Mayor Pete Proposes Expanded National Service Plan

Reuters reports:

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is proposing a massive expansion of national service programs in a bid to help unify Americans and bring people from different backgrounds together.

Buttigieg, 37, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and a military veteran, is due to unveil the plan during a speech on Wednesday in Iowa, where the Democratic nominating contest kicks off in February.

His plan, entitled A New Call to Service, will seek to build a network of 1 million national service members by the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026.

The Associated Press reports:



Buttigieg’s plan would add funding for existing federal programs like AmeriCorps and increase the number of opportunities from 75,000 to 250,000, which would cost $20 billion over 10 years. It also would create new service organizations such as a Climate Corps.

Buttigieg’s campaign hasn’t provided a cost for that part or said how it intends to pay for the plan. The 2026 deadline coincides with the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.