# 119-s-4314: Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026

119-s-4314, Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (R-MT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-05-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4314
- As of: 2026-05-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4314
- Congress: 119
- Title: Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-16
- Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (R-MT)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Families
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-05-15

## Summary

**Expands and strengthens education and workforce vouchers for youth who experienced foster care.** It broadens who qualifies, raises the voucher cap, and lets funds pay for more postsecondary and training options to boost education and job prospects. - Youth who experienced foster care: Eligible youth include those who were in foster care at age 14 or older. The maximum Education and Training Voucher rises from $5,000 to $12,000 and can now cover college, community college, short-term Workforce Pell training, registered apprenticeships, GEDs, and remedial education. - State and program access: States must make reasonable efforts to inform eligible youth and may use funds for outreach. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will develop model guidance with input from youth and require a simplified, user-tested standard electronic application form. - Education, training, and supports: The program explicitly covers institutions of higher education and postsecondary vocational programs, registered apprenticeships, credentialed remedial instruction, and transportation costs to attend training or work. The amendments take effect one year after enactment.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Bigger vouchers for foster youth: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would raise the maximum education and training voucher cap from $5,000 to $12,000. Eligible youth would be able to use vouchers for college, community college, Workforce Pell short-term training, registered apprenticeships, GED costs, remedial education, and help with transport…
- Lower age to qualify for help: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would expand who can qualify by changing eligibility language to youth who experienced foster care at age 14 or older. It would lower specific age thresholds from 16 to 14 in some program rules. These eligibility changes would take effect one year after enactment.
- New rules, forms, and time limits: mixed, medium. If enacted, States could set a grace period, after assessment and consultation with the youth, to let a youth continue certain program activities when reasonable. The bill would generally limit participation to not more than 5 years, but would allow more than 6 years for youth in specified remedial…
- One-year delay for program changes: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill's amendments would take effect one year after the date of enactment. States, program administrators, and eligible youth would have that one-year delay before the new rules and higher voucher amounts apply.

## Related bills

- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-697: Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025
- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-2461: Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025
- 119-s-1782: Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
- 119-s-1639: American Innovation and Jobs Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4314 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4314)

## Related
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-697: Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-697)
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [119-s-2461: Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2461)
- [119-s-1782: Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1782)
- [119-s-1639: American Innovation and Jobs Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1639)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4314 (as of 2026-05-15).