ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Congressman G. K. Butterfield will visit two schools on Friday to talk with students about the importance of community service.

This week the House approved the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, which seeks to launch a new era of American service and volunteerism.

The GIVE Act would more than triple the number of volunteers, from the current 75,000 to 250,000, and increase the education reward they receive to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award. The education award would also be linked to match future boosts in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.

It would create a new national Call to Service campaign to encourage all Americans to get involved in service and would encourage Americans to observe September 11th a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The legislation would also provide new incentives for middle and high school students to volunteer in their communities. It would create a Summer of Service program to engage students in service and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs.

Butterfield will be visiting D. S. Johnson Elementary School and Rocky Mount Senior High School where he will meet with classes taught by teachers placed by Teach for America.

“The Teach for America program exemplifies community service at its best,” Butterfield said.