119-hr2281

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2281 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2281

 To reauthorize the Job Corps program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 March 21, 2025

Ms. Wilson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred 
 to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To reauthorize the Job Corps program, and for other purposes.

 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 ``Strengthening Job Corps Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO JOB CORPS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-

    (1) In general.--

Section 142 of the Workforce Innovation 
 and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3192) is amended--
        (A) by amending paragraph

    (7) to read as follows:
 ``

    (7) Job corps campus.--The term `Job Corps campus' means 
 a campus run by an operator selected by the Secretary pursuant 
 to 

section 147, carrying out Job Corps activities.''; and
        (B) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (11) State.--The term `State' has the meaning given the 
 term in 

section 3, except that such term also includes outlying 
 areas (as defined in 

section 3).''.

    (2) Conforming amendments.--Subtitle C of title I of the 
 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et 
 seq.) is amended--
        (A) by striking ``Job Corps center'' each place 
 such term appears and inserting ``Job Corps campus''; 
 and
        (B) by striking ``Job