AID Youth Employment Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a new subtitle under WIOA to fund and scale paid, supported work placements for youth. It focuses on two tracks: competitive summer and year-round subsidized employment for ages 14 to 24, with mentoring and wraparound supports for marginalized youth and flexible rules for tribal applicants.
Show full summary
- Youth and families: Provides paid placements, case management, transportation, child care, mental health supports, and mentor contact rules. Grants include planning awards up to $250,000 and implementation awards up to $6.0 million to serve in-school, out-of-school, and unemployed youth.
- Employers and communities: Requires partnerships with schools, workforce, justice, child welfare, and employers and encourages employer subsidies and sector-aligned training. Year-round placements may run up to 15 hours weekly for in-school youth and 20 to 40 hours for out-of-school youth.
- Tribal, rural, and priority populations: Year-round funds split 50/50 for in-school and out-of-school youth and include geographic set-asides of not less than 20 percent for rural areas and 5 percent for tribal areas. Tribal applicants get higher federal program shares and may use certain federal sources for non-federal matches.
*Authorizes new federal spending of $375 million per year for the Summer program and $500 million per year for the Year-Round program for FY2026–FY2030, increasing federal outlays.*
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Big federal funding for youth jobs
If enacted, the bill would authorize large federal funding for subsidized youth jobs. It would allow up to $1.8 billion for summer jobs and up to $2.4 billion for year‑round jobs, subject to appropriations. It also authorizes $375 million per year for the summer program and $500 million per year for the year‑round program for fiscal years 2026–2030. The Secretary could reserve up to 10% of funds for technical help and oversight.
Summer jobs with wages and mentors
If enacted, the bill would create a competitive summer jobs program for youth ages 14–24. Planning grants could be up to $250,000 for one year and implementation grants up to $6 million for three years. Summer placements must run at least six weeks, be no more than 20 hours per week, pay at or above applicable minimum wage, and construction jobs must follow Davis‑Bacon pay rules. Mentors must be matched to youth and contact them at least weekly.
Year-round jobs for youth
If enacted, the bill would create a competitive year‑round jobs program for youth ages 14–24. Planning grants could be up to $250,000 and implementation grants up to $6 million. Half of year‑round funds must serve in‑school youth and half must serve out‑of‑school or unemployed youth. In‑school placements are limited to 15 hours per week; out‑of‑school placements run 20–40 hours per week. Grants must include plans for mental health, transportation, and child care supports.
Stronger grantee performance rules
If enacted, the Secretary would set performance measures and require annual reviews of grantees. Measures include employment or education in the second and fourth quarters after exit and credential or diploma attainment. The Secretary would use continuous quality improvement, give feedback and technical help, publish program quality information, and report to Congress starting within three years and annually after.
Who counts as eligible youth
If enacted, the bill would define 'eligible youth' as people ages 14 through 24 who are in school, out of school, or unemployed. It would also define 'subsidized employment' and tribal, housing, and college terms used across the programs. These definitions would determine who can get services under the new subtitle.
New grant partnership requirements
If enacted, entities applying for grants would need to show specific partners, such as local schools, workforce agencies, juvenile justice and child welfare agencies, counseling/trauma providers, and employers. Community groups must include a local or tribal government partner. These partnership rules aim to improve coordination but would add administrative work for applicants.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in