Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026
Do you support it?
Want to know if it passes?
We'll email you when S 4314 moves — a committee vote, a floor vote, or a signature. Nothing else.
Free forever · unsubscribe in one click.
Your answer was recorded either way.
Which district are you in?
Your ZIP is all we need to match you to your own representatives — so we can tell you how they voted on S 4314.
You're tracking S 4314
We'll email you the moment it moves.
S 4314 — Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026
Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
-
✓Introduced
-
2In Committee
-
3Passed Senate
-
4Passed House
-
5To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
-
In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
-
2 sponsors
1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.
-
Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (1 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
- Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html April 16, 2026
Sections of law this bill changes
1 section in 1 lawFrom the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-124).
Social security · 42 U.S.C. ch. 7 1 section
-
§ 677 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood Amends
42 U.S.C. § 677 — at 677(i) and 677(d)(1)
The law today
(a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to provide States with flexible funding that will enable programs to be designed and conducted— (1) to support all youth who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older in their transition to adulthood through transitional services such as assistance in obtaining a high school diploma and post-secondary education, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, training and opportunities to practice daily living skills (such as financial literacy training and driving instruction), substance abuse prevention, and preventive health activities (including smoking avoidance, nutrition education, and pregnancy prevention); (2) to help children who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older achieve meaningful, permanent connections with a caring adult; (3) to help children who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities, positive youth development, and experiential learning that reflects what their peers in intact families experience; (4) to provide financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other appropriate support and services to former foster care recipients between 18 and 21 years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case of a State with a certification under subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii) to provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained such age, in accordance with such subsection) to complement their own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and to assure that program participants recognize and accept their personal responsibility for preparing for and then making the transition from adolescence to adulthood; (5) to make available vouchers for education and training, including postsecondary training and education, to youths who have aged out of foster care; (6) to provide the services referred to in this subsection to children who, after attaining 16 years of age, have left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption; and (7) to ensure children who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age have regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally-appropriate activities as defined in section 675(11) of this title. (b) Applications (1) In general A State may apply for funds from its allotment under subsection (c) for a period of five consecutive fiscal years by submitting to the Secretary, in writing, a plan that meets the requirements of paragraph (2) and the certifications required by paragraph (3) with respect to the plan. (2) State plan A plan meets the requirements of this paragraph if the plan specifies which State agency or agencies will administer, supervise, or oversee the programs carried out under the plan, and describes how the State intends to do the following: (A) Design and deliver programs to achieve the purposes of this section. (B) Ensure that all political subdivisions in the State are served by the program, though not necessarily in a uniform manner. (C) Ensure that the programs serve children of various ages and at various stages of achieving independence. (D) Involve the public and private sectors in helping youth in foster care achieve independence. (E) Use objective criteria for determining eligibility for benefits and services under the programs, and for ensuring fair and equitable treatment of benefit recipients. (F) Cooperate in national evaluations of the effects of the programs in achieving the purposes of this section. (3) Certifications The certifications required by this paragraph with respect to a plan are the following: (A) (i) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 21 years of age. (ii) If the State has elected under section 675(8)(B) of this title to extend eligibility for foster care to all children who have not attained 21 years of...26 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗
Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.
The bill amends the existing law to expand educational and workforce training opportunities for older youth who have experienced foster care and to increase the maximum education and training voucher amount.
-
42 U.S.C. 677(a)(5)
aged out of foster care→ experienced foster care at age 14 or olderChanges the language to include youth who experienced foster care at age 14 or older instead of just those who aged out.
-
42 U.S.C. 677(h)(2)
age out of foster care→ experience foster care at age 14 or olderAligns the terminology used about youth in foster care with the previous amendment, emphasizing age 14 or older.
-
42 U.S.C. 677(a)(6)
16→ 14Lowers the minimum age for providing services to children who have left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption from 16 to 14.
-
42 U.S.C. 677(i)(2)
16→ 14Updates the age reference for youth participating in the program to 14.
-
42 U.S.C. 677(i)(3)
in no event may a youth participate in the program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive)→ may not allow a youth to participate in the voucher 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)(iii), for more than 6 years), whether or not consecutiveClarifies the duration of participation in the voucher program and allows for an extension for those involved in remedial education.
-
42 U.S.C. 677(i)(4)(C)
$5,000→ $12,000Increases the maximum education and training voucher amount from $5,000 to $12,000.
-
42 U.S.C. 677(i)
(8) The State shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that eligible youth are aware of potential benefits provided under this subsection, including by coordinating with programs funded under subsection (h)(1). (9) The program shall include a simplified, user-tested, and standard form for youth to use to apply for vouchers under the program, using standard terminology, that is easily accessible and available electronically. (10) The State may use funds otherwise available under this subsection to assist eligible youth in overcoming transportation barriers that limit access to postsecondary education, workforce training, registered apprenticeships, or employment.
Introduces provisions for improving accessibility and awareness of the education and training vouchers for eligible youth.
-
42 U.S.C. 677(d)(1)
In general.--A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this section, including outreach related to subsection (i)(8). A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c)(3) may use the amount for any purpose related to the program described in subsection (i)(8).→ In general.--A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this section, including outreach related to subsection (i)(8). A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c)(3) may use the amount for any purpose related to the program described in subsection (i)(8).Updates the use of funds provision to allow more flexibility in how States utilize their allotments related to the program.
Action History
-
Introduced in Senate
-
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sponsors
- Margaret Wood Hassan · Cosponsor
- Steve Daines · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 545 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Daines, Steve Republican
Co-sponsors (1)
- Hassan, Margaret Wood Democratic
Not signed on (545)
545 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 545 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors S 4314?
- S 4314 is sponsored by Hassan, Margaret Wood (Democratic) and Daines, Steve (Republican).
- What is the current status of S 4314?
- This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track S 4314?
- Track S 4314 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on S 4314
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of S 4314
Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →