The GIVE Act

In July 2008, Obama told a rally in Colorado Springs, “We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that is just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded.”

The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, known as the GIVE Act, was passed yesterday by a 321-105 margin and now goes to the Senate. The GIVE Act includes language indicating young people will be forced to undertake mandatory national service programs, President Barack Obama’s promised “civilian national security force.”

Section 6104 of the bill, entitled “Duties,” concerns, “a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people.” Section 120 of the bill discusses the “Youth Engagement Zone Program” and states that “service learning” will be “a mandatory part of the curriculum in all of the secondary schools served by the local educational agency.” The Senate is also considering a similar piece of legislation known as the “Serve America Act,” which also includes language about “Youth Engagement Zones”. (Source.)