Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Wilson (FL)
Introduced
Summary
Modernizes and reauthorizes the Job Corps to strengthen campus operations, accountability, staffing, and student supports. It updates who can enroll, shifts contracts toward performance-based awards, applies the Service Contract Act to campus workers, and sets funding levels through FY2026–FY2031.
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- Students and opportunity youth gain broader access and supports. The bill sets enrollment at ages 16–24 with an upper waiver to 28 for people with disabilities or justice-involvement, adds pregnancy and low-income status as eligibility factors, extends post-exit support from 3 to 12 months, and lets graduates stay on campus up to 1 month to transition.
- Workers, instructors, and contractors must meet wage and labor rules. The McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act applies to campus contractors and instructional staff and operators must budget wages and fringe benefits at or above Labor Department locality determinations, updated annually.
- Campus operations and funding focus on performance and improvement. Operators are chosen on best value with performance metrics for employment, earnings, and credentials, campuses are ranked by performance (top 25% and bottom 10%), low-performing campuses may host experimental projects with waivers that do not cut student slots, and the bill authorizes roughly $11.9 billion for FY2026–FY2031 with $107.8 million reserved each year for construction.
*Authorizes appropriations totaling about $11.9 billion for FY2026–FY2031, including $107.8 million annually for construction; if fully appropriated this would increase federal spending by those amounts.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
More funding for Job Corps, 2026–2031
If enacted, Congress would authorize Job Corps funding each year from FY2026 to FY2031: $1.81 billion, $1.87 billion, $1.94 billion, $2.01 billion, $2.08 billion, and $2.15 billion. Each year, $107.8 million would be set aside for campus construction and repairs. The Department could, subject to appropriations, obligate expected leftover operations funds early for identified projects before the money expires.
Wider Job Corps access and support
If enacted, the bill would widen who can join Job Corps. You could enroll at ages 16–24, with waivers up to 28 for people with disabilities or justice-involved individuals. It would add pregnancy, a low-income test (using Higher Education Act procedures), and residents of qualified Opportunity Zones; veterans would qualify if they meet the age rule. Post-exit help would last 12 months instead of 3, and graduates could stay on campus up to one month with director approval. One form could apply you to Job Corps, YouthBuild, and youth workforce programs.
Higher pay standards for campus staff
If enacted, Job Corps operators and subcontractors would need to follow the Service Contract Act, and instructors would count as covered service employees. The Secretary would update existing agreements within 60 days, subject to funding, and add these terms to pending bids. Bidders’ staffing plans would need wages and fringe benefits at least equal to local wage determinations, matched to similar public-school jobs where possible. Pay and benefit levels would be updated each year, and the Secretary could adjust pay to hire and keep qualified staff.
Safer Job Corps campuses and reporting
If enacted, each campus director would set clear behavior rules with positive supports. Directors could discipline or dismiss students for serious violence or illegal acts under a zero-tolerance policy. Directors would sign reporting agreements with local police. The Secretary would require reporting of major health and behavior incidents and require fixes when data show problems.
Faster Forest Service hiring for Job Corps grads
If enacted, the Agriculture Secretary could directly hire a Civilian Conservation Center graduate into a Forest Service job when the graduate meets federal job standards. This would apply to graduates who completed training in forestry, wildland firefighting, or related work, and it would not waive title 5 sections 3303 and 3328.
Who owns new Job Corps property
If enacted, any real estate bought for Job Corps use would have to be transferred to the Secretary under federal property rules. The transfer would be nonreimbursable, so the buyer would not be paid back.
Stronger performance and operator rules
If enacted, the operator’s contract would serve as the campus operating plan, posted online without proprietary details, and operators could hire staff and partner locally within their budgets. Awards to run campuses would use best value and a published past-performance score, and a mentor-protégé program would help new applicants. The Secretary would set and publish a performance model every 2–4 years with campus targets, name top performers, and may test fixes at the bottom 10% with 90 days’ notice to Congress. The bill would also clarify that “campus” means an operator-run site and that “State” includes outlying areas.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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