H.R. 7343 – Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated May 12, 2026 at 5:51 AM UTC

The Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act amends the Social Security Act to give children who have been in foster care more chances to get education and job training. It lowers the age at which foster‑care youth become eligible from 16 to 14 and expands the types of programs and costs the government can help pay for. The changes affect any youth who has been in foster care from age 14 onward.

Key Provisions

Eligibility is changed to include youth who experienced foster care at age 14 or older (instead of only those who age out).
The age threshold for program participation is lowered from 16 to 14.
Youth may now stay in the program for up to 5 years (or up to 6 years if they are in a remedial‑education activity).
Funding can cover tuition at colleges, community colleges, vocational schools, short‑term Workforce Pell programs, apprenticeships, general equivalency diplomas, and remedial education.
A new definition of “remedial education” is added, covering training needed for a high‑school diploma or to qualify for post‑secondary education, training, or apprenticeships that isn’t already available locally.
The amendments take effect one year after the law is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions

HouseCalendars Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 556.

May 11, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 4, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

February 4, 2026

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Ways and Means Committee

April 29, 2026

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.

Ways and Means Committee

April 29, 2026

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-639.

Ways and Means Committee

May 11, 2026

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 556.

May 11, 2026

Bill Text

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Reported in HouseIssued May 11, 2026

IB

Union Calendar No. 556

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7343

[Report No. 119–639]

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act.

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.

.

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.

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