[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3351-S3356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6164. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction,
[[Page S3352]]
and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:
Subtitle __--Runaway and Homeless Youth
SEC. __. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Runaway and Homeless
Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2026''.
SEC. __. FINDINGS.
Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34
U.S.C. 11201) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 302. FINDINGS.
``Congress finds that--
``(1) youth who have become homeless or who leave and
remain away from home without parental permission are at risk
of developing, and have a disproportionate share of, trauma,
substance use disorders, and serious health, behavioral,
social, and emotional challenges because they lack sufficient
resources to obtain care and may live on the street for
extended periods of time, thereby endangering themselves;
``(2) many such young people, because of their age and
situation, are urgently in need of temporary shelter and
services, including services that consider their age, gender,
and social and developmental needs, are culturally and
linguistically appropriate, and acknowledge the environment
of youth seeking these services;
``(3) research has documented the fluid experiences of
homelessness of youth, where many youth experience 2 or more
different types of homelessness, including couch surfing,
living in motels, and staying on the streets;
``(4) research has documented that persons who are members
of historically marginalized and underserved communities of
color, LGBTQ youth, youth who do not complete high school or
achieve a high school equivalency, youth involved in the
child welfare system, youth who have been involved with the
criminal justice system, and pregnant and parenting youth are
most likely to experience homelessness in the United States
while unaccompanied by a parent or adult;
``(5) services to such young people should be developed and
provided using a positive youth development approach that
ensures a young person a sense of--
``(A) safety and structure;
``(B) belonging and membership;
``(C) self-worth, empowerment, voice, and choice;
``(D) independence and control over one's life; and
``(E) closeness in interpersonal relationships;
``(6) in view of the interstate nature of the problem, it
is the responsibility of the Federal Government to develop an
accurate national reporting system to report the prevalence
of youth homelessness, and to assist in the development of an
effective system of care (including prevention services and
aftercare services, short-term housing with services,
extended housing with supportive services, and street
outreach services) outside the welfare system and the law
enforcement system, in collaboration with public assistance
systems, the education system, and the child welfare system;
``(7) to make a successful transition to adulthood, youth
who run away, youth experiencing homelessness, and youth
living in the street need a safe and stable place to live,
connections to caring adults, and opportunities to complete
high school or earn a general equivalency degree, learn job
skills, and obtain employment;
``(8) improved coordination and collaboration at the
Federal level between programs that serve runaway and
homeless youth are necessary for the development of a long-
term strategy for responding to the needs of this population;
``(9) runaway and homeless youth are at a high risk of
substance use disorders and becoming victims of sexual
exploitation and trafficking;
``(10) since research has shown that the prevalence of
homelessness among youth is similar in rural and urban
communities, runaway and homeless youth programs, such as
those funded under this title, are integral services that
every community should provide, regardless of the size of the
community; and
``(11) runaway and homeless youth programs, such as those
funded under this title--
``(A) are expert adolescent service providers and integral
community partners for the child welfare and juvenile justice
systems as many youth exit these systems to homelessness; and
``(B) work to reunify youth with their family when safe and
appropriate.''.
SEC. __. BASIC CENTER GRANT PROGRAM.
Part A of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C.
11211 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 311, by striking subsection (a) and
inserting the following:
``(a) Grants for Centers and Services.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) not later than 90 days before the start date of the
grant, award 5-year grants to public and nonprofit private
entities, and combinations of such entities, to establish,
operate, and maintain (including renovate) local centers to
provide--
``(i) safe shelter and services for runaway and homeless
youth, including trauma-informed services; and
``(ii) if appropriate, services for the families of such
youth, including individuals identified by such youth as
family; and
``(B) establish an appeal process for grantees.
