Congress expands ways for Americans to help

Tens of thousands of Americans, from teenagers to baby boomers, soon will get a fresh chance to lend a helping hand in a time of need after Congress voted Tuesday to expand ways for people to serve the country and each other, according to the Associated Press.

The House voted for a $5.7 billion bill that takes ambitious steps on public service, including tripling the number of positions in the Clinton-era AmeriCorps program, its largest expansion since the agency's creation in 1993, and establishing a fund to help nonprofit organizations recruit and manage more volunteers.

Congress was sending the bill to President Barack Obama, who often cites his years as a Chicago community organizer for giving him his political start. Obama has made bolstering national service programs a high priority, and in his overall budget proposal has called for more than $1.1 billion for the programs, an increase of more than $210 million.

H.R. 1388 passed 275 to 149. 

Here is how Inland Valley's lawmakers voted:

Yes: Reps. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, and Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs.

No: Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Riverside, and David Dreier, R-San Dimas

Not voting: Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar