Youth Climate Leadership Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
Introduced
Summary
Would create Youth Advisory Councils in five federal agencies to give young people a formal role advising on environmental justice, climate resilience, and pollution reduction.
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- Youth: Young people aged 16 to 29 would make up each council, serving two-year terms with possible reappointment. At least 50% of members must come from, live in, or work in disadvantaged communities.
- Agencies and operations: The heads of EPA, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce would each establish a 15-to-25 member council, name a full-time designated Federal officer, provide administrative support, and offer an educational curriculum for members.
- Representation and rules: Agencies would aim for geographic and background diversity, limit any single membership category to 60% of a council, require public meetings at least annually, and allow public attendance and written comments.
*Would authorize $250,000 annually for each of the five covered agencies from 2027 through 2037, adding federal spending authority by that amount.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual $250,000 for five agencies
This bill would authorize $250,000 each year for each of five agencies: EPA, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce. The authorization would apply for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2037. The money would be to carry out the Act’s purposes, such as supporting the Youth Advisory Councils and related activities.
New youth councils at federal agencies
This bill would require EPA, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce to each set up a Youth Advisory Council. Councils would advise on programs for disadvantaged communities, measures to track climate and pollution impacts on youth, and research on environmental justice, mitigation, resiliency, and pollution reduction. Each council would have 15–25 non‑Federal members aged 16–29, with at least half from disadvantaged communities and member terms of two years. Councils would have agency support, a full‑time designated Federal officer, required public meetings at least annually, an educational curriculum for members, and an exemption of section 1013 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The EPA Administrator could designate the existing National Environmental Youth Advisory Council to satisfy the EPA requirement.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
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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