DC Youth and Young Adult Update 6-13-2025

News at NYEC:  

• Registration is Open for NYEC’s Annual Youth Days Event in Washington, D.C., from November 5-7, 2025! NYEC is inviting practitioners, community and organization leaders, and young people to join us to bring a voice for opportunity youth to Congress. Whether you are new to policy and advocacy or a skilled advocate, we will provide the tools and training so you can join us in calling for increased investments and new policies that will benefit young people across the nation. We hope to see you there!  

Legislative Branch:  

• 119th Congressional Committee Updates: 

• Senate HELP Committee: Sanders, Democratic HELP Members Call for Hearings on Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and Its Impact on Americans’ Health: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) alongside every Democratic member of the HELP Committee, sent a letter to committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) urging him to schedule hearings with patients and health care providers to hear about the reconciliation bill. Read the letter here. 

• Senate HELP Committee: Sanders, 39 Senators Fight Cuts to the Job Corps Program: After the Trump administration attempted to shut down the nation’s largest jobs training program for low-income and at-risk young people, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 39 Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging her to reverse the cuts to the Job Corps program. Read the letter here. 

• Congressman Burchett Introduces Bill Codifying President Trump’s Executive Order, Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future: Rep. Tim Burchett (TN-02) has introduced H.R.3797, a bill to codify President Trump’s Executive Order 14278, titled “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future.” The full bill text can be found here.  

• Congresswoman Bonamici Introduces Bill To Reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) has introduced H.R.3856, a bill to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. The full bill text can be found here. 

• U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Steve Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Apprenticeship Colleges: Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Steve Daines (R-MT) reintroduced legislation to help increase enrollment in apprenticeship programs. The Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act would provide grant funding to help apprenticeship colleges expand outreach to potential students and employers, improve academic advising programs and address common barriers to degree completion like childcare access and support for first-generation students. The full bill text can be found here. 

Executive Branch:  

No new Executive Branch updates. 

Federal Funding Opportunities with upcoming deadlines: 

• DOI Grant: Bureau of Land Management: FY25 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps- Bureau wide: This program’s projects employ participants and opportunities to gain work experience in public lands and natural resources management. Applications are due July 11, 2025. 

Previously Shared  

• ED Grant: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program: The purpose of the OSP is to provide low-income parents residing in the District of Columbia, particularly parents of students who attend an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest performing schools under the District of Columbia’s accountability system, with expanded opportunities for enrolling their children in private schools in the District of Columbia. Applications are due July 7, 2025. 

• DOJ Grant: Office on Violence Against Women: OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Engage Men and Youth in Preventing Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program: The Grants to Engage Men and Youth in Preventing Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program (EM Program) is one of two NOFOs issued under the Consolidated Youth and Engaging Men (CYEM) Program. The purpose of the EM Program is to engage men and youth in preventing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Applications are due July 8, 2025. 

From the States: 

• New Mexico: The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions has announced a $500,000 investment in the Northern New Mexico Youth Fund to bolster career training programs for underserved youth. The Northern New Mexico Youth Fund has now reached $1.6 million with contributions from 12 funders. It supports young people aged 13 to 29 with internships, pre-apprenticeships and career pathway programs, paving the way for meaningful career opportunities. 

• Tennessee: Gov. Bill Lee visited Knox County leaders in Powell on Tuesday to talk about workforce development efforts and the growth of the state’s Youth Employment Program. At the end of the session, he signed an executive order that made several major changes to the state’s Workforce Development Board. 

Resources:  

• Strengthening Support for Youth: Learn About the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA) Webinar: Join the National Network for Youth (NN4Y) for an in-depth webinar on the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA) (S.2012/H.R.3856)—bipartisan legislation that reauthorizes and strengthens federal programs serving youth experiencing homelessness and those at risk of trafficking. 

• Creating Youth Opportunities: Library Programs that Help Build Economic Mobility for Youth: In this webinar, member libraries from ULC’s Creating Youth Opportunities cohort will share their experiences designing and implementing library services that meet the needs of opportunity youth. Through real-world examples, speakers will highlight successful strategies, key challenges, and lessons learned in building meaningful partnerships and sustainable programs in libraries.