[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1434 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1434
To provide funding to summer youth employment programs to expand the
availability of subsidized jobs for youths and to develop innovative
program activities that improve academic, economic, and criminal
justice outcomes for youths, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2025
Ms. Sherrill (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide funding to summer youth employment programs to expand the
availability of subsidized jobs for youths and to develop innovative
program activities that improve academic, economic, and criminal
justice outcomes for youths, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Communities through
Summer Employment Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS .
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Labor to carry out this Act--
(1) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(2) $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(3) $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
(4) $230,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
(5) $240,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.
(b) Distribution of Funds.--Of the amounts appropriated under
subsection (a), the Secretary of Labor shall use--
(1) 45 percent of such amount to award grants under section
3;
(2) 45 percent of such amount to award grants under section
4;
(3) 5 percent of such amount to carry out evaluation
activities under section 5(b); and
(4) 5 percent of such amount to fund the Advisory Board
under section 6.
SEC. 3. EXPANSION AND SCALING OF SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) Grants Authorized.--From the amounts available under section
2(b)(1), the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive
basis, to eligible entities to develop and implement new, or expand
existing, summer youth employment programs in a State or local area,
for the purpose of improving academic, economic, and criminal justice
outcomes for participants, including--
(1) high school graduation rates;
(2) enrollment rates in postsecondary education;
(3) employment and wage rates; and
(4) arrest, conviction, and incarceration rates.
(b) Grant Prioritization.--In awarding grants to eligible entities
under this section, the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the
Advisory Board, shall prioritize eligible entities that, based upon the
applications submitted under subsection (c)--
(1) have higher youth unemployment rates and violent crime
rates in the local areas to be served;
(2) will offer higher quality and more rigorous the summer
youth employment programs (which shall include a consideration
of whether the program has been evaluated and, if so, the
impact of the program on the youth outcomes listed under
subsection (a)); and
(3) will serve a higher number of youth historically
underserved by summer youth employment programs, including
youth in rural and suburban local areas.
(c) Application Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may determine to be necessary, which shall
include information that demonstrates that the eligible entity will use
such grant to develop and implement, or expand, a summer youth
employment program that includes each of the elements listed in
subsection (d).
(d) Required Elements for Summer Youth Employment Programs.--A
summer youth employment program funded under this section shall include
each of the following elements:
(1) Provides youth participants under the age of 25 with
subsidized employment for at least 4 weeks during the summer.
(2) Pays at least the greater of the applicable Federal,
State, or local minimum wage.
(3) Provides community engagement and outreach to ensure
equitable access to the program in terms of awareness,
application process, and completion of the hiring process,
including documentation of eligibility.
(4) Matches each youth participant with an employer based
on the needs of the employer and the skills and interests of
the youth participant.
(5) Provides coaching and mentoring services for each youth
participant to support the participant's completion of the
summer employment program.
(6) Provides assistance to each youth participant in
obtaining educational and employment opportunities after the
completion of the program, such as by connecting participants
with secondary school programs, postsecondary education
opportunities, apprenticeships, career and technical education,
or adult job training programs, if applicable.
(7) Provides training, coaching, and mentoring services,
and technical assistance to participating employers to best
help such employers structure the job opportunities of the
employers to meet the employer's needs and the support the
success of youth participants.
(8) Provides program supports to youth participants before,
during, and after their program (such as digital literacy
training, work-readiness opportunities, financial literacy
training, specific job training for their summer job placement,
and career counseling services).
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.
(a) Grants Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated under section
2(b)(2) for this section, the Secretary of Labor shall provide grants,
on a competitive basis, to eligible entities that operate summer youth
employment programs that include each of the program elements listed in
section 3(d) to integrate innovative approaches in carrying out such
programs for the purposes of improving the youth outcomes listed under
section 3(a).
(b) Grant Prioritization.--In awarding grants to eligible entities
under this section, the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the
Advisory Board, shall prioritize eligible entities that, based upon the
applications submitted under subsection (c)--
(1) have higher youth unemployment rates and violent crime
rates in the local areas to be served;
(2) will offer a higher quality and more rigorous summer
youth employment program (which shall include a consideration
of whether the program has been evaluated and, if so, the
impact of the program on the youth outcomes listed in section
3(a));
(3) will offer a higher quality and more rigorous
innovative approach for such program (which shall include a
consideration of whether that innovative approach has been
evaluated and, if so, the impact of the innovative approach on
the youth outcomes listed under section 3(a)); and
(4) will serve a higher number of youth historically
underserved by summer youth employment programs, including
youth in rural and suburban local areas.
(c) Application Requirements.--To be eligible for a grant under
this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, and in such manner as may be required by the
Secretary, which includes a description of the plan to integrate one or
more of the innovative approaches listed in subsection (d) into the
summer youth employment program operated by the eligible entity.