``(2) Services provided.--Services provided under paragraph
(1)--
``(A) shall be provided to runaway youth, street youth,
homeless youth, or youth at risk of separation from the
family;
``(B) shall include--
``(i) safe and appropriate shelter for not more than 30
days or the maximum allowed by the State, whichever is
greater;
``(ii) individual, family, or group counseling, as
appropriate, including counseling for individuals identified
by such youth as family, that considers the age, gender, and
social and developmental needs of such youth, and is
culturally and linguistically appropriate; and
``(iii) suicide prevention services; and
``(C) may include--
``(i) street-based services;
``(ii) home-based services for families with youth at risk
of separation from the family, to the extent practicable,
that consider the ages, genders, and social and developmental
needs of the family, and are culturally and linguistically
appropriate;
``(iii) prevention services;
``(iv) substance use disorder education and prevention
services;
``(v) at the request of runaway youth or homeless youth,
testing for sexually transmitted infections;
``(vi) trauma-informed services, including for such youth
who are victims of trafficking; and
``(vii) an assessment of--
``(I) family engagement in support and reunification, if
reunification is appropriate;
``(II) interventions; and
``(III) services for parents or legal guardians of such
youth or, if appropriate, individuals identified by such
youth as family.'';
(2) in section 312--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) shall use such assistance to establish, strengthen,
or fund a runaway and homeless youth center that provides
temporary shelter or a locally controlled project, including
a host family home, that has--
``(A) a minimum capacity of not less than 4 youth, except
if there is an established minimum number of beds per youth
shelter or project location;
``(B) a maximum capacity of not more than 20 youth, except
where the applicant demonstrates that the State where the
center or locally controlled project is located has a State
or local law or regulation that allows a higher maximum to
comply with licensure requirements for child and youth
serving centers or projects;
``(C) a ratio of staff to youth that is sufficient to
ensure adequate supervision and treatment; and
``(D) if it is a mixed project, not more than 20 youth per
project, except where the applicant demonstrates that the
project has a State or local law or regulation that allows a
higher maximum to comply with licensure requirements for
child and youth serving projects;'';
(ii) in paragraph (5), by striking ``or legal guardians''
and inserting ``, legal guardians, or individuals identified
by such youth as family, if appropriate,'';
(iii) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), and (8), and
inserting the following:
``(6) shall develop an adequate plan, which may include the
use of online resources to reach and engage youth, for
establishing or coordinating with outreach programs designed
to attract persons, including persons who are members of
underserved populations, who are eligible to receive services
for which a grant under section 311(a) may be expended;
``(7) shall keep adequate statistical records profiling the
runaway youth or homeless youth and family members of such
youth whom the applicant serves, including demographic
information and the number of such youth who--
``(A) are not referred to out-of-home shelter services;
``(B) are members of vulnerable or underserved populations;
``(C) are victims of trafficking;
``(D) are pregnant or parenting;
``(E) have been involved in the child welfare system; and
``(F) have been involved in the juvenile justice system;
``(8) shall ensure that--
``(A) the information maintained on individual runaway
youth or homeless youth contained in the records described in
paragraph (7) shall not be disclosed without the consent of
the individual youth and the parent of the youth, the legal
guardian of the youth, or an individual identified by such
youth as family, to anyone other than an agency compiling
statistical records or a government agency involved in the
disposition of criminal charges against such youth; and
``(B) reports or other documents based on the statistics
described in paragraph (7) shall not disclose the identity of
any individual runaway youth or homeless youth;'';
(iv) in paragraph (12), by striking subparagraphs (B) and
(C) and inserting the following:
[[Page S3353]]
``(B) detailed information on how the applicant has been
able to meet the goals of the plan of the applicant; and
``(C) statistical summaries describing--
``(i) the data the Secretary requires to be collected;
``(ii) the number and characteristics of runaway youth,
homeless youth, street youth, and youth at risk of separation
from the family, who participate in the project, including
information on such youth who--
``(I) are victims of trafficking;
``(II) are pregnant or parenting;
``(III) have been involved in the child welfare system; or
``(IV) have been involved with the criminal justice system;
and
``(iii) the services provided to such youth by the
project;'';
(v) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``for natural disasters, inclement weather, and
public health emergencies;''; and
(vi) by adding at the end the following:
``(14) shall provide services to runaway youth and homeless
youth that consider the age, gender, and social and
developmental needs of such youth, and are culturally and
linguistically appropriate, to the extent practicable; and
``(15) shall inform youth of their status as independent
students under section 480 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv), provide verification of such status
for the purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid described in section 483 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090), and assist youth in completing this
application at the request of the youth.'';
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at end the following:
``(5) develop a plan, consistent with local needs, for the
use of online resources, if appropriate, to reach and engage
youth.'';
(C) in subsection (d)--
(i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) provide counseling and information that consider the
age, gender, and social and developmental needs of such
youth, and are culturally and linguistically appropriate, to
the extent practicable, to youth and the families of such
youth (including unrelated individuals in the family
households of such youth and individuals identified by such
youth as family), including services relating to basic life
skills, interpersonal skill building, educational
advancement, job attainment skills, mental and physical
health care, suicide prevention, parenting skills, financial
planning, and referral to sources of other needed
services;'';
(ii) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, including training
on trauma-informed care'' before the semicolon at the end;
and
(iii) in paragraph (5)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(II) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(III) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) youth are eligible for home-based services when
determined by the applicant to be at risk of separation from
family.'';
(D) in subsection (e), by striking the subsection
enumerator and all that follows through ``(b)--'' and
inserting the following:
``(e) Applicants Providing Substance Use Disorder Education
and Prevention Services.--To be eligible to use assistance
under section 311(a) to provide substance use disorder
education and prevention services, an applicant shall include
in the plan required by subsection (b)--''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Online Resources for Outreach.--An applicant may
develop a plan, consistent with local needs, for the use of
online resources to reach and engage youth.
``(g) Definition of Underserved Populations.--In this
section, the term `underserved populations' means victims of
homelessness or trafficking or runaway youth, who
disproportionately face barriers in accessing and using
victim services, including populations who are underserved
due to limited English proficiency or are historically
marginalized and underserved communities of color, and any
other population determined to be underserved by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services.''; and
(3) in section 313, by striking subsection (b) and
inserting the following:
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under
section 311(a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible
applicants who have demonstrated experience in providing
services to runaway youth and homeless youth.''.
SEC. __. TRANSITIONAL LIVING GRANT PROGRAM.
Part B of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C.
11221 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 321--
(A) by inserting ``5-year'' after ``to make''; and
(B) by inserting ``and runaway youth. The Secretary shall
award such grants not later than 90 days before the start
date of the grant and establish an appeal process for
grantees'' after ``homeless youth''; and
(2) in section 322--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) to provide to homeless youth, by grant, agreement, or
contract--
``(A) shelter, such as group homes, maternity group homes,
host family homes, and supervised apartments; and
``(B) services, such as information and counseling services
in basic life skills, which consider the age, gender, and
social and developmental needs of such youth, and are
culturally and linguistically appropriate, including topics
on money management, budgeting, consumer education, use of
credit, parenting skills, interpersonal skill building,
educational advancement, job attainment skills, mental and
physical health care, and suicide prevention services;'';
(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and runaway'' after
``to provide such shelter and such services to individual
homeless'';
(iii) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the
following:
``(4) that such shelter project used to carry out such
project shall--
``(A) have a minimum project capacity of not fewer than 4
youth, except if there is an established minimum number of
beds per individual shelter or project location;
``(B) have the capacity to accommodate not more than 20
individuals, excluding staff, within a single project, except
where the applicant demonstrates that the State where the
project is located has a State or local law or regulation
that allows a higher maximum to comply with licensure
requirements for child and youth serving projects; and
``(C) if it is a mixed project, limit runaway and homeless
youth shelter beds to 20 youth per project with segregated
access and programming, except where the applicant
demonstrates that the State where the project is located has
a State or local law or regulation that allows a higher
maximum to comply with licensure requirements for child and
youth serving projects;'';
(iv) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), (8), and (9), and
inserting the following:
``(6) to develop a written transitional living plan in
partnership with each youth based on an assessment of the
needs of each youth, designed to help the transition from
supervised participation in such project to independent
living or another appropriate living arrangement;
``(7) to develop an adequate plan to ensure proper
coordination, integration, and referral of homeless youth and
runaway youth, which considers the age, gender, and social
and developmental needs of such youth, and are culturally and
linguistically appropriate, to the extent practicable, to--
``(A) social service;
``(B) law enforcement;
``(C) educational training, including postsecondary
education;
``(D) vocational training, including services and programs
for youth available under the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.);
``(E) welfare, including programs amended under the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193);
``(F) legal service;
``(G) mental health service and health care programs;
``(H) substance use disorder treatment; and
``(I) programs providing wrap-around services to victims of
trafficking and gender-based violence;
``(8) to provide for the establishment of outreach programs
designed to attract individuals who are eligible to
participate in the project, which may include the use of
online and social media engagements;
``(9) to submit to the Secretary an annual report that
includes information regarding the activities carried out
with funds under this part, the achievements of the project
under this part carried out by the applicant and statistical
summaries describing the number, characteristics, and
demographic information of the homeless youth and runaway
youth who participate in such project, including the
prevalence of trafficking of such youth, and the services
provided to such youth by such project, in the year for which
the report is submitted;'';
(v) in paragraph (15), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(vi) by striking paragraph (16) and inserting the
following:
``(16) to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and
management plan regarding responses to natural disasters,
inclement weather, and mental health emergencies; and'';
(vii) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) and (6)
through (16), as paragraphs (5) through (7) and (9) through
(19), respectively;
(viii) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) to provide counseling to homeless and runaway youth
and to encourage, if appropriate, the involvement in such
counseling of their parents, legal guardians, or individuals
identified by such youth as family;
``(4) to provide aftercare services, if possible, to
homeless and runaway youth who have received shelter and
services from a transitional living youth project, including,
to the extent practicable, such youth who, after receiving
such shelter and services, relocate to a geographic area or
State other than the geographic area or State in which such
project is located;'';
(ix) by inserting after paragraph (7), as redesignated by
clause (vii), the following:
``(8) to develop a plan to provide services, which consider
the age, gender, and social and developmental needs of such
youth, and are culturally and linguistically appropriate,
that address the needs of runaway, homeless, and street
youth;'';
[[Page S3354]]
(x) by adding at end the following:
``(20) to inform youth of their status as independent
students under section 480 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv), provide verification of such status
for the purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid described in section 483 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090), and assist the youth in completing
this application at the request of the youth.'';
(B) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Priority.--In selecting eligible applicants to
receive grants under this part, the Secretary shall give
priority to entities that have experience in providing to
homeless youth shelter and services of the types described in
subsection (a)(1).''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Priority for Homeless Youth Less Than 22 Years of
Age.--An entity that receives a grant under this part--
``(1) shall, in carrying out activities under the grant,
prioritize service to homeless youth who are less than 22
years of age, but not less than 15 years of age; and
``(2) may use grant funds to serve homeless youth who are
ages 22 to less than 26.''.
SEC. __. NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.
Section 331 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34
U.S.C. 11231) is amended by inserting ``, online, and social
media'' after ``telephone''.
SEC. __. COORDINATING, TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES.
Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C.
11241 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 341--
(A) by inserting ``safety, well-being,'' after ``health,'';
and
(B) in paragraph (2) by striking ``other Federal entities''
and inserting ``the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, the Department of Education, the Department of
Labor, and the Department of Justice'';
(2) in section 342--
(A) by inserting ``5-year'' after ``make'';
(B) by inserting ``(including onsite and web-based
techniques, such as on-demand and online learning)'' after
``training''; and
(C) by striking ``carrying out'' and inserting
``implementing in a trauma-informed manner'';
(3) in section 343(b)--
(A) in paragraph (5)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``abuse'' and all that
follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting
``abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking;'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``abuse'' and all
that follows through ``; and'' and inserting ``abuse, sexual
assault, and trafficking;'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``who have been
sexually victimized''; and
(iv) by adding at end the following:
``(D) best practices for identifying and providing services
that consider the age, gender, and social and developmental
background of an individual, and are culturally and
linguistically appropriate, to the extent practicable, to--
``(i) vulnerable and underserved youth populations; and
``(ii) youth who are victims of trafficking; and
``(E) informing youth of their status as independent
students under section 480 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv), providing verification of such
status for the purposes of the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid described in section 483 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090), and assisting youth in
completing this application at the request of the youth;'';
(B) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(C) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at end the following:
``(11) examining the intersection between the runaway and
homeless youth populations and trafficking, including noting
whether such youth who are victims of trafficking were
previously involved in the child welfare system or juvenile
justice system.'';
(4) in section 344(a)(2)(A), by striking ``$100,000'' and
inserting ``$200,000'';
(5) in section 345--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking ``Not later than'' and all that follows
through ``Homelessness'' and inserting ``Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of the Runaway and Homeless
Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2026, and at 3-year
intervals thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the
Associate Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services
Bureau'';
(ii) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``13'' and inserting ``12''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(iv) by adding at end the following:
``(3) that includes demographic information of such
individuals, including youth who are victims of trafficking;
and
``(4) that does not disclose the identity of any such
individual.''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1)--
(i) by striking ``13'' and inserting ``12'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (ii), by striking ``; and'' and inserting ``,
including mental health services;'';
(II) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon; and
(III) by adding at end the following:
``(iv) connections to caring adults; and
``(v) access to secondary education, higher education, and
job training; and'';
(iv) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (E);
and
(v) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) incidences, if any, of such individuals who--
``(i) are victims of trafficking;
``(ii) are victims of sexual exploitation; or
``(iii) were involved in the child welfare or foster care
system;
``(C) demographic characteristics, including race, color,
religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (as defined
in section 249(c) of title 18, United States Code), sexual
orientation, and disability;
``(D) statistics on youth who are or were pregnant or
parenting; and''.
SEC. __. SEXUAL ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PROGRAM;
STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM.
Part E of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C.
11261 et seq.) is amended by striking section 351 and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 351. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make 5-year grants
to public and nonprofit private entities, and combinations of
such entities, for the purpose of providing street-based
services to runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been
subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual
abuse or trafficking. The Secretary shall award such grants
not later than 90 days before the start date of the grant and
establish an appeal process for grantees.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applicants to receive grants
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to
public and nonprofit private entities that have experience in
providing services to runaway, homeless, and street youth.
``(c) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to receive
a grant under subsection (a), an applicant shall certify to
the Secretary that such applicant has expertise in serving
runaway, homeless, and street youth and has systems in place
to ensure that such applicant can provide services that
consider the age, gender, and social and developmental
background of youth described in subsection (a), and are
culturally and linguistically appropriate.''.
SEC. __. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
Part F of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C.
11271 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``part f'' and inserting
``part g'';
(2) in section 381--
(A) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``facility'' and
inserting ``center or project''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``facility'' both
places it appears and inserting ``center or project'';
(3) in section 382(a)--
(A) by striking ``2000'' and inserting ``2026'';
(B) by striking ``the Workforce'' and inserting
``Workforce'';
(C) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as
subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) identifying youth who are victims of trafficking;'';
and
(D) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) the number and characteristics of youth served by
such projects, including such youth who--
``(i) are victims of trafficking;
``(ii) are pregnant or parenting;
``(iii) have been involved in the child welfare system; or
``(iv) have been involved in the juvenile or adult criminal
justice system, the incarceration system, or legal
proceedings related to such systems;''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraph (F) and inserting the
following:
``(F) the ability of such projects to encourage the
resolution of problems within the family, including with
individuals identified by such youth as family, through
counseling and development of self-sufficient living skills;
and'';
(4) in section 383(a) by striking ``facility's budget'' and
inserting ``budget of the center or project'';
(5) in section 384, by adding at the end the following:
``Grantees are encouraged to share data with other programs
and systems, without identifying individual youth in any
shared records, to improve coordination and maximize the use
of resources.'';
(6) by inserting after section 384 the following:
``SEC. 384A. ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the
Associate Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services
Bureau, may waive any provision under this title for a period
of not more than 3 years, unless an extension is granted
under subsection (f), if--
``(1) a potential grantee requests a waiver that describes
1 or more conflicting or duplicative requirements or
circumstances that prevent the effective delivery of services
to runaway and homeless youth, such as an extraordinary
circumstance, natural disaster, public health emergency, or
financial crisis;
[[Page S3355]]
``(2) the Secretary determines that the waiver will, by
itself, contribute to or enhance the ability of the grantee
to carry out the purposes of this title; and
``(3) the Secretary determines that the waiver will not be
inconsistent with the objectives of this title.
``(b) Contents.--A request made under subsection (a) shall
be provided to the Secretary in writing and shall--
``(1) detail each provision within this title for which the
grantee seeks relief;
``(2) describe how a waiver from such provision will, by
itself, improve delivery of services to runaway and homeless
youth; and
``(3) certify that the health, safety, and well-being of
runaway and homeless youth served through assistance received
under this title will not be compromised as a result of the
waiver.
``(c) Notification of Approval or Disapproval.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the receipt
of a waiver request made under subsection (a), the Secretary
shall inform the grantee of approval or disapproval of the
request.
``(2) Disapproval.--If the request is disapproved, the
Secretary shall inform the grantee, the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and
Workforce of the House of Representatives of the reasons for
the disapproval and give the grantee the opportunity to amend
the request or appeal the decision.
``(3) Approval.--If the request is approved, the Secretary
shall grant a waiver and, not later than 30 days after
granting such waiver, notify and submit a report to the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee
on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives
that describes--
``(A) each specific provision waived;
``(B) the reason given by the grantee for the need for a
waiver; and
``(C) the expected impact of the waiver on youth served
under this program.
``(d) External Conditions.--The Secretary shall not require
or impose any new or additional requirements in exchange for
receipt of a waiver if such requirements are not specified in
this title.
``(e) Termination.--The Secretary shall terminate approval
of a request for a waiver authorized under this section if
the Secretary determines, after notice and opportunity for a
hearing, that the performance of a grantee who was granted
relief under this section has been inadequate, or if such
relief is no longer necessary to achieve its original
purposes.
``(f) Waiver Extension.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may grant an extension to
an existing waiver authorized under this section for a period
of not more than 1 year upon a request for a waiver extension
from the grantee.
``(2) Extension request.--A request for a waiver extension
described under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the
Secretary not later than 30 days before the expiration date
of the existing waiver, and shall re-certify the provisions
in subsection (b) and explain the need for additional time of
relief from such provisions provided in this title.
``(g) Restrictions.--Nothing in this title shall be
construed as authorizing the Secretary to permit a grantee to
alter the eligibility requirements for eligible youth.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the
Secretary to waive anything related to the Secretary's
authority under this title.'';
(7) in section 386(a)--
(A) by striking ``3 consecutive'' and inserting ``5
consecutive'' both places it appears;
(B) by inserting ``, acting through the Associate
Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau,'' after
``Secretary''; and
(C) by inserting `` or virtually when appropriate,'' after
``on-site,'';
(8) in section 386A--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking ``Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008''
and inserting ``Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking
Prevention Act of 2026''; and
(ii) by inserting ``371,'' after ``sections''; and
(B) in subsection (c), by inserting ``371,'' after
``sections'';
(9) in section 387--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (4), (5), (6), (7),
and (8), as paragraphs (9), (6), (7), (8), (11), and (13),
respectively;
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) the following:
``(1) Culturally and linguistically appropriate.--The term
`culturally and linguistically appropriate', with respect to
services, has the meaning given the term `culturally and
linguistically appropriate services' in the `National
Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate
Services in Health and Health Care', issued in April 2013, by
the Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and
Human Services.'';
(C) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``21'' and inserting ``26'';
and
(ii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:
``(ii) for the purposes of part B, not less than 15 years
of age but less than 26 years of age, subject to section
322(d);'';
(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Mixed projects.--The term `mixed projects' means a
building, structure, or campus that may house multiple
programs serving youth under the age of 26. Any of these
programs may be funded as authorized under this Act as well
as funded by other entities, including private, public, and
other government funding.
``(5) Prevention services.--The term `prevention services'
means services to prevent youth from becoming runaway,
homeless, or street youth and may include--
``(A) individual, family, group, and peer counseling;
``(B) family mediation;
``(C) assessing the strengths, vulnerabilities, and needs
of youth;
``(D) connecting youth to public services and housing
options;
``(E) emergency respite care for clients within the
allowable age range of the underlying grant award, including
care that provides parents and other caregivers with
emergency services and temporary shelter that offer relief;
``(F) connecting youth to education and employment
programs;
``(G) case management and resource navigation; and
``(H) activities to improve access to local mental health
and substance use treatment and prevention.'';
(E) in paragraph (7)(B), as redesignated by subparagraph
(A)--
(i) in clause (i), by inserting ``, including the use of
online methods of engagement, as appropriate, based on the
needs of the community and population served'' after ``street
youth''; and
(ii) by striking clause (v) and inserting the following:
``(v) advocacy, education, and prevention services related
to--
``(I) substance use disorder;
``(II) trafficking;
``(III) sexually transmitted infections, including human
immunodeficiency virus;
``(IV) violence, including physical assault, sexual
assault, domestic violence, and gender-based violence; and
``(V) suicide.'';
(F) in paragraph (8)(B), as redesignated by subparagraph
(A), by striking ``prostitution, or drug abuse'' and
inserting ``trafficking, or substance use disorder'';
(G) in paragraph (9), as redesignated by subparagraph (A),
by striking the paragraph (9) enumerator and all that follows
through ``services'--'', and inserting the following:
``(9) Substance use disorder education and prevention
services.--The term `substance use disorder education and
prevention services'--'';
(H) by inserting after paragraph (9), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A), the following:
``(10) Trafficking.--The term `trafficking' has the meaning
given the terms `severe forms of trafficking in persons' and
`sex trafficking' in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).'';
(I) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by subparagraph (A),
by inserting ``, to establish family or community supports,''
after ``self-sufficient living'';
(J) by inserting after paragraph (11), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A), the following:
``(12) Trauma-informed.--The term `trauma-informed' has the
meaning given the term in section 103 of the Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C. 11103).'';
and
(K) in paragraph (13)(B), as redesignated by subparagraph
(A)--
(i) in clause (ii)--
(I) by inserting ``or able'' after ``willing''; and
(II) by striking ``or'' after the semicolon;
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(iii) by adding at end the following:
``(iv) who is involved in the child welfare system,
juvenile justice system, or criminal justice system, but who
is not being housed by any such system.''.
SEC. __. PREVENTION SERVICES.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11201 et
seq.) is amended by inserting after part E the following:
``PART F--PREVENTION SERVICES
``SEC. 371. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to make 5-
year grants to an eligible entity, as described under
subsection (c), that applies for an optional, additional
prevention services grant. Any funds provided under this part
are in addition to other funds grantees receive under other
parts in this title.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting grantees to receive grants
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to
eligible entities that are--
``(1) public entities and nonprofit, private entities that
have experience in providing services to runaway, homeless,
and street youth, and youth at risk of separation from the
family; and
``(2) public entities and nonprofit, private entities that
request prevention services grants of not more than $75,000
per year.
``(c) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to receive
a grant under subsection (a)--
``(1) the potential grantee shall--
``(A) be a successful basic center program or transitional
living program, which may include a program that operates a
maternity group home, that wants to establish, strengthen, or
provide prevention services for youth at risk of homelessness
and youth at risk of running away; and
[[Page S3356]]
``(B) submit to the Secretary a plan agreeing, as part of
such program, to provide prevention services; and
``(2) the potential grantee shall certify to the Secretary
that such grantee has systems in place to provide services to
youth described in subsection (a) that consider the age,
gender, and social and developmental background of such
youth, and are culturally and linguistically appropriate.''.
SEC. __. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 388(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34
U.S.C. 11280(a)) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this title (other than parts E and
F) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2031.
``(2) Allocation.--
``(A) Parts a and b.--From the amount appropriated under
paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve
not less than 90 percent to carry out parts A and B.
``(B) Part b.--Of the amount reserved under subparagraph
(A), 45 percent and, in those fiscal years in which
continuation grant obligations and the quality and number of
applicants for parts A and B warrant not more than 55
percent, shall be reserved to carry out part B.
``(3) Parts c and d.--
``(A) In general.--In each fiscal year, after reserving the
amounts required by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall use
the remaining amount (if any) to carry out parts C and D
(other than section 345).
``(B) Periodic estimate.--Of the amount authorized to be
appropriated under paragraph (1), $2,000,000 shall be made
available to carry out section 345 for each of fiscal years
2027, 2029, and 2031.
``(4) Part e.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out part E $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2028
through 2031.
``(5) Part f.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out part F $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2027, and such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2028
through 2031.''.
SEC. __. APPROVAL OF APPLICATION.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11201 et
seq.) is amended by adding at end the following:
``SEC. 390. APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS.
``(a) In General.--An application by a public or private
nonprofit entity for a grant under section 311, 321, or 351,
may be approved by the Secretary for an amount for a fiscal
year that is--
``(1) not less than $225,000 and not more than $275,000 if
the amount appropriated to carry out this title (other than
parts E and F) for the fiscal year is equal to or greater
than $200,000,000; or
``(2) not less than $200,000 and not more than $250,000 if
the amount appropriated to carry out this title (other than
parts E and F) for the fiscal year is less than $200,000,000.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under
sections 311, 321, and 351, the Secretary shall give priority
to eligible grantees who have demonstrated experience in
providing services to runaway and homeless youth.''.
______