National Police Athletic/Activities League Youth Enrichment Reauthorization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced
Summary
Provides federal grants to expand and create National Police Athletic/Activities League chapters in distressed areas and public housing to serve youth through after-school and community programs.
Show full summary
The bill would authorize $16 million a year for fiscal years 2028 through 2032 and fund seed grants to add 250 new chapters while supporting the 200 established National PAL chapters.
- Youth and families: Youth in targeted neighborhoods would gain more after-school options like mentorship, tutoring, sports, technology training, and leadership development. Each assisted chapter must run at least two programs outside school hours.
- Public housing and distressed communities: Grants target public housing and distressed areas, including places with majority Native American populations. The goal is 50 new chapters per year for five years and at least 500 PAL chapters by January 1, 2032.
- National PAL and program rules: National PAL would apply with a long-term plan, certify community coordination, and explain how chapters will operate after federal support ends. At least 2 percent of funds must go to research and evaluation, 1 percent for technical assistance, 1 percent for program administration, and administrative spending is capped at 6 percent.
*Would authorize $16 million annually for 2028 through 2032, increasing federal spending over that period.*
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal grants to expand PAL chapters
If enacted, the bill would authorize $16,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2028 through 2032 to fund PAL grants. The Assistant Attorney General would award annual grants to the National Police Athletic/Activities League to start or expand PAL chapters serving public housing and other distressed areas. National PAL would have to apply with a long-term plan to add 250 new chapters and to ensure at least 500 PAL chapters are operating by January 1, 2032, and the Assistant Attorney General would have 120 days to act on each application. Each year at least 2% of funds would go to research and evaluation, at least 1% to technical assistance, and at least 1% to program administration, and total administration spending could not exceed 6%.
Who qualifies and what PAL chapters must do
If enacted, the bill would define a "distressed area" as a place where 40% or more of youth are high-risk. It would define "high-risk youth" as someone under age 21 at high risk of drug or alcohol abuse who meets one or more listed conditions, such as being a child of a substance abuser, a victim of abuse, a school dropout, pregnant, economically disadvantaged, having mental health issues, attempting suicide, committing a violent or delinquent act, or being disabled by injuries. The bill would require each PAL chapter that gets assistance to run at least two non-school-hour programs, and at least one program must be mentorship, academic help, recreational/athletic activities, technology training, or character and leadership training. PAL chapters would also be asked to recruit volunteers, involve youth in planning, conduct outreach, request donations of equipment, and coordinate with local parks and recreation to avoid duplicating services. The bill would treat National PAL as including the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA-2]
GA • D
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
NC • D
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/15/2026
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]
NJ • R
Sponsored 8/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov