Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Harder (CA)
Introduced
Summary
nationwide competitive grant program for out‑of‑school‑time youth workforce readiness. This bill would create funds and rules to expand after‑school and out‑of‑school workforce programs that connect teens to training, work experiences, and credentials.
Show full summary
- Youth and families: Targets youth roughly ages 15–18, with flexibility to include 19‑year‑olds in secondary school. Programs must offer paid and unpaid work experiences, pre‑apprenticeship and apprenticeship options, internships, mentoring for at least 12 months, and pathways to postsecondary credentials.
- Employers and local economies: Requires coordination with industry or sector partnerships and aligns training to in‑demand local occupations to help employers get job‑ready candidates and promote economic mobility.
- Local workforce systems and community groups: Awards competitive grants to eligible entities, including national youth organizations with active chapters in at least 35 States, and reestablishes Youth Councils in local workforce boards to advise state and local plans.
*Authorizes $100.0 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Youth job help for ages 6–18
If enacted, children age 6 through 18 could take part, and 19-year-olds could join if still in high school. Programs would offer leadership training, guidance and counseling, supportive services, and money skills classes. They would provide paid and unpaid work experiences, internships, job shadowing, and registered pre‑apprenticeships and apprenticeships. Adult mentors would stay for at least 12 months total. Some hands‑on work experiences would be for youth age 15 or older, with priority for training that leads to in‑demand credentials.
Grants for out-of-school youth jobs
The Labor Department would run a national, competitive grant program. It would authorize $100 million each year from FY 2026 through FY 2030. Grants would last 3 to 5 years, and subgrants would need approval from the Secretary. Applicants would have to show safe, accessible sites, reach both urban and rural areas, use evidence-based methods, coordinate with other programs, keep budgets clear, and not replace other government funds. Partnerships would need a community nonprofit, a local school district, and industry partners, and could include tribes. Programs would collect outcome data, and the Department would evaluate results, decide on renewals, and report to Congress.
Youth councils to advise local boards
Each local workforce board would have to create a youth council with broad community and youth representation. The council would speak for youth needs and advise the board on programs and decisions. Members not on the board would vote within the council but not on the full board. State and local plans and annual reports would have to show how councils’ advice was used.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Cosponsors
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 4/14/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Whitesides
CA • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Nunn (IA)
IA • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Pappas
NH • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Bresnahan
PA • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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