National Police Athletic/Activities League Youth Enrichment Reauthorization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced
Summary
Expand Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL) chapters in public housing and distressed areas to improve youth academic and social outcomes and reduce juvenile crime. The bill would fund PAL-led after-school programs run by law enforcement volunteers and provide seed grants to build local chapters in high-need places.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Priority for distressed areas and housing
If enacted, the Act would define a 'distressed area' as a place where at least 40% of youth meet the bill's 'high-risk youth' definition. 'High-risk youth' would mean people under 21 at high risk of, or with, drug or alcohol abuse who meet at least one listed condition (for example, dropped out of school, experienced abuse, became pregnant, are economically disadvantaged, have mental health problems, have committed violent or delinquent acts, attempted suicide, or are disabled by injuries). The Act would also use the legal definition of 'public housing' from the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 to decide which housing projects PAL chapters may serve.
More local after-school programs
If enacted, each PAL chapter that gets grant help would have to run at least two after-school programs. At least one program must be mentorship, academic help, sports/recreation, technology training, or character and leadership training. Other programs could include drug and alcohol prevention, health and nutrition counseling, cultural and social activities, conflict resolution, job skills, safety training, or youth conferences. Assisted chapters would also be asked to recruit volunteers, involve youth in program design, seek donated equipment, and coordinate with parks and recreation.
Federal funding and chapter goals
If enacted, the government would provide National PAL $16,000,000 each year for FY2028–FY2032 to open and expand PAL chapters in public housing projects and other distressed areas. The bill would fund seed money to create 250 new local PAL chapters (50 new chapters per year) and keep support for 200 existing chapters, with the goal of at least 500 chapters by January 1, 2032. The Attorney General would also be allowed to use DOJ-appropriated or DOJ-collected funds for the program if allowed by law.
National PAL application requirements
If enacted, National PAL would have to submit a single PAL-wide application to the Assistant Attorney General before getting a grant. The application would need a long-term plan to create 250 new chapters, a plan to ensure at least 500 chapters are operating by January 1, 2032, certification of community coordination, and an explanation of how new chapters would run without more federal money after Act support ends. The Assistant Attorney General would have to act on the application within 120 days of submission.
Reporting, evaluation, and admin limits
If enacted, the Assistant Attorney General would have to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees by May 1 each year when money is available. The report would show progress in creating and expanding PAL chapters in public housing and distressed areas and address whether PAL programs reduce drug misuse, school dropout, and juvenile crime. National PAL would have to submit a yearly report on how it used grant funds. Each fiscal year's funding would set aside at least 2% for research and evaluation, at least 1% for technical assistance, and at least 1% for management, and total administration may not exceed 6%.
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
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov