U.S. Public Service Academy Newsletter
December 2008
Bill Status
Public Service Academy Act (S. 960 and H.R. 1671)
# of Senate Co-Sponsors: 23
# of House Co-Sponsors: 123
December 2008
Bill Status
Public Service Academy Act (S. 960 and H.R. 1671)
# of Senate Co-Sponsors: 23
# of House Co-Sponsors: 123
Vote Now to Put the Academy on the National Agenda
Change.org, a non-partisan non-profit organization, is sponsoring a nationwide contest to find the best citizen-driven ideas. The top ten vote-getters will be presented to President Obama on Inauguration Day, and Change.org will launch a lobbying effort to get them passed in Congress. The Academy is currently in 5th place. Please help the Academy win this contest by clicking here - it will take just a minute.
Draft Blueprint Available Online
The second draft of the Academy Blueprint is now available online. With the help of dozens of experts in higher education, the government, and the military, the Academy has put together a plan for how to get the institution off the ground after the congressional bill passes. A special thank you goes to our research assistants: Matthew Holbreich, Jonathan Silver, and David Soo.
We Need Volunteers!
As we prepare for the next year, we are putting together working groups of volunteers to help mobilize supporters, win co-sponsors, host events, and more. Please contact Chris Myers Asch if you are interested in helping us make the Academy happen.
Support Us
You can help us build the Public Service Academy by making a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here.
Quick Links...
"I am a big supporter [of the Public Service Academy]. I am looking forward to seeing it happen." - Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff, President-Elect Obama
High-Profile Academy Supporters Take New Positions in Obama Administration
The November elections certainly have helped the Public Service Academy's prospects in Washington. Almost all of the 146 co-sponsors of our bill will be returning to office, and a number of our most prominent supporters will be taking new positions in the executive branch. Academy supporters who are now likely to hold powerful positions within the Obama administration include our biggest champion on Capitol Hill (Hillary Clinton), strong co-sponsors of our bill (Joe Biden and Rahm Emanuel), and key endorsers of our initiative (Tom Daschle and Bill Richardson). With friends in such high places, we look forward to making progress on our bill.
"Outlook for Public Service Academy Brightens"
The election results and the prominence of Academy supporters has attracted a fair bit of media attention and speculation. More and more observers are realizing that this idea not only has serious merit but also has the potential to become a reality quite soon.
· U.S. News & World Report: "Is the U.S. Public Service Academy a Reality?"
· Government Executive: "Outlook for Public Service Academy Brightens"
· The Hill's Pundits Blog: "National Service (Ron Goldfarb)"
· Newsday: "What advice would you offer to the new president?"
· OK Radio: Interview with Chris Myers Asch
Military Leaders, College Presidents, and Good Government Groups Join Academy Movement
The Academy has attracted the support of more than a hundred military leaders, college presidents, and public interest groups from across the country. One of our National Youth Council members, Rasheda Gilyard, has been doggedly pursuing such endorsements, and she helped us win a string of important endorsements from: Campus Progress, Common Cause, and Democracy Matters.
We added the presidents of the University of Virginia, Hendrix College, and Martin University - we have more than 60 college presidents behind our effort. We also continue to win strong support from the military. In the past month, more than a dozen more retired military officers added their names to our list, including: Gerald E. Galloway, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Ret.) and former Dean. U.S. Military Academy; John A. Hurley, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force Reserve (Ret.); Larry R. Marsh, Rear Admiral, (U.S. Navy, Ret.); and William Tuttle, General, U.S. Army (Ret.).
Thank you for your continued support. We know that these are tough economic times, and we appreciate any contribution that you can make to our effort.
Onward!
Chris Myers Asch
The election results and the prominence of Academy supporters has attracted a fair bit of media attention and speculation. More and more observers are realizing that this idea not only has serious merit but also has the potential to become a reality quite soon.
· U.S. News & World Report: "Is the U.S. Public Service Academy a Reality?"
· Government Executive: "Outlook for Public Service Academy Brightens"
· The Hill's Pundits Blog: "National Service (Ron Goldfarb)"
· Newsday: "What advice would you offer to the new president?"
· OK Radio: Interview with Chris Myers Asch
Military Leaders, College Presidents, and Good Government Groups Join Academy Movement
The Academy has attracted the support of more than a hundred military leaders, college presidents, and public interest groups from across the country. One of our National Youth Council members, Rasheda Gilyard, has been doggedly pursuing such endorsements, and she helped us win a string of important endorsements from: Campus Progress, Common Cause, and Democracy Matters.
We added the presidents of the University of Virginia, Hendrix College, and Martin University - we have more than 60 college presidents behind our effort. We also continue to win strong support from the military. In the past month, more than a dozen more retired military officers added their names to our list, including: Gerald E. Galloway, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Ret.) and former Dean. U.S. Military Academy; John A. Hurley, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force Reserve (Ret.); Larry R. Marsh, Rear Admiral, (U.S. Navy, Ret.); and William Tuttle, General, U.S. Army (Ret.).
Thank you for your continued support. We know that these are tough economic times, and we appreciate any contribution that you can make to our effort.
Onward!
Chris Myers Asch
Shawn Raymond
