H.R. 7343

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7343 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

Union Calendar No. 556
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7343

[Report No. 119-639]

To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to expand education and 
workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster 
care.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 4, 2026

Mr. Miller of Ohio (for himself and Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Ways and Means

May 11, 2026

Additional sponsors: Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Hern 
of Oklahoma, Mr. Schweikert, and Mr. Davis of Illinois

May 11, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
February 4, 2026]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to expand education and 
workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster 
care.

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 Workforce Opportunity 
Act''.

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'';
(4) in subsection (i)(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 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), for more than 6 
years), whether or not consecutive'';
(5) in subsection (i)(4)--
(A) 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), as described in section 
481(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1088(b)(3)), as added by section 
83002(b) of Public Law 119-21;'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (C); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A), as so 
amended, the following:
``(B) may be available for costs--
``(i) associated with participation in an 
apprenticeship program;
``(ii) to obtain a general equivalency 
degree; or
``(iii) to receive remedial education; 
and''; and
(6) in subsection (i), by adding at the end the following:
``(7) In this section, the term `remedial education' means 
education or skill training needed to support obtaining a high 
school diploma or qualifying for postsecondary education, 
training, or an apprenticeship that is--
``(A) not already available through the school 
district of the student or another free local, State, 
or Federal program; and
``(B) is provided by an instructor with credentials 
relevant to the subject area of instruction, as 
determined by the State.''.

SEC. 3. 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.
Union Calendar No. 556

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7343

[Report No. 119-639]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to expand education and 
workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster 
care.

_______________________________________________________________________

May 11, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed