Fostering the Future for American Children and Families Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6221 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6221

     To codify certain directives in the Executive order entitled 
      ``Fostering the Future for American Children and Families''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 20, 2025

 Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Landsman, Mr. Fong, and Mr. Bacon) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and 
 Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To codify certain directives in the Executive order entitled 
      ``Fostering the Future for American Children and Families''.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering the Future for American 
Children and Families Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND PRIVATE SECTOR PROGRAMS THAT 
              SUPPORT TECHNICAL JOB TRAINING, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, AND 
              APPRENTICESHIPS FOR CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall conduct a comprehensive 
study of the Federal, State, and private sector programs that support 
technical job training, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships for 
current and former foster youth. The study shall evaluate the 
effectiveness of the programs, gaps in services provided under the 
programs, the barriers to accessing the programs, and the opportunities 
to expand career pathways for youth transitioning out of the child 
welfare system.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Within 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the Congress a 
report containing findings and recommendations of the study required by 
subsection (a) for improving alignment of the matters referred to in 
subsection (a), the need for additional funding to do so, and the 
modernization of the relevant programs.

SEC. 3. FOSTERING THE FUTURE PIPELINE PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--After completing the study required by section 
2, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Labor, shall establish in the Department of Health and 
Human Services a program, which shall be known as the ``Fostering the 
Future Pipeline Program'', under which grants are made to States, 
academic institutions, private-sector employers, and nonprofit or 
faith-based organizations, on a competitive basis, to expand access to 
industry-aligned technical job training and apprenticeships for current 
and former foster youth, including through training or apprenticeships 
in high-demand fields such as skilled trades, manufacturing, health 
care, information technology, and agriculture.
    (b) Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out 
this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services not more than $50,000,000 for each fiscal 
year.

SEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO USE EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHERS PROVIDED 
              PURSUANT TO THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR 
              SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD TO INCREASE 
              FLEXIBILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING FOSTER CARE.

    Section 477(i)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)(4)) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A); and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) and subparagraph (C) 
        and inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
                    ``(B) may be available for short-term, career-
                focused, credential-granting programs, including 
                registered apprenticeships, certificate programs, and 
                other rapid-employment pathways; and''.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 6 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>