Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026

Steve Daines

Republican · MT · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH)Original· 2026-04-16

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

2026-04-16

Source: Congress.gov

The bill would increase financial support for foster youth pursuing education and job training after high school by raising the maximum voucher amount they can receive and expanding access to workforce development programs. Young people who have been in the foster care system would get more help paying for college, vocational schools, and other training to prepare them for adult careers. The changes aim to give foster youth better tools to become self-sufficient and succeed once they leave the system.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4314 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4314 To amend the John H. Chaffee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to increase the maximum education and training voucher amount, provide greater support for foster youth pursuing postsecondary education, and expand education and workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster care, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026 Mr. Daines (for himself and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the John H. Chaffee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to increase the maximum education and training voucher amount, provide greater support for foster youth pursuing postsecondary education, and expand education and workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster care, and for other purposes. 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 Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026''. 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''; and (4) in subsection (i)-- (A) in paragraph (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 voucher 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)(iii), for more than 6 years), whether or not consecutive''; (B) in paragraph (4)-- (i) 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) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as described in section 481(b)(3) of such Act, as added by section 83002(b) of Public Law 119-21;''; (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A), as so amended, the following: ``(B) may be available for costs-- ``(i) associated with participation in a registered apprenticeship program; ``(ii) to obtain a general equivalency degree; or ``(iii) to receive remedial education; and''; and (iv) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by striking ``that Act'' and inserting ``the Higher Education Act of 1965''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(7) In this section-- ``(A) the term `remedial education' means education or skill training needed to support obtaining a high school diploma or qualifying for postsecondary education, training, or a registered apprenticeship that is-- ``(i) not provided by the local educational agency of the student or another free local, State, or Federal program; and ``(ii) is provided by an instructor with credentials relevant to the subject area of instruction,…

as determined by the State; and ``(B) the term `registered apprenticeship' means an apprenticeship program registered either by a State apprenticeship agency recognized by the Secretary of Labor or the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the `National Apprenticeship Act'; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).''. SEC. 3. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER AMOUNT AND PROVISION OF GREATER SUPPORT FOR FOSTER YOUTH PURSUING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. (a) In General.--Section 477(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)), as amended by section 2, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (3)-- (A) by striking ``training program'' and inserting ``training program (except that the State may establish a grace period to allow a youth to continue participation in activities described in paragraph (4)(A), after an assessment and consultation with the youth, if the State determines that reasonable circumstances warrant the grace period),''; and (B) by striking ``that program'' and inserting ``that education or training program''; and (2) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$12,000''. (b) Guidance.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with youth who have experienced foster care, shall develop and issue model guidance to States and jurisdictions receiving allotments under section 477(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(c)) for implementation of the amendment made by subsection (a)(1). SEC. 4. IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND YOUTH AWARENESS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHERS. (a) In General.--Section 477(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)), as amended by sections 2 and 3, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(8) The State shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that eligible youth are aware of potential benefits provided under this subsection, including by coordinating with programs funded under subsection (h)(1). ``(9) The program shall include a simplified, user-tested, and standard form for youth to use to apply for vouchers under the program, using standard terminology, that is easily accessible and available electronically. ``(10) The State may use funds otherwise available under this subsection to assist eligible youth in overcoming transportation barriers that limit access to postsecondary education, workforce training, registered apprenticeships, or employment.''. (b) Use of Funds.--Section 477(d)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(d)(1)) is amended to read as follows: ``(1) In general.--A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this section, including outreach related to subsection (i)(8). A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c)(3) may use the amount for any purpose related to the program described in subsection (i)(8).''. SEC. 5. 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. <all>

• SRES746A resolution designating May 2026 as "National Brain Tumor Awareness Month".
  Introduced · 2026-05-20
• SRES726A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2026, as "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls".
  Introduced · 2026-05-12
• S4489Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-12
• S1020A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.
  Enacted into Law · 2026-05-11