Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law. It provides for regular increases in national service positions from 88,000 in fiscal 2010 up to 250,000 in fiscal 2017.

The Senate renamed the bill the "Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act" and passed it by a vote of 79-19 on March 26. The House today passed the legislation by a vote of 275-149. Obama is in London to attend the G-20 summit but released a statement saying: "This is legislation that will usher in a new era of service in America, and I look forward to signing it into law when I return to Washington."

In his address to a joint session of Congress, Obama asked for the passage of the Serve America Act. "I ask Congress to send me the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch, as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country -- Senator Edward Kennedy."

The version of the stimulus bill signed by Obama includes $89 million for AmeriCorps and $65 million for AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).

Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced the Serve America Act on Jan. 16. The bill would expand Americorps' personnel to 250,000 over five years. Kennedy and Hatch introduced similar legislation in 2008. While campaigning for the presidency, Obama signaled his support of the Serve America Act by co-sponsoring the bill. AmeriCorps is also set to gain support from the stimulus bill, which allocates $160 million for "resources and the increased number of volunteers supported by the AmeriCorps programs."