Legis Daily

Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-2281| House 
| Updated: 3/21/2025
Frederica S. Wilson

Frederica S. Wilson

Democratic Representative

Florida

Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill reauthorizes the Job Corps program, updating definitions and expanding participant eligibility to modernize program delivery. It renames "Job Corps center" to Job Corps campus and clarifies the definition of "State" to include outlying areas, aiming for broader reach and a more contemporary approach. Eligibility is expanded for individuals up to age 28 with a disability or who are justice-involved individuals , and "school dropout" is redefined as "an opportunity youth ." Low-income individuals, residents of qualified opportunity zones, and veterans meeting age requirements are also made eligible, with recruitment processes streamlined for joint applications across youth workforce programs. The selection of Job Corps campus operators will now prioritize student outcomes, requiring awards based on best value and fair pricing, and considering metrics like employment and credential attainment rates. High-performing campuses, ranked in the top 25%, will receive extended operating contracts from two to four years, while the Secretary of Agriculture gains direct hire authority for Civilian Conservation Center graduates in specific fields. Post-program support for graduates is significantly extended from three months to 12 months , and they may remain on campus for up to one month after graduation to aid transition. Campus operators are granted greater autonomy in hiring, staff development, and forming local partnerships, while also being required to implement behavioral management plans with a zero tolerance policy for serious violence or illegal activity, and establish agreements with local law enforcement. The McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of 1965 is applied to Job Corps operators and service providers, ensuring fair wages and benefits at least equal to local determinations, with annual updates. The bill authorizes appropriations for the program from fiscal year 2026 through 2031, starting at over $1.8 billion and increasing annually, with dedicated funds for construction and rehabilitation, and updates performance measurement models to account for equity factors and local economic conditions.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-7392
Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-7884
Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2024
Mar 21, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 21, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-7392
    Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-7884
    Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2024


  • March 21, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 21, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Labor and Employment

Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-2281| House 
| Updated: 3/21/2025
This bill reauthorizes the Job Corps program, updating definitions and expanding participant eligibility to modernize program delivery. It renames "Job Corps center" to Job Corps campus and clarifies the definition of "State" to include outlying areas, aiming for broader reach and a more contemporary approach. Eligibility is expanded for individuals up to age 28 with a disability or who are justice-involved individuals , and "school dropout" is redefined as "an opportunity youth ." Low-income individuals, residents of qualified opportunity zones, and veterans meeting age requirements are also made eligible, with recruitment processes streamlined for joint applications across youth workforce programs. The selection of Job Corps campus operators will now prioritize student outcomes, requiring awards based on best value and fair pricing, and considering metrics like employment and credential attainment rates. High-performing campuses, ranked in the top 25%, will receive extended operating contracts from two to four years, while the Secretary of Agriculture gains direct hire authority for Civilian Conservation Center graduates in specific fields. Post-program support for graduates is significantly extended from three months to 12 months , and they may remain on campus for up to one month after graduation to aid transition. Campus operators are granted greater autonomy in hiring, staff development, and forming local partnerships, while also being required to implement behavioral management plans with a zero tolerance policy for serious violence or illegal activity, and establish agreements with local law enforcement. The McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of 1965 is applied to Job Corps operators and service providers, ensuring fair wages and benefits at least equal to local determinations, with annual updates. The bill authorizes appropriations for the program from fiscal year 2026 through 2031, starting at over $1.8 billion and increasing annually, with dedicated funds for construction and rehabilitation, and updates performance measurement models to account for equity factors and local economic conditions.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-7392
Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-7884
Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2024
Mar 21, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 21, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-7392
    Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-7884
    Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2024


  • March 21, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 21, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Frederica S. Wilson

Frederica S. Wilson

Democratic Representative

Florida

Education and Workforce Committee

Labor and Employment

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted