YOUNG Act of 2025

This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program designed to engage youth in biodiversity monitoring. The program will award funds and provide technical assistance to eligible entities, including schools, nonprofit organizations, and government bodies, to support projects that educate students and offer hands-on experience with advanced technologies. These technologies encompass environmental DNA collection, remote sensing, drones, and artificial intelligence, among others, for collecting and analyzing biological data.

A key provision of the program is the prioritization of applications from projects focused on underserved communities, aiming to expand participation in scientific and environmental education. Grant funds can be utilized for various project expenses, such as purchasing supplies, covering transportation costs for participants, conducting outreach, and acquiring scientific collection licenses. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $1,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2032 to fund these initiatives.

The youth biodiversity monitoring projects are defined as those providing practical experience in data collection and interpretation, coupled with education in wildlife science, marine science, conservation, or biodiversity. To ensure accountability and transparency, the Secretary is mandated to submit a report to Congress within two years of the program's enactment. This report will detail the grant recipients, awarded amounts, how funds were used, and the total number of participants in the monitoring projects.