Groundbreaking National Service Legislation Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives...

Groundbreaking National Service Legislation Introduced in U.S. House of
Representatives Advocates Establishing September 11 as an Annually Observed
National Day of Service

WASHINGTON, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- More than seven years after terrorist
attacks on America left nearly 3,000 people dead, U.S. Congress took a major
step today toward establishing 9/11 as an annually recognized National Day of
Service.

Language to designate 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance has
been included as an important provision in the Generations Invigorating
Volunteerism and Education Act, or GIVE Act, (H.R. 1388), which was introduced
today and authorizes groundbreaking federal support for many innovative
national service programs. Under the GIVE Act, the anniversary of 9/11 would
be observed in ways similar to Martin Luther King Day. People would
voluntarily engage in remembrance through personal and organized service
activities and reflection, but 9/11 would not become a federal holiday. U.S.
Senator Charles Schumer (NY) and U.S. Rep. Peter King (NY-3), both of whom
have long supported establishing 9/11 as a national day of service, worked
with GIVE Act sponsors U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04) and U.S. Rep. George
Miller (CA-07), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, to
develop the 9/11 language for the bill.

"To establish 9/11 as a national day of service and unity would be nothing
short of historic, and today our nation has taken a giant step in that
direction with the introduction of the GIVE Act," said David Paine, president
and founder of MyGoodDeed.org, the nonprofit founded in 2003 with widespread
support of 9/11 family groups to transform September 11 into an annually
observed day of service. "A national call to service each 9/11 will remind
people of the remarkable spirit of unity we shared as a nation in the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks, ensuring that future generations
understand that 9/11 was not only about evil but also about the remarkable
expression of compassion and unity by Americans and people around the world in
response to the needs of others for help."

"I have been active in seeking a service day for years," said U.S.
Representative Peter King. "America came together in the aftermath of 9/11,
reminding us what it truly means to be part of this great nation. By making
9/11 a national day of service, that same spirit of giving will continue in a
day of remembrance, unity, and selflessness."

SENATE CONSIDERATION LIKELY
The U.S. Senate presently is considering its own national service bill, known
as the Serve America bill (S-3487) introduced by U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy
(MA) and Orrin Hatch (UT). Paine said that U.S. Senator Charles Schumer may
offer similar 9/11 language for possible inclusion in the Serve America bill.
President Barack Obama, in his recent speech to a joint session of Congress,
called upon lawmakers to pass national service legislation and present it to
him for signature as soon as possible.

"Passage of federal legislation establishing 9/11 as a National Day of Service
would surely help bring a sense of healing to one of the worst human tragedies
in U.S. history," said Jay S. Winuk, co-founder and vice president of
MyGoodDeed.org, and brother of attorney and 9/11 rescuer Glenn J. Winuk, a
firefighter/EMT who perished when the WTC's South Tower collapsed. "Just as
important, especially considering all the challenges we now face as a country,
America would benefit greatly from an annual call to service on 9/11. One can
only imagine the positive impact of millions of Americans engaging in service,
many for the very first time, in honor of those lost and those who rose to
service after the horror of that September morning. The 9/11 family member
community is fortunate to have so many leaders in Congress who share our
vision of what 9/11 can and should become. We offer our sincerest thanks to
our founding Congressional Advisory Board members, Senator Charles Schumer and
Rep. Peter King, and to those advancing service in Congress, including U.S.
Representatives Carolyn McCarthy, George Miller, Buck McKeon and Doris
Matsui."

To view the press release issued by the House Education and Labor Committee,
go to:
http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2009/03/lawmakers-introduce-legislatio.shtml

MyGoodDeed.org, a 501c(3) charitable organization, has lead the seven-year
effort to establish 9/11 as a national day of service. To recognize 9/11 and
honor the lives of the victims and the efforts of 9/11 volunteers and rescue
and recovery workers who rose in service, each year MyGoodDeed.org organizes
activities that encourage individuals and organizations to set aside time on
the anniversary of 9/11 to perform simple good deeds and service that help
others in need. In recent years support for the initiative has grown rapidly.
More than one million individuals from all 50 states and more than 150
nations have posted 9/11 service ideas and pledges to perform good deeds on
the organization's Web site. Last year MyGoodDeed.org was responsible for
securing commitments from Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain
to observe a moratorium on political campaigning on 9/11. Both suspended their
campaign activities for the day and agreed to appear together at a nationally
televised policy forum in New York City organized by ServiceNation, a
coalition of more than 200 national and local nonprofit organizations
including MyGoodDeed.org

MyGoodDeed.org has also attracted the support of a growing list of leaders
from political, corporate, charitable, sports and entertainment communities,
including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, actor Gary Sinise,
and many other prominent individuals.

Former American Idol winner Jordan Sparks, CNN "Showbiz Tonight" host A.J.
Hammer, and former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel joined together on
September 11 to lead a MyGoodDeed.org service project in New York City with
students at a lower Manhattan public school.

To help support MyGoodDeed.org programs, contributions were made by American
Express, Ambac Financial Corporation, Jim Fassel Foundation, Keefe Bruyette
and Woods, MBIA, and Sony Corporation. Google, Yahoo, and AOL provide in-kind
support in the form of free online public service announcements. Work in
support of key 9/11 legislative objectives has been performed by the 9/11 Day
of Service Committee, a 501c(4) nonprofit organization.

For more information, contact David Paine, president and founder,
MyGoodDeed.org, at david.paine@MyGoodDeed.org, or 949-233-0050, or Susan Roth
at prsue@rothpr.com, 301-530-3539 (office); 202-997-5672 (cell).

SOURCE MyGoodDeed

David Paine, president and founder of MyGoodDeed, +1-949-233-0050,
david.paine@MyGoodDeed.org; or Susan Roth, +1-301-530-3539, cell,
+1-202-997-5672, prsue@rothpr.com, for MyGoodDeed