(d) Innovative Approaches to Summer Youth Employment Programs.--An
eligible entity that operates a summer youth employment program that
includes the required program elements listed in section 3(d) shall use
funds received under this section to integrate into such program one or
more of the following innovative approaches:
(1) Individualized mentoring and coaching for youth
participants, under which each youth participant--
(A) before and after the participant starts the
program and regularly during the program, meets one-on-
one with a dedicated mentor;
(B) develops a comprehensive success plan with the
mentor, including academic and employment goals and the
steps needed to achieve such goals;
(C) receives other support from the mentor, which
shall include--
(i) coaching to overcome barriers that
could impact progress in completing the
employment received under the summer youth
employment program;
(ii) providing letters of recommendation;
and
(iii) making referrals to educational and
social services, where necessary.
(2) High-quality job training, career counseling, or
educational tutoring programs to be delivered in small group
settings before the program, on evenings and weekends during
the program, and after the program, with the goal of preparing
youth participants for future employment, which shall include
assisting youth participants--
(A) with developing resumes and interviewing
skills, and financial literacy; and
(B) in completing a regular high school diploma or
its recognized equivalent and literacy classes, if
applicable.
(3) Social-emotional learning for youth participants,
including proven interventions to help develop empathy, self-
efficacy, positive decision-making, and communication skills.
(4) Wrap-around financial assistance services, including
for food, shelter, and transportation.
(5) Mental health supports for youth participants, as
applicable.
(6) Substance abuse and addiction treatment supports for
youth participants, as applicable.
(7) The continuation of certain program elements
(particularly the individualized mentoring, mental health and
behavioral supports, and career counseling), in coordination
with their school districts, for a period of time after the
employment portion of the program ends to help participants
continue their engagement with the education and employment
system, with financial assistance available to youth who
continue to participate in these program elements after their
summer employment has ended.
(8) The provision of one or more of the program elements
listed in section 3(d) virtually to develop digital literacy
and remote work skills that are a part of many professional
settings.
(9) The provision of Learn and Earn opportunities, in which
participants take postsecondary or training courses during
nonsummer months coupled with work experience in related fields
during the summer.
(10) The expansion of private sector opportunities with
employers in in-demand occupations or industry sectors (as
defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)), such as information
technology, health care, life sciences, and vocational careers.
(11) The development of skill-based digital badges issued
by cities that are recognized by high schools, community
colleges, and employers.
(12) The laddering of job opportunities from one summer to
the next to enable participants to build skills over multiple
summers by progressing from entry-level to more senior
positions that further develop soft skills (such as leadership
skills) or hard skills (such as technical skills).
(13) A program element identified by the Advisory Board
under section 6(i)(3).
(14) A new innovative program element that is not
identified by the Advisory Board under section 6(i)(3) and is
not listed in this subsection, which is--
(A) proposed by the eligible entity in the
application submitted under subsection (b);
(B) determined by the Secretary, in consultation
with the Advisory Board, as being reasonably expected
to demonstrate evidence, in the case of an element in
which such evidence does not exist, in carrying out the
purposes described in subsection (a).
SEC. 5. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES.
(a) Performance Measurement Assessments.--Beginning not later than
1 year after receiving such grant and for each succeeding year of the
grant period, each eligible entity receiving a grant under section 3 or
4, in consultation with the Advisory Board established under section 6,
shall develop and implement a performance measurement assessment of
such program to assess whether the program is being implemented in a
way that meets the requirements of section 3 or 4, respectively.
(b) Impact Evaluations.--
(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under
section 2(b)(3), the Secretary of Labor shall, in consultation
with the Advisory Board established under section 6, award a
contract to one or more independent research organizations or
nonprofit organizations to carry out evaluations to measure the
impact of each summer youth employment program that is being
supported by a grant awarded under section 3 or 4.
(2) Requirements of evaluations.--An impact evaluation of a
program that is being supported by a grant awarded under
section 3 or 4 shall meet the following requirements:
(A) The evaluation begins not later than 3 years
after the program first receives such support.
(B) The evaluation shall meet each of the
following:
(i) Impact evaluation design and analysis
methods are shared with the Advisory Board
before the beginning of the evaluation.
(ii) The evaluation uses administrative
data to assess the impact of the program as a
whole on participants for 1 year, 3 years, and
5 years after the completion of the program on
each of the following:
(I) High school graduation rates.
(II) Enrollment rates in
postsecondary education.
(III) Employment and wage rates.
(IV) Crime rates (such as arrest,
arraignment, or incarceration rates).
