Executive Memo Requesting Emergency Clearance

March 10, 2021
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Susan Minson
OMB Desk Officer for the Corporation for National and Community Service
725 17th Street, N.W. Room 10102
Washington, D.C. 20503
RE: Request for OMB Approval for Emergency Processing
Dear Ms. Minson:
Thank you for taking the time to review our application and request on such short notice.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, dba AmeriCorps, has been
working closely with OMB through the month to prepare to collect information from
AmeriCorps Seniors grantees regarding their service activity during the COVID-19
pandemic. We appreciate your time and attention to expediting the clearance of this
collection.
As you know, AmeriCorps Seniors provides grants to organization to engage Americans
55 years and older in volunteer service. AmeriCorps Seniors knows that due to the
continued impact of COVID-19, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers may continue to be
unable to serve. AmeriCorps Seniors FGP and SCP grantees have been authorized to
continue to pay AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who are unable to serve a temporary
allowance through March 31, 2021. The temporary allowance may be discontinued
following this date, following an OMB review of the situation. Information from the
survey – detailing how many volunteers are still unable to serve and potential vaccine
affect on volunteers’ ability to serve – will be useful in making a determination to extend
the temporary allowance.
During COVID-19 grantees were to put in place a plan and structure – i.e. infrastructure,
training, electronic equipment – that supports AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in FGP and
SCP service in an alternative manner and complies with each programs’ statutory and
regulatory requirements. OMB has requested information about service activities during
COVID-19. Existing reporting mechanisms – grant applications, progress reports,
financial reports - were not sufficient to get at this information.
Public harm is reasonably likely to occur if normal clearance procedures are followed and
if the temporary pay allowance is not extended past March 31, 2021. The temporary pay
allowance is crucial to helping preserve the volunteer workforce who are trained and
experienced service providers and to minimize potential service disruptions. It is also
vital to ensuring the continuity of service for these programs. AmeriCorps Seniors runs
the risk that volunteers will leave, not return, and that grantees will cease from seeking to
engage in national service. There is also the very real economic costs associated by senior
volunteers – all of which are below 200% of the poverty line. For these seniors, their
stipend is vital to getting their prescriptions, getting to doctor appointments, ensuring

payment of their utilities, etc. This is needed more than ever due to the exceptional
circumstances of COVID-19.
This submission includes one set of Survey Instructions. It also includes this letter,
Supporting Justification, and 30 days submission for OMB review.
Since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed a
renewed desire to serve their country by volunteering in their community. Now, we have
an obligation to ensure that Americans have quality opportunities to serve. Moreover, as
AmeriCorps and OMB have previously communicated, AmeriCorps is working hard to
ensure it is fully compliant with the Paperwork Reduction Act and with OMB’s
information collection policies and procedures.
If you have any questions, Robin Corindo is the appropriate contact, and she is available
to assist you in completing this expedited process. She can be reached at 202-489-5578 or
rcorindo@cns.gov. We sincerely thank you for your consideration of this request and
your willingness to work with to fully comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Respectfully Submitted,
Digitally signed by ATALAYA JONES

ATALAYA JONES SERGI SERGI

Date: 2021.03.10 14:07:01 -05'00'

Atalaya Jones Sergi, Director, AmeriCorps Seniors
Corporation for National and Community Service

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