June 30, 2022 — 170 Members of Congress joined a bipartisan advocacy effort in support of $193 million in funding for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) YouthBuild program for the upcoming fiscal year, helping young people across the country build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to long-term professional and personal success.

 The effort, which was co-led by Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE-2) and Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), garnered support from 168 of their colleagues from both sides of the aisle. As YouthBuild Champions, Representatives Bacon and Williams advocate in Congress for funding and policies that benefit opportunity youth — young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed — and their communities. Every year, these elected officials’ author and lead the signing campaigns of a Dear Colleague letter, signaling Congress’s strong bipartisan, bicameral support for the DOL

YouthBuild program. This year, as we continue to rebuild our economy from the impact of COVID-19, the need to include young people in our recovery through education and livelihood further solidifies the necessity of YouthBuild services across the country.

“As co-chair of the Foster Youth Caucus, I believe we must help disconnected youth, who are most at-risk for homelessness, successfully earn an education and transition into adulthood,” said Rep. Bacon. “I commend and thank YouthBuild’s program directors, mentors, and staff for improving the lives and well-being of our nation’s young people. They are working hard to create opportunities for education, employment, and community strength, and I will continue to work with my colleagues and push for more funding so that these programs can flourish.”

In YouthBuild programs, opportunity youth pursue their education, prepare for future careers, and grow into community leaders, building brighter futures for themselves and their neighborhoods. With love and respect,