AID Youth Employment Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1211
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-31: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1926-1930)
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-01T20:25:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Assisting In Developing Youth Employment Act (AID Youth Employment Act) aims to expand access to subsidized employment opportunities for youth ages 14 through 24 by amending the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It focuses on building work readiness skills, particularly for in-school youth, out-of-school youth, unemployed individuals, and marginalized youth (e.g., those who are homeless, in foster care, involved in the justice system, or living in underserved communities facing poverty, violence, or discrimination). The goal is to provide summer and year-round jobs through competitive grants, emphasizing partnerships, mentorship, and connections to education or training.
Key Provisions
- Definitions (Sec. 176): Establishes terms like "eligible youth" (ages 14-24, including in-school, out-of-school, or unemployed individuals), "marginalized" youth (those facing barriers like homelessness or systemic oppression), "subsidized employment" (jobs where employers receive funding to offset costs), and tribal-specific terms (e.g., Indian tribes, tribal areas, tribal colleges).
- Funding Allocation (Sec. 176A): Authorizes up to $375 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030 for summer programs and $500 million for year-round programs. Up to 10% may be reserved for technical assistance and oversight by the Department of Labor (DOL). Funds are allocated competitively, with 50% reserved for in-school youth and 50% for out-of-school youth or unemployed individuals. At least 20% goes to rural areas and 5% to tribal areas to ensure geographic diversity.
- Summer Employment Competitive Grant Program (Sec. 176B):
- Awards planning grants (1 year, up to $250,000) for program design and implementation grants (3 years, up to $6 million) for running programs.
- Eligible entities include states, local governments, Indian tribes/tribal organizations, or community-based organizations (CBOs), which must form partnerships with entities like educational agencies, workforce boards, justice/child welfare agencies, employers, and trauma-support providers.
- Applications must detail needs (e.g., high youth unemployment, poverty), strategic goals (e.g., financial literacy, soft skills like communication and self-control), recruitment/placement plans, and mentorship (weekly contact by community-trusted mentors, possibly trained in trauma care).
- Summer jobs: At least 6 weeks, up to 20 hours/week, at minimum wage (or Davis-Bacon Act rates for construction), with skill-building and support services (e.g., case management, transportation).
- Priorities: Coordination with employers/education, private sector engagement, and high-need areas.
- Uses: Wages, support services, data systems; up to 10% for administration. Planning grants are 100% federally funded; implementation grants require 50% non-federal match (95% for tribes, waivable).
- Year-Round Employment Competitive Grant Program (Sec. 176C): Mirrors the summer program structure but adapts for ongoing employment.
- Jobs: Up to 15 hours/week for in-school youth; 20-40 hours/week for out-of-school youth, based on readiness.
- Additional requirements: Mental health services, addressing barriers (e.g., child care, transportation), and pathways from summer to year-round programs.
- Mentorship: At least twice-weekly contact.
- Same funding, eligibility, priorities (plus links to summer programs), and matching rules as summer grants.
- Evaluation and Administration (Sec. 176D):
- Performance measures: Track post-program outcomes like employment/education rates (2nd and 4th quarters after exit), credential attainment (e.g., postsecondary certificates or high school diplomas with job/training follow-up), and skill gains.
- Annual reviews of grantees, identification of best practices, and a continuous quality improvement system (e.g., feedback, training, improvement plans).
- DOL reports to Congress every 3 years initially, then annually, covering grantees, activities, results, and quality improvements. Special rules for tribes.
- Authorization and Conforming Amendments (Secs. 3 and 176E): Authorizes the specified funds for 2026-2030. Redesignates WIOA's existing Subtitle E as F and adds the new Subtitle E; updates references in WIOA for consistency.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Inserts a new Subtitle E into Title I of WIOA (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), creating dedicated competitive grant programs for youth employment, which did not previously exist at this scale or structure.
- Expands WIOA's youth provisions (previously under Subtitle D) to include explicit funding for subsidized summer and year-round jobs, with new emphases on marginalized and tribal youth, trauma-informed services, and performance tracking.
- Shifts from formula-based to competitive grants for these activities, requiring partnerships and detailed applications. Updates WIOA's table of contents and cross-references to accommodate the new subtitle.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: DOL gains responsibility for grant administration, evaluations, and reporting, potentially increasing workload but with reserved funds for oversight. States, localities, tribes, and CBOs must compete for funds and form partnerships, which could strain resources but build capacity through technical assistance.
- Citizens: Provides job opportunities and skills training to an estimated millions of youth, reducing unemployment and barriers for underserved groups (e.g., via mentorship and supports). Could improve long-term outcomes like education completion and career entry, especially in high-need areas, but benefits depend on appropriation levels (authorized funds are lower than allocated maxima).
- International Relations: None directly addressed; focuses on domestic workforce development.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Youth (Ages 14-24): Primary beneficiaries, including in-school/out-of-school students, unemployed individuals, and marginalized groups (e.g., homeless, foster youth, justice-involved, or those in poverty-stricken communities).
- Governments and Organizations: States, local governments, Indian tribes/tribal organizations, CBOs, educational agencies (e.g., schools, tribal colleges), workforce development boards, child welfare/justice agencies, and housing entities.
- Employers and Partners: Businesses, employer associations, labor organizations, and service providers (e.g., for trauma counseling, mental health), who participate in job placement and receive subsidies.
- Federal Level: DOL (administration) and Congress (funding/oversight).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures compliance with labor standards (e.g., minimum wage, Davis-Bacon Act for construction wages to prevent undercutting local rates). Tribal provisions respect self-determination (cross-referencing Indian Self-Determination Act), allowing customized applications. Performance measures align with WIOA's accountability framework, promoting evidence-based programs without new mandates.
- Constitutional: Supports equal protection by prioritizing underserved/marginalized youth and tribal areas, addressing disparities without violating federalism (grants to states/tribes with matching requirements). No apparent First Amendment or due process issues.
- Political: Introduced by Senators Durbin and Duckworth (Democrats), it emphasizes equity and youth investment, potentially appealing across parties for economic recovery but facing debates on federal spending (authorizations total ~$4.375 billion over 5 years) and competition vs. formula funding. Could influence broader workforce policy by integrating with existing programs like Perkins Career Education Act.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-31: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1926-1930)
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Assisting In Developing Youth Employment Act — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (41 pages)