Chris Dodd for President

Speaking on the steps of Nashua City Hall where John F. Kennedy held his first campaign event in 1960, Senator Chris Dodd today outlined his comprehensive national service plan -- the American Community Initiative. Saying that America needed to tap the resources of all its people to meet the challenges before us, Dodd called on all Americans to establish a new era of American Patriotism through service. Senator Dodd energized the crowd in Nashua with his new vision for American community. It's not every day that people get to hear a policy speech that reaches beyond numbers or plans to touch America's spirit. The response was very positive and I'll have some shorter videos up later today of people reacting to Dodd's plan for national service. You can read the full text of Senator Dodd's remarks here. Key elements of Dodd's American Community Initiative include:

• Promote the Corporation for National Service (CNS) to Cabinet Status. Through Executive Order, in a Dodd Administration, the Executive Director of the Corporation for National Service will be part of the Cabinet.
• Mandate School-Based Service as a Requirement for High School Graduation. Under the Dodd plan, every student in America will be required to perform 100 hours of community-based service prior to high school graduation.
• Double the Size of the Peace Corps by 2011 and Again by 2050. As President, Chris Dodd will double the number of Peace Corps volunteers, expand the number of countries in which volunteers are stationed and provide opportunities for Peace Corps volunteers to serve in their local communities when they return home.
• Dramatically increase the number of AmeriCorps Members to 1,000,000 and immediately raise the amount of the education award. The Dodd plan will significantly increase the number of AmeriCorps volunteers and will annually increase the education award to reflect the skyrocketing cost of tuition.
• Create a Rapid Response Reserve Corps. Dodd's Rapid Response Reserve Corps will mobilize national service program alumni, as well as retired military and National Guard personnel, to respond to national disasters.

You can see the details of Senator Dodd's American Community Initiative here.