H.R. 8363

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8363 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8363

To establish youth advisory councils for the purpose of providing 
recommendations to the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of 
the Interior, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and 
Department of Commerce with respect to environmental issues as those 
issues relate to youth communities, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 20, 2026

Mr. Frost introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 
Natural Resources, and Agriculture, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish youth advisory councils for the purpose of providing 
recommendations to the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of 
the Interior, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and 
Department of Commerce with respect to environmental issues as those 
issues relate to youth communities, 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 ``Youth Climate Leadership Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Covered agency head.--The term ``covered agency head'' 
means each of the following heads of agencies:
(A) The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency.
(B) The Secretary of the Interior.
(C) The Secretary of Energy.
(D) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(E) The Secretary of Commerce.
(2) Designated federal officer.--The term ``designated 
Federal officer'' means the designated Federal officer for a 
Youth Advisory Council appointed under section 3(b)(6).
(3) Disadvantaged community.--The term ``disadvantaged 
community'' means a community identified as a disadvantaged 
community by the Justice40 Initiative (or a successor 
initiative) and the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool 
of the Council on Environmental Quality (or a successor tool).
(4) Environmental justice.--The term ``environmental 
justice'' means the just treatment and meaningful involvement 
of all people, without regard to income, race, color, national 
origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency 
decisionmaking and other Federal activities that affect human 
health and the environment so that people--
(A) are fully protected from disproportionate and 
adverse human health and environmental effects 
(including risks) and hazards, including those related 
to climate change, the cumulative impacts of 
environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of 
racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and
(B) have equitable access to a healthy, 
sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live 
and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.
(5) Youth advisory council.--The term ``Youth Advisory 
Council'' means a Youth Advisory Council established by a 
covered agency head pursuant to section 3(a).

SEC. 3. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCILS.

(a) Establishment.--Each covered agency head shall establish within 
the respective agency of the covered agency head a Youth Advisory 
Council for the purpose of providing recommendations to the applicable 
covered agency head with respect to governmental approaches to 
environmental issues as those issues relate to youth, including--
(1) recommendations with respect to programs to help the 
governments of disadvantaged communities address environmental 
issues in those disadvantaged communities;
(2) recommendations with respect to performance measures 
that could be used to measure the impact of climate change and 
other environmental harms that affect youth communities; and
(3) researching, writing reports on, and making 
recommendations with a focus on environmental justice, climate 
change mitigation and resiliency, and pollution reduction.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Size.--A Youth Advisory Council shall consist of not 
fewer than 15, and not greater than 25, representative members 
of non-Federal interests that have demonstrated high levels of 
knowledge and expertise in environmental issues, to be 
appointed by the applicable covered agency head.
(2) Requirements.--
(A) Age.--A member of a Youth Advisory Council 
shall have an age, at the time of appointment or 
reappointment under paragraph (4), of not less than 16 
years and not more than 29 years.
(B) Geographic diversity required.--A covered 
agency head shall seek to ensure that members of a 
Youth Advisory Council are from geographically diverse 
locations across the United States.
(C) Consideration of backgrounds.--
(i) In general.--In selecting members of a 
Youth Advisory Council, a covered agency head 
shall consider candidates with varying 
backgrounds, including--
(I) business and industry;
(II) academic institutions;
(III) State, local, and Tribal 
governments;
(IV) public interest groups;
(V) environmental organizations; 
and
(VI) service groups.
(ii) Requirement.--Of the members of a 
Youth Advisory Council, not more than 60 
percent may come from any 1 category described 
in clause (i).
(D) Representation of disadvantaged communities.--
Of the members of a Youth Advisory Council, not less 
than 50 percent shall come from, reside primarily in, 
or work primarily in disadvantaged communities.
(E) Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility 
considerations.--In selecting members of a Youth 
Advisory Council, a covered agency head shall consider 
diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, in 
accordance with Executive Order 14035 (86 Fed. Reg. 
34593 (June 30, 2021)).
(3) Term.--A member of a Youth Advisory Council shall serve 
for a term of 2 years.
(4) Reappointment.--A covered agency head may reappoint 
members of a Youth Advisory Council to that Youth Advisory 
Council.
(5) Vacancies.--A vacancy in a Youth Advisory Council--
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Youth 
Advisory Council; and
(B) shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment.
(6) Designated federal officer.--Each covered agency head 
shall appoint a full-time employee of the agency of the covered 
agency head to serve as the designated Federal officer for the 
applicable Youth Advisory Council.
(7) Co-chairpersons; vice-chairpersons.--Each covered 
agency head shall, from among the members of the applicable 
Youth Advisory Council, appoint 2 co-chairpersons and 2 vice-
chairpersons.
(c) Meetings.--
(1) Frequency.--A Youth Advisory Council shall meet at the 
call of the applicable designated Federal officer, but not less 
frequently than annually.
(2) Open meetings.--The meetings of a Youth Advisory 
Council shall be open to the public unless the covered agency 
head determines, in accordance with section 552b(c) of title 5, 
United States Code, to close a meeting or portion of a meeting.
(3) Agenda.--The agenda of a meeting of a Youth Advisory 
Council shall be approved in advance by the applicable 
designated Federal officer.
(4) Requirement.--A Youth Advisory Council or subcommittee 
of a Youth Advisory Council may not meet without the presence 
of the applicable designated Federal officer (or a designee).
(5) Public participation.--A person interested in the 
proceedings of a Youth Advisory Council or interested in 
providing comment on a matter before a Youth Advisory Council 
may--
(A) attend meetings of the Youth Advisory Council;
(B) appear before the Youth Advisory Council; and
(C) file written comments with the Youth Advisory 
Council.
(6) Adjournment.--The designated Federal officer for a 
Youth Advisory Council may adjourn the meeting of the Youth 
Advisory Council if the designated Federal officer determines 
it is in the public interest to do so.
(d) Subcommittees.--A Youth Advisory Council may establish 
subcommittees as determined appropriate by the Youth Advisory Council.
(e) Education.--Each covered agency head shall develop and provide 
to members of the Youth Advisory Council an educational curriculum, 
which shall include briefings on the organizational structure and work 
of the agency of the covered agency head.
(f) Reports.--Not less frequently than annually, a Youth Advisory 
Council shall submit to the applicable covered agency head a report 
describing any recommendations of the Youth Advisory Council made in 
accordance with subsection (a).
(g) Administrative Support.--The agency of a covered agency head 
shall provide administrative support to the Youth Advisory Council of 
the agency.
(h) Applicability of FACA.--Section 1013 of title 5, United States 
Code, shall not apply to a Youth Advisory Council.
(i) Applicability to Existing Councils.--The Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency may, in accordance with this Act, 
designate the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council as the 
Youth Advisory Council of the Environmental Protection Agency.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated $250,000 to each of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, the 
Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department 
of Commerce for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2037 for the purpose 
of carrying out this Act.
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