Youth Sports Facilities Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2850
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Sports and Recreation
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-12T08:06:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Youth Sports Facilities Act of 2025 aims to expand access to federal economic development grants for building or improving youth sports facilities. It seeks to address public health issues like obesity and sedentary lifestyles, support underserved communities, and promote economic growth through recreation and job creation.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: Amends Section 201 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA) to include "youth sports" as an eligible category for public works projects under subsection (a)(1).
- Facility Inclusion: Adds "or youth sports facilities" to the definition of eligible facilities in subsection (b)(1)(A), allowing these to qualify for grants from the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
- Additional Grant Criteria: Introduces new priorities in subsection (c) for evaluating grant applications, including:
- Improving community health by increasing access to recreational spaces to combat obesity and inactivity (paragraph 9).
- Supporting highly rural areas lacking funds for active lifestyle infrastructure (paragraph 10).
- Serving low-income children in rural or underserved areas who lack sports facilities and live in communities affected by opioid use or violence (paragraph 11).
- Promoting economic development in urban and rural areas without adequate sports facilities (paragraph 12).
- Creating jobs through youth sports facilities and related businesses (paragraph 13).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill modifies PWEDA, a 1965 law that funds economic development projects to create jobs and stimulate growth in distressed areas. Key changes include:
- Broadening eligible project types to explicitly cover youth sports, which were not previously mentioned.
- Expanding facility definitions to prioritize youth-focused infrastructure.
- Adding five new evaluation factors in the grant review process, shifting emphasis toward health, equity, and community-specific needs like rural investment and opioid-impacted areas. These build on existing criteria (e.g., job creation and infrastructure) without removing them.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Could improve physical and mental health for youth, especially in low-income, rural, or high-risk communities, by providing more access to safe sports and recreation. May reduce obesity rates and support recovery from issues like community violence or substance abuse through structured activities.
- On Government Agencies: The EDA, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, would handle more applications for youth sports projects, potentially increasing administrative workload but aligning with broader goals of public health and economic aid. Local governments and nonprofits could access new funding streams for community development.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic economic and health initiatives within the U.S.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Youth and Families: Particularly children from low-income, rural, or underserved backgrounds, including those in areas with high opioid use or violence, who gain better access to sports facilities.
- Communities: Urban and rural areas lacking recreational infrastructure, benefiting from health improvements and economic boosts.
- Local Governments and Organizations: Municipalities, schools, and youth sports groups that can now apply for EDA grants to build or upgrade facilities.
- Economic Development Entities: Businesses and job creators near new facilities, such as those providing sports equipment or services.
- Federal Agencies: Primarily the EDA, which administers PWEDA grants.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens PWEDA's framework by integrating public health and equity considerations into economic grants, without altering core funding mechanisms. No conflicts with existing federal laws; it promotes equal access under principles like nondiscrimination in public funding.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to promote general welfare through infrastructure and health initiatives. No apparent free speech, privacy, or due process concerns.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Reps. Huizenga and Veasey) suggests broad appeal for community health and development. Could influence future appropriations by highlighting youth and rural priorities, potentially setting precedents for blending economic aid with social programs like anti-obesity efforts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Youth Sports Facilities Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (3 pages)