(1) 
Nationally, 
there 
are 
an 
estimated 
5,500,000 youth, ages 16 through 24, out-of-school 
and out-of-work, with an additional over 500,000 
young people dropping out of school each year. At 
present, the unemployment rate for youth ages 16 
through 24 is approximately 17 percent. For youth 
who are in low-income or minority communities, or 
who have disabilities, this rate is significantly high-
er. 
(2) Youth Service and Conservation Corps pro-
grams, descended from the Civilian Conservation 
Corps of the 1930s, have been preparing disadvan-
taged and disconnected youth for careers in resource 
conservation, environmental restoration, land man-
agement, building renovation and weatherization, 
education, human services, health care, homeland se-
curity, and disaster relief for over 4 decades. To 
date, nearly a million young people have found a 
new start through a Youth Service and Conservation 
Corps program. 
(3) Today, over 125 Youth Service and Con-
servation Corps programs are being carried out in 
50 States and the District of Columbia, and employ-
ing a research-driven strategy, called the Youth 
Corps model, to reengage and provide educational 
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and economic opportunity to around 30,000 young 
people each year. These Corps members participate 
in 13.5 million hours of community service annually. 
(4) According to a recent study by the Corpora-
tion for National and Community Service, partici-
pating in service increases your likelihood of finding 
employment by 27 percent. When limited to individ-
uals living in rural areas or without a high school di-
ploma, the increase in likelihood of gaining employ-
ment jumps to 55 percent and 51 percent, respec-
tively. 
(5) Due to the many benefits and positive out-
comes, not only for program participants but also 
for the communities in which they serve, the Youth 
Corps model is a proven strategy for reengaging dis-
connected youth in education and the workforce, 
while improving communities and the environment. 
SEC. 3. YOUTH CORPS PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle D of title I of the Work-
force Investment Act of 1998 is amended by inserting be-
fore section 174 (29 U.S.C. 2919) the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘SEC. 173B. YOUTH CORPS PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to uti-
lize service, environmental stewardship, and the Youth 
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Corps model to educate and train the next generation of 
workers to enable them to find meaningful employment 
in the economy of the 21st century, and instill in them 
a sense of civic engagement and environmental steward-
ship. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means a public or private nonprofit agency or 
organization (including a consortium of such agen-
cies or organizations), including— 
‘‘(A) a community-based organization; 
‘‘(B) a faith-based organization; 
‘‘(C) a community action agency; 
‘‘(D) a community development corpora-
tion; 
‘‘(E) an entity carrying out activities under 
this title, such as a local board; 
‘‘(F) an Indian tribe or other agency pri-
marily serving Indians; 
‘‘(G) a public or private institution of high-
er education; 
‘‘(H) a State or unit of general local gov-
ernment; or 
‘‘(I) a State or local youth service or con-
servation corps. 
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‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE YOUTH.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 101, the term ‘eligible youth’ means an indi-
vidual eligible to participate in a Youth Corps pro-
gram in accordance with subsection (d). 
‘‘(3) INDIAN; INDIAN TRIBE.—The terms ‘In-
dian’ and ‘Indian tribe’ have the meanings given the 
terms in section 166(b). 
‘‘(4) PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘participant’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 101, but in-
cludes a recipient of services under paragraph 
(5)(F). 
‘‘(5) YOUTH CORPS MODEL.—The term ‘Youth 
Corps model’ means a model for a youth education 
and training program for which an eligible entity— 
‘‘(A) provides eligible youth with stipended 
or paid work experience, and basic and tech-
nical skills training leading, at a minimum, to 
an outcome consisting of— 
‘‘(i) enrollment in postsecondary edu-
cation or training; 
‘‘(ii) attainment of an industry-recog-
nized certification or credential; 
‘‘(iii) meaningful employment in the 
economy of the 21st century; or 
‘‘(iv) military service; 
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‘‘(B) provides eligible youth with opportu-
nities for educational advancement, including 
the attainment of a secondary school diploma or 
its recognized equivalent, or other State-recog-
nized credential; 
‘‘(C) engages eligible youth to work, in 
teams or crews under the leadership of adult 
mentors and trainers, on service and conserva-
tion projects designed to improve the commu-
nities in which the youth live and the environ-
ment; 
‘‘(D) works with youth- and family-serving 
systems, such as child welfare and justice sys-
tems, to provide and coordinate supportive serv-
ices for education and training program partici-
pants; 
‘‘(E) works with program partners in the 
local workforce investment system, institutions 
of higher education, or other community-based 
organizations to develop pathways to subse-
quent enrollment in education or training, at-
tainment of an industry-recognized certification 
or credential, meaningful employment, or serv-
ice as described in subparagraph (A); and 
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