Press Releases

The Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), today held a hearing to examine the misuse of AmeriCorps funds and ongoing oversight deficiencies at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Most recently, an investigation by the CNCS Office of Inspector General revealed that federal grant money was used by AmeriCorps members to provide abortion-related services in violation of federal law. During the hearing, Chairwoman Foxx questioned Wendy Spencer, head of CNCS, about the corporation's enforcement policies, as well as actions necessary to hold CNCS—along with its grantees and sub-grantees—accountable for following the law. 

You can say you have a culture of accountability, but I’m sorry to say you have not described that very well today. If people who had worked for me had broken the law, I’d have no tolerance for them whatsoever. Zero tolerance. You talk a lot about intentions. We need to be talking about metrics and true accountability …

This grant should be pulled immediately, and under no circumstances, should it be extended. I hope we will get back from you a report that will fulfill that, because when you allow the violation of law in whatever category that it is, then we start down a slippery slope in this country. We’re governed by the rule of law, and we should all want to uphold that.

Click to view videos of Chairwoman Foxx's opening and closing remarks.

For more information about the hearing, click here.

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