Sponsors (3)
The bill invests substantial federal funds to create paid, higher-quality summer jobs and build evidence-driven youth workforce programs that can improve employment and education outcomes for disadvantaged youth, but it increases federal spending and administrative/evaluation burdens that may favor larger providers, reduce flexibility, and risk uneven access across communities.
Young people (especially low-income youth and students) gain paid summer jobs with mentoring, training, and connections to education or apprenticeships, improving income, work experience, and post-program employment and academic prospects.
The program funds independent evaluations, a public database, an Advisory Board, and technical assistance, improving accountability, program quality, and the adoption of evidence-based practices.
Funds and program design prioritize high-need communities (areas with high youth unemployment or violent crime), directing resources where disparities in employment and justice outcomes are greatest.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending of roughly $200–240 million per year through FY2030, adding to budgetary costs and potentially requiring offsets or trade-offs elsewhere in the budget.
Significant administrative and evaluation requirements increase costs and complexity for grant recipients and the Labor Department, which may delay funding and favor organizations with greater grant-writing and evaluation capacity.
A portion of appropriations is set aside for evaluations, Advisory Board operations, and administration, which could divert funds away from direct services and reduce the amount available to hire participants.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Introduced February 18, 2025 by Mikie Sherrill · Last progress February 18, 2025
Provides federal funding and a grant framework to expand and improve summer youth employment programs from FY2026 through FY2030. Funds are split between grants to create/expand programs, grants to integrate innovative approaches, independent evaluations, and an advisory board to guide grantmaking, evaluation, and technical assistance. Funded programs must offer subsidized summer jobs (at least 4 weeks), pay at least the applicable minimum wage, provide outreach and supports (mentoring, coaching, employer training, and post-program linkages), and grantees must participate in annual performance measurement and multi-year impact evaluations.