[Report No. 119–639]
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
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.