[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7343 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 556
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7343
[Report No. 119-639]
To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to expand education and
workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster
care.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2026
Mr. Miller of Ohio (for himself and Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means
May 11, 2026
Additional sponsors: Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Hern
of Oklahoma, Mr. Schweikert, and Mr. Davis of Illinois
May 11, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on
February 4, 2026]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to expand education and
workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster
care.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity
Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE.
Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``aged out of foster
care'' and inserting ``experienced foster care at age 14 or
older'';
(2) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``age out of foster
care'' and inserting ``experience foster care at age 14 or
older'';
(3) in each of subsections (a)(6) and (i)(2), by striking
``16'' and inserting ``14'';
(4) in subsection (i)(3), by striking ``in no event may a
youth participate in the program for more than 5 years (whether
or not consecutive)'' and inserting ``may not allow a youth to
participate in the program for more than 5 years (or, in the
case of a youth who was involved in a remedial education
activity referred to in paragraph (4)(B), for more than 6
years), whether or not consecutive'';
(5) in subsection (i)(4)--
(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as
follows:
``(A) may be available for the cost of attendance--
``(i) at an institution of higher
education, as defined in section 102 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965, including a
community college or postsecondary vocational
institution; or
``(ii) at a short-term training program
that is eligible for the Workforce Pell program
under section 401(k), as described in section
481(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1088(b)(3)), as added by section
83002(b) of Public Law 119-21;'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A), as so
amended, the following:
``(B) may be available for costs--
``(i) associated with participation in an
apprenticeship program;
``(ii) to obtain a general equivalency
degree; or
``(iii) to receive remedial education;
and''; and
(6) in subsection (i), by adding at the end the following:
``(7) In this section, the term `remedial education' means
education or skill training needed to support obtaining a high
school diploma or qualifying for postsecondary education,
training, or an apprenticeship that is--
``(A) not already available through the school
district of the student or another free local, State,
or Federal program; and
``(B) is provided by an instructor with credentials
relevant to the subject area of instruction, as
determined by the State.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that
is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Union Calendar No. 556
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7343
[Report No. 119-639]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to expand education and
workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster
care.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 11, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed