Expressing the importance of raising awareness of opportunity youth and the necessity of investing in and supporting reconnection to education and career pathways across the United States.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1630 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1630

Expressing the importance of raising awareness of opportunity youth and 
the necessity of investing in and supporting reconnection to education 
             and career pathways across the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 19, 2026

 Mr. Bresnahan (for himself and Mr. Carter of Louisiana) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the importance of raising awareness of opportunity youth and 
the necessity of investing in and supporting reconnection to education 
             and career pathways across the United States.

Whereas, as of 2024, 10.7 percent of young people ages 16 to 24 in the United 
        States, or 4,336,000 young people, are considered opportunity youth;
Whereas opportunity youth are young people who are disconnected from the 
        education and workforce development system and face significant barriers 
        to success, such as homelessness or aging out of the foster care system;
Whereas, according to youth.gov, opportunity youth come from all parts of the 
        United States with rates in suburban communities of 11 percent, urban 
        communities of 13 percent, and rural areas of 19 percent;
Whereas the youth labor force participation rate is 9.7 percent lower than its 
        peak in 2000, while employers report nearly 7,300,000 job openings;
Whereas chronic absenteeism, defined as youth missing 10 percent or more of 
        school, reached 28 percent of students in the 2022-2023 school year;
Whereas, after 14 years, compared to young people who experienced youth 
        disconnection, those who remained connected earn on average $31,000 more 
        per year, are 45 percent more likely to own a home, are 42 percent more 
        likely to be employed, and are 52 percent more likely to report good or 
        excellent health;
Whereas unemployed youth have significantly worse physical well-being and health 
        outcomes compared to those that are employed;
Whereas all young people need to be connected to financial, education, and 
        career pathway resources, supportive mentors and relationships, and 
        opportunities to succeed;
Whereas opportunity youth need these same supports to thrive and succeed;
Whereas only around 140,000 of the 4,336,000 opportunity youth across the 
        country are served by the primary federally funded workforce development 
        programs each year;
Whereas workforce development and education programs that are most successful in 
        employment and earnings provide clear, structured career pathways, 
        integrate work and learning, and supportive services;
Whereas the Federal Government would gain, on average, an estimated $11,900 per 
        year in additional revenue for each young person who remains connected, 
        or $55,000,000,000 in total; and
Whereas employers benefit from having programs that intentionally hire 
        opportunity youth and report positive experiences in working with 
        opportunity youth: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance of focusing Federal policy on 
        connecting to workforce development, education, and mental 
        health programs, young people (commonly referred to as 
        ``opportunity youth'')--
                    (A) who are disconnected from the education and 
                workforce development system; and
                    (B) who face significant barriers to success, such 
                as homelessness or aging out of the foster care system;
            (2) recognizes the need to robustly invest in, develop, and 
        reauthorize effective Federal programs that support--
                    (A) the development of opportunity youth; and
                    (B) the connection of opportunity youth to 
                workforce development, education, and mental health 
                programs; and
            (3) urges the heads of Federal departments and agencies, 
        including the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, 
        and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to take 
        innovative steps to ensure opportunity youth are a priority in 
        Federal workforce development, education, and mental health 
        grant programs.
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