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This week we alerted you to the possibility of a devastating amendment being added to the Serve America Act (S.277) that would prohibit "advocacy" groups or groups co-located with advocacy groups from receiving any assistance under the Act.  That possibility is now a reality; last night Senator DeMint (R-SC) offered an amendment to automatically prohibit any organization "engaged in legislative advocacy" from receiving assistance under the Serve America Act.  Under the current national service organization language 501(c)(3) public charities that engage in advocacy are eligible to receive assistance – Senator DeMint's Amendment would eliminate that benefit.     

Time is of the essence.  The DeMint Amendment prohibiting advocacy organizations from receiving assistance under the Serve America Act has not yet been voted on.  We still have time to keep this damaging language from destroying the integrity of the Act.  Things are moving very quickly on this legislation, we will keep you informed of the changes.   

Please contact your Senators immediately and let them know how the DeMint Amendment's prohibition on nonprofit advocacy will hurt your constituents, limit your ability to provide direct services if you are currently receiving volunteers through the Act, and severely cripple the innovation and creativity the Serve America Act is meant to foster by limiting the number of nonprofit organizations that can participate in the program.