PRIA Logo™
S4321119th CongressWALLET

YouthBuild for the Future Act

Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

Introduced

Summary

Expands and sustains YouthBuild to reach more youth and connect them to employers. The bill would reauthorize YouthBuild, broaden who can join, require employer partnerships, and add wraparound supports like meals, benefits referrals, and disability services.

Show full summary
  • Youth and families: Broadens eligibility by replacing "youth offender" with "youth justice-involved" and "basic skills deficient" with "foundational skill needs," and adds meals, benefit referrals (for programs like SNAP), and disability supports so participants can fully engage.
  • Rural, tribal, and Native communities: When annual funding exceeds $125 million, 20 percent of the excess must be reserved for rural-area programs and programs serving Indians, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians.
  • Employers and funding: Creates a new YouthBuild Employer Partnerships grant to link programs with local employers and prioritize joint labor-management apprenticeships. It authorizes Section 171 at $159.5 million in FY2027 rising to $203.6 million in FY2032 and adds $20 million per year for Section 171A for FY2027–2032.

*Authorizes multi-year funding that would increase federal spending to expand YouthBuild activities through 2032.*

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Bigger YouthBuild funding and reserves

This bill would authorize specific YouthBuild funding levels for FY2027–FY2032, including $159.5 million in 2027 and $203.6 million in 2032. These are authorization amounts that Congress would need to appropriate. If appropriations in any year exceed $125,000,000, the Secretary would reserve 20% of the amount above $125,000,000 for rural programs and for tribal or Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian-serving programs.

New YouthBuild employer partnership grants

This bill would create a YouthBuild Employer Partnerships grant program and authorize $20 million per year for FY2027–FY2032. Grants would go to consortia that include a YouthBuild program and a public or private employer in the same area. Applications must include a needs assessment, partnership list, proposed uses tied to employer needs, and an evaluation plan. The Secretary would give priority to partnerships that include joint labor-management apprenticeship programs.

Meals, benefit help, and disability supports

This bill would allow YouthBuild programs to provide meals and other food assistance during program activities. Programs would also have to inform participants about eligibility for Federal and State means-tested benefits like SNAP and help them apply, including help with Child Care and Development Block Grant assistance. The bill would require supportive services so people with disabilities can fully participate.

Let YouthBuild grants satisfy matches

This bill would let an entity that receives a YouthBuild grant use part or all of those grant funds to meet required matching funds under section 121(e) of the National and Community Service Act or similar rules. The YouthBuild funds used for matching would have to be spent consistent with the subsection's requirements. This change would ease budget pressures for YouthBuild grantees rather than give direct payments to households.

States must share wage data for YouthBuild

This bill would require States that receive YouthBuild grants to help program operators access wage data for YouthBuild participants so programs can meet reporting and performance rules. The help must not reduce State privacy protections for participant information.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation