HR2910-119

What This Bill Does

The Youth Workforce Readiness Act creates a Labor Department competitive grant program for national youth-serving organizations with active chapters, affiliates, or subgrant recipients in at least 35 States. Grants last 3 to 5 years and fund nationwide out-of-school-time workforce readiness programs for eligible youth ages 6 through 18, or 19 if still in secondary school. For youth at least age 15, required services include career pathways, paid and unpaid work experiences, summer and school-year jobs, registered pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, on-the-job training, work-based learning, occupational skill training, customized training, concurrent education, and postsecondary transition activities. For eligible youth more broadly, services include leadership development, workforce readiness, supportive services, at least 12 months of mentoring, guidance and counseling, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, labor-market information, employability skills, academic counseling, and career exposure. The bill requires needs assessment, performance measures, evaluations, public reports, authorizes 100 million dollars per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, and reestablishes youth councils as voting subgroups within local workforce boards with state, local, and performance-reporting amendments.

Who Benefits and How

Eligible youth ages 6 to 18 benefit from out-of-school-time workforce readiness programs, mentoring, counseling, financial literacy, and career exposure. High school students age 15 and older benefit from work experiences, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, and occupational training. National youth-serving organizations benefit from 3- to 5-year competitive grants and authority to subgrant to local affiliates or partners. Local employers benefit from covered partnerships that connect youth programs to industry or sector needs and work-based learning.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of Labor must award grants, review applications, conduct evaluations, determine renewals, and report results to Congress and the public. Grant recipients must document need, serve underserved communities, coordinate with public programs, meet performance measures, and collect data. Local workforce boards must reestablish youth councils and incorporate their recommendations into state, local, and performance reporting. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of the 100 million dollar annual authorization from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Key Provisions

• Creates competitive 3- to 5-year grants for national youth-serving organizations operating in at least 35 States.
• Funds out-of-school-time workforce readiness programs for eligible youth ages 6 through 18, or 19 if still in secondary school.
• Requires career pathways, work experiences, apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, on-the-job training, and occupational training for older youth.
• Requires mentoring, counseling, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, labor-market information, academic counseling, and career exposure services.
• Appropriates a 100 million dollar authorization for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.
• Reestablishes youth councils within local workforce boards and requires reporting on council recommendations.