Steve Daines (R-MT)
Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act of 2026 aims to amend the John H. Chaffee Foster Care Program. It seeks to increase the maximum amount available for education and training vouchers. The bill expands opportunities for youth who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older. It also provides support for various paths including postsecondary education, registered apprenticeships, and obtaining a general equivalency degree. Additionally, the bill aims to improve accessibility and awareness of these benefits.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +7
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill expands eligibility to include youth who experienced foster care starting at age 14 and provides more training support.
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
The bill expands the types of educational activities covered, including registered apprenticeships and GED preparation.
- Scored +7
Does this make college cost less?
The bill significantly increases the maximum education voucher amount from $5,000 to $12,000 for eligible youth.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased financial support for education: The maximum amount for education and training vouchers is increased from $5,000 to $12,000 (Section 3).
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Expanded eligibility for foster youth: The bill changes eligibility to include youth who experienced foster care at age 14 or older (Section 2).
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Extended program participation: Youth involved in remedial education activities may be allowed to participate in the voucher program for up to 6 years instead of 5 (Section 2).
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Greater educational and training options: Vouchers can now be used for registered apprenticeship programs, obtaining a general equivalency degree, or receiving remedial education (Section 2).
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Help with transportation barriers: States may use funds to help eligible youth overcome transportation barriers that limit access to education, training, apprenticeships, or employment (Section 4).
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Improved accessibility and awareness: The bill requires states to make reasonable efforts to ensure eligible youth know about the benefits and requires a simplified, user-tested, and standard electronic application form (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The bill expands the types of educational activities covered, including registered apprenticeships and GED preparation. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill expands eligibility to include youth who experienced foster care starting at age 14 and provides more training support. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides increased financial assistance for education and training to foster youth, who are often in low-income situations.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill significantly increases the maximum education voucher amount from $5,000 to $12,000 for eligible youth.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By increasing education and training vouchers to $12,000, the bill helps foster youth gain skills for economic mobility.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill expands support for registered apprenticeships and workforce training to help foster youth enter the workforce.
- 4/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire