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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5908 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5908

 To provide funding to summer youth employment programs to expand the 
 availability of subsidized jobs for youths and to develop innovative 
   program activities that improve academic, economic, and criminal 
          justice outcomes for youths, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 6, 2023

  Ms. Sherrill (for herself, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, 
 Mrs. Foushee, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Ms. Manning, Mr. 
         Panetta, and Mr. Trone) introduced the following bill

                            October 25, 2023

        Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To provide funding to summer youth employment programs to expand the 
 availability of subsidized jobs for youths and to develop innovative 
   program activities that improve academic, economic, and criminal 
          justice outcomes for youths, 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 ``Strengthening Communities through 
Summer Employment Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS .

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Labor to carry out this Act--
            (1) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (2) $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (3) $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (4) $230,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (5) $240,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
    (b) Distribution of Funds.--Of the amounts appropriated under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Labor shall use--
            (1) 45 percent of such amount to award grants under section 
        3;
            (2) 45 percent of such amount to award grants under section 
        4;
            (3) 5 percent of such amount to carry out evaluation 
        activities under section 5(b); and
            (4) 5 percent of such amount to fund the Advisory Board 
        under section 6.

SEC. 3. EXPANSION AND SCALING OF SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--From the amounts available under section 
2(b)(1), the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible entities to develop and implement new, or expand 
existing, summer youth employment programs in a State or local area, 
for the purpose of improving academic, economic, and criminal justice 
outcomes for participants, including--
            (1) high school graduation rates;
            (2) enrollment rates in postsecondary education;
            (3) employment and wage rates; and
            (4) arrest, conviction, and incarceration rates.
    (b) Grant Prioritization.--In awarding grants to eligible entities 
under this section, the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the 
Advisory Board, shall prioritize eligible entities that, based upon the 
applications submitted under subsection (c)--
            (1) have higher youth unemployment rates and violent crime 
        rates in the local areas to be served;
            (2) will offer higher quality and more rigorous the summer 
        youth employment programs (which shall include a consideration 
        of whether the program has been evaluated and, if so, the 
        impact of the program on the youth outcomes listed under 
        subsection (a)); and
            (3) will serve a higher number of youth historically 
        underserved by summer youth employment programs, including 
        youth in rural and suburban local areas.
    (c) Application Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may determine to be necessary, which shall 
include information that demonstrates that the eligible entity will use 
such grant to develop and implement, or expand, a summer youth 
employment program that includes each of the elements listed in 
subsection (d).
    (d) Required Elements for Summer Youth Employment Programs.--A 
summer youth employment program funded under this section shall include 
each of the following elements:
            (1) Provides youth participants under the age of 25 with 
        subsidized employment for at least 4 weeks during the summer.
            (2) Pays at least the greater of the applicable Federal, 
        State, or local minimum wage.
            (3) Provides community engagement and outreach to ensure 
        equitable access to the program in terms of awareness, 
        application process, and completion of the hiring process, 
        including documentation of eligibility.
            (4) Matches each youth participant with an employer based 
        on the needs of the employer and the skills and interests of 
        the youth participant.
            (5) Provides coaching and mentoring services for each youth 
        participant to support the participant's completion of the 
        summer employment program.
            (6) Provides assistance to each youth participant in 
        obtaining educational and employment opportunities after the 
        completion of the program, such as by connecting participants 
        with secondary school programs, postsecondary education 
        opportunities, apprenticeships, career and technical education, 
        or adult job training programs, if applicable.
            (7) Provides training, coaching, and mentoring services, 
        and technical assistance to participating employers to best 
        help such employers structure the job opportunities of the 
        employers to meet the employer's needs and the support the 
        success of youth participants.
            (8) Provides program supports to youth participants before, 
        during, and after their program (such as digital literacy 
        training, work-readiness opportunities, financial literacy 
        training, specific job training for their summer job placement, 
        and career counseling services).

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated under section 
2(b)(2) for this section, the Secretary of Labor shall provide grants, 
on a competitive basis, to eligible entities that operate summer youth 
employment programs that include each of the program elements listed in 
section 3(d) to integrate innovative approaches in carrying out such 
programs for the purposes of improving the youth outcomes listed under 
section 3(a).
    (b) Grant Prioritization.--In awarding grants to eligible entities 
under this section, the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the 
Advisory Board, shall prioritize eligible entities that, based upon the 
applications submitted under subsection (c)--
            (1) have higher youth unemployment rates and violent crime 
        rates in the local areas to be served;
            (2) will offer a higher quality and more rigorous summer 
        youth employment program (which shall include a consideration 
        of whether the program has been evaluated and, if so, the 
        impact of the program on the youth outcomes listed in section 
        3(a));
            (3) will offer a higher quality and more rigorous 
        innovative approach for such program (which shall include a 
        consideration of whether that innovative approach has been 
        evaluated and, if so, the impact of the innovative approach on 
        the youth outcomes listed under section 3(a)); and
            (4) will serve a higher number of youth historically 
        underserved by summer youth employment programs, including 
        youth in rural and suburban local areas.
    (c) Application Requirements.--To be eligible for a grant under 
this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, and in such manner as may be required by the 
Secretary, which includes a description of the plan to integrate one or 
more of the innovative approaches listed in subsection (d) into the 
summer youth employment program operated by the eligible entity.
    (d) Innovative Approaches to Summer Youth Employment Programs.--An 
eligible entity that operates a summer youth employment program that 
includes the required program elements listed in section 3(d) shall use 
funds received under this section to integrate into such program one or 
more of the following innovative approaches:
            (1) Individualized mentoring and coaching for youth 
        participants, under which each youth participant--
                    (A) before and after the participant starts the 
                program and regularly during the program, meets one-on-
                one with a dedicated mentor;
                    (B) develops a comprehensive success plan with the 
                mentor, including academic and employment goals and the 
                steps needed to achieve such goals;
                    (C) receives other support from the mentor, which 
                shall include--
                            (i) coaching to overcome barriers that 
                        could impact progress in completing the 
                        employment received under the summer youth 
                        employment program;
                            (ii) providing letters of recommendation; 
                        and
                            (iii) making referrals to educational and 
                        social services, where necessary.
            (2) High-quality job training, career counseling, or 
        educational tutoring programs to be delivered in small group 
        settings before the program, on evenings and weekends during 
        the program, and after the program, with the goal of preparing 
        youth participants for future employment, which shall include 
        assisting youth participants--
                    (A) with developing resumes and interviewing 
                skills, and financial literacy; and
                    (B) in completing a regular high school diploma or 
                its recognized equivalent and literacy classes, if 
                applicable.
            (3) Social-emotional learning for youth participants, 
        including proven interventions to help develop empathy, self-
        efficacy, positive decision-making, and communication skills.
            (4) Wrap-around financial assistance services, including 
        for food, shelter, and transportation.
            (5) Mental health supports for youth participants, as 
        applicable.
            (6) Substance abuse and addiction treatment supports for 
        youth participants, as applicable.
            (7) The continuation of certain program elements 
        (particularly the individualized mentoring, mental health and 
        behavioral supports, and career counseling), in coordination 
        with their school districts, for a period of time after the 
        employment portion of the program ends to help participants 
        continue their engagement with the education and employment 
        system, with financial assistance available to youth who 
        continue to participate in these program elements after their 
        summer employment has ended.
            (8) The provision of one or more of the program elements 
        listed in section 3(d) virtually to develop digital literacy 
        and remote work skills that are a part of many professional 
        settings.
            (9) The provision of Learn and Earn opportunities, in which 
        participants take postsecondary or training courses during 
        nonsummer months coupled with work experience in related fields 
        during the summer.
            (10) The expansion of private sector opportunities with 
        employers in in-demand occupations or industry sectors (as 
        defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)), such as information 
        technology, health care, life sciences, and vocational careers.
            (11) The development of skill-based digital badges issued 
        by cities that are recognized by high schools, community 
        colleges, and employers.
            (12) The laddering of job opportunities from one summer to 
        the next to enable participants to build skills over multiple 
        summers by progressing from entry-level to more senior 
        positions that further develop soft skills (such as leadership 
        skills) or hard skills (such as technical skills).
            (13) A program element identified by the Advisory Board 
        under section 6(i)(3).
            (14) A new innovative program element that is not 
        identified by the Advisory Board under section 6(i)(3) and is 
        not listed in this subsection, which is--
                    (A) proposed by the eligible entity in the 
                application submitted under subsection (b);
                    (B) determined by the Secretary, in consultation 
                with the Advisory Board, as being reasonably expected 
                to demonstrate evidence, in the case of an element in 
                which such evidence does not exist, in carrying out the 
                purposes described in subsection (a).

SEC. 5. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Performance Measurement Assessments.--Beginning not later than 
1 year after receiving such grant and for each succeeding year of the 
grant period, each eligible entity receiving a grant under section 3 or 
4, in consultation with the Advisory Board established under section 6, 
shall develop and implement a performance measurement assessment of 
such program to assess whether the program is being implemented in a 
way that meets the requirements of section 3 or 4, respectively.
    (b) Impact Evaluations.--
            (1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under 
        section 2(b)(3), the Secretary of Labor shall, in consultation 
        with the Advisory Board established under section 6, award a 
        contract to one or more independent research organizations or 
        nonprofit organizations to carry out evaluations to measure the 
        impact of each summer youth employment program that is being 
        supported by a grant awarded under section 3 or 4.
            (2) Requirements of evaluations.--An impact evaluation of a 
        program that is being supported by a grant awarded under 
        section 3 or 4 shall meet the following requirements:
                    (A) The evaluation begins not later than 3 years 
                after the program first receives such support.
                    (B) The evaluation shall meet each of the 
                following:
                            (i) Impact evaluation design and analysis 
                        methods are shared with the Advisory Board 
                        before the beginning of the evaluation.
                            (ii) The evaluation uses administrative 
                        data to assess the impact of the program as a 
                        whole on participants for 1 year, 3 years, and 
                        5 years after the completion of the program on 
                        each of the following:
                                    (I) High school graduation rates.
                                    (II) Enrollment rates in 
                                postsecondary education.
                                    (III) Employment and wage rates.
                                    (IV) Crime rates (such as arrest, 
                                arraignment, or incarceration rates).
                            (iii) The evaluation uses survey data 
                        collected during the program to assess program 
                        impacts on short-term changes in soft skills 
                        (such as such as interpersonal, communication, 
                        and time management skills), academic and 
                        career goals, and job readiness.
                            (iv) The evaluation uses randomized 
                        experimental designs, when feasible, or other 
                        research methods that allow for the strongest 
                        possible causal inferences when random 
                        assignment is not feasible.
            (3) Advisory board.--In assisting the organization that 
        receives a contract under this subsection, the Advisory Board 
        established under section 6 shall provide additional resources 
        to such organization to carry out the evaluations under this 
        subsection, including assistance with using randomized 
        experimental designs.

SEC. 6. ADVISORY BOARD.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts available under section 2(b)(4), 
the Secretary of Labor shall establish within the Department of Labor 
an Advisory Board to carry out the duties listed in subsection (i).
    (b) Members.--
            (1) Number of members.--The Secretary shall determine the 
        number of members to serve on the Advisory Board.
            (2) Appointment and expertise.--Each member of the Advisory 
        Board shall be appointed by the Secretary of Labor, and shall 
        have expertise in designing and administering summer youth 
        employment programs or experience in program evaluation and 
        evidence-based policy in the workforce development field.
            (3) Terms.--
                    (A) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for 
                a term of 4 years, and may be reappointed for 
                subsequent terms by the Secretary.
                    (B) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a 
                vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for 
                which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be 
                appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member 
                may serve after the expiration of that member's term 
                until a successor has taken office. A vacancy in the 
                Advisory Board shall be filled in the manner in which 
                the original appointment was made.
    (c) Basic Pay.--
            (1) Rates of pay.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        Advisory Board Members and staff, including the Chairperson, 
        Vice Chairperson, and Director, shall each be paid at a rate 
        determined by the Secretary.
            (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
        Members of the Advisory Board who are full-time officers or 
        employees of the United States may not receive additional pay, 
        allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the 
        Advisory Board.
    (d) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (e) Quorum.--Fifty percent plus one members of the Advisory Board 
shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (f) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--The Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson of the Advisory Board shall be designated by the Secretary 
at the time of the appointment. The term of office of the Chairperson 
and Vice Chairperson shall be 4 years.
    (g) Meetings.--The Advisory Board shall meet monthly and at the 
call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
    (h) Director and Staff of Advisory Board; Experts and 
Consultants.--
            (1) Director.--The Advisory Board shall have a Director who 
        shall be appointed by the Chairperson.
            (2) Staff.--The Advisory Board Chairperson may appoint 
        additional personnel as they consider appropriate. Such staff 
        shall provide specific oversight and guidance, pursuant to the 
        functions of the Advisory Board under this section.
            (3) Applicability of certain civil service laws.--The 
        Director and staff of the Advisory Board shall be appointed 
        subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
        governing appointments in the competitive service.
            (4) Experts and consultants.--The Advisory Board may 
        procure temporary and intermittent services under section 
        3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
            (5) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon request of the 
        Advisory Board, the head of any Federal department or agency 
        may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of 
        that department or agency to the Advisory Board to assist it in 
        carrying out its duties under this Act.
    (i) Duties.--The Advisory Board shall assist the Secretary in 
carrying out each of the following:
            (1) Application review.--Reviewing applications submitted 
        by eligible entities under sections 4(d) and 5(b) to ensure 
        that each eligible entity selected to receive a grant under 
        this Act will use such grant as required under this Act.
            (2) Technical assistance.--
                    (A) In general.--Providing technical assistance to 
                eligible entities receiving grants under section 3, for 
                the purpose of assisting such eligible entities to best 
                implement the summer youth employment programs to be 
                assisted with such grants, by identifying existing 
                summer youth employment programs that demonstrate, 
                through evaluations conducted under section 5(b) or 
                through outside studies, that each of the program 
                elements listed in section 3(d) and implemented under 
                such programs have a significant impact on academic, 
                economic, and criminal justice outcomes.
                    (B) Working group.--Technical assistance may be 
                provided under subparagraph (A) through the creation 
                and administration of a working group of the 
                administrators of eligible entities to share best 
                practices regarding the implementation of summer youth 
                employment programs.
            (3) Innovative program elements.--
                    (A) Identifying program elements.--Identifying any 
                innovative approaches to summer youth employment 
                programs for purposes of paragraph (13) of section 4(d) 
                that are not listed in section 4(d), which demonstrate 
                or are reasonably expected to demonstrate evidence of 
                improving the youth outcomes listed under section 3(a).
                    (B) Approving new program elements.--Providing 
                recommendations to the Secretary with respect to 
                whether any new program element proposed by any 
                eligible entity under section 4(d)(14) demonstrate or 
                are reasonable expected to demonstrate such evidence.
            (4) Database of impact evaluations.--Publishing a database 
        of completed evaluations conducted under section 5(b), which 
        maintains evidence on the impact of programs (including the 
        program elements of programs) supported with grants under this 
        Act.
            (5) Program evaluations.--Providing assistance with respect 
        to impact evaluations described in section 5(b)(3).

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        State (or State board) or unit of general local government (or 
        a local board), or a nonprofit organization, or a consortium of 
        any of such entities.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means any State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
        Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
            (4) WIOA terms.--The terms ``local area'', ``local board'', 
        ``State board'', and ``unit of general local government'' have 
        the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
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