A little talked-about change in the Serve America Act that recently passed into law includes a new “prohibited activity” for AmeriCorps members.
A new category has been added to the list of prohibited activities in the new law that will take affect October 1: AmeriCorps staff and members will be barred from “providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services.” The category seems to be included in order to quell the concerns of conservative groups that Federal funding will go to support abortions since, for example, Planned Parenthood chapters often host AmeriCorps members to work on public health education topics.
Check out the full text of the legislation.
And a word on prohibited activities which seem to confuse people unfamiliar with national service to no end.
While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or the Corporation for National and Community Service, staff and all Continue reading