(iii) The evaluation uses survey data
collected during the program to assess program
impacts on short-term changes in soft skills
(such as such as interpersonal, communication,
and time management skills), academic and
career goals, and job readiness.
(iv) The evaluation uses randomized
experimental designs, when feasible, or other
research methods that allow for the strongest
possible causal inferences when random
assignment is not feasible.
(3) Advisory board.--In assisting the organization that
receives a contract under this subsection, the Advisory Board
established under section 6 shall provide additional resources
to such organization to carry out the evaluations under this
subsection, including assistance with using randomized
experimental designs.
SEC. 6. ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) In General.--From the amounts available under section 2(b)(4),
the Secretary of Labor shall establish within the Department of Labor
an Advisory Board to carry out the duties listed in subsection (i).
(b) Members.--
(1) Number of members.--The Secretary shall determine the
number of members to serve on the Advisory Board.
(2) Appointment and expertise.--Each member of the Advisory
Board shall be appointed by the Secretary of Labor, and shall
have expertise in designing and administering summer youth
employment programs or experience in program evaluation and
evidence-based policy in the workforce development field.
(3) Terms.--
(A) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for
a term of 4 years, and may be reappointed for
subsequent terms by the Secretary.
(B) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for
which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be
appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member
may serve after the expiration of that member's term
until a successor has taken office. A vacancy in the
Advisory Board shall be filled in the manner in which
the original appointment was made.
(c) Basic Pay.--
(1) Rates of pay.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
Advisory Board Members and staff, including the Chairperson,
Vice Chairperson, and Director, shall each be paid at a rate
determined by the Secretary.
(2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
Members of the Advisory Board who are full-time officers or
employees of the United States may not receive additional pay,
allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the
Advisory Board.
(d) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code.
(e) Quorum.--Fifty percent plus one members of the Advisory Board
shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(f) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--The Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson of the Advisory Board shall be designated by the Secretary
at the time of the appointment. The term of office of the Chairperson
and Vice Chairperson shall be 4 years.
(g) Meetings.--The Advisory Board shall meet monthly and at the
call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
(h) Director and Staff of Advisory Board; Experts and
Consultants.--
(1) Director.--The Advisory Board shall have a Director who
shall be appointed by the Chairperson.
(2) Staff.--The Advisory Board Chairperson may appoint
additional personnel as they consider appropriate. Such staff
shall provide specific oversight and guidance, pursuant to the
functions of the Advisory Board under this section.
(3) Applicability of certain civil service laws.--The
Director and staff of the Advisory Board shall be appointed
subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service.
(4) Experts and consultants.--The Advisory Board may
procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(5) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon request of the
Advisory Board, the head of any Federal department or agency
may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of
that department or agency to the Advisory Board to assist it in
carrying out its duties under this Act.
(i) Duties.--The Advisory Board shall assist the Secretary in
carrying out each of the following:
(1) Application review.--Reviewing applications submitted
by eligible entities under sections 4(d) and 5(b) to ensure
that each eligible entity selected to receive a grant under
this Act will use such grant as required under this Act.
(2) Technical assistance.--
(A) In general.--Providing technical assistance to
eligible entities receiving grants under section 3, for
the purpose of assisting such eligible entities to best
implement the summer youth employment programs to be
assisted with such grants, by identifying existing
summer youth employment programs that demonstrate,
through evaluations conducted under section 5(b) or
through outside studies, that each of the program
elements listed in section 3(d) and implemented under
such programs have a significant impact on academic,
economic, and criminal justice outcomes.
(B) Working group.--Technical assistance may be
provided under subparagraph (A) through the creation
and administration of a working group of the
administrators of eligible entities to share best
practices regarding the implementation of summer youth
employment programs.
(3) Innovative program elements.--
(A) Identifying program elements.--Identifying any
innovative approaches to summer youth employment
programs for purposes of paragraph (13) of section 4(d)
that are not listed in section 4(d), which demonstrate
or are reasonably expected to demonstrate evidence of
improving the youth outcomes listed under section 3(a).
(B) Approving new program elements.--Providing
recommendations to the Secretary with respect to
whether any new program element proposed by any
eligible entity under section 4(d)(14) demonstrate or
are reasonable expected to demonstrate such evidence.
(4) Database of impact evaluations.--Publishing a database
of completed evaluations conducted under section 5(b), which
maintains evidence on the impact of programs (including the
program elements of programs) supported with grants under this
Act.
(5) Program evaluations.--Providing assistance with respect
to impact evaluations described in section 5(b)(3).
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
State (or State board) or unit of general local government (or
a local board), or a nonprofit organization, or a consortium of
any of such entities.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means any State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(4) WIOA terms.--The terms ``local area'', ``local board'',
``State board'', and ``unit of general local government'' have
the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
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