, and bolsters existing programs, to address such critical needs in communities as tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged youth, improving health services, rebuilding and weatherizing housing, cleaning parks and streams, operating after-school programs, improving infrastructure and disaster preparedness, and promoting environmental and energy conservation.

Congressman Cardoza’s amendments would ensure that economically distressed areas, such as those with severe declines in home prices and high unemployment rates, will be among the areas in demand for volunteer assistance. Further, the amendments waive a local matching-fund requirement for economically distressed areas such as the San Joaquin Valley, making it easier to establish volunteer programs in the Valley.

 “In the aftermath of natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes, citizens across our great nation have always shown they are willing to rise to the occasion and support communities in need,” said Congressman Cardoza.  “I am very pleased that my amendments were adopted so that communities such as mine that have been struck by an unprecedented economic disaster will also be able to call upon the volunteers and Good Samaritans we desperately need to help support our communities during these similarly trying times.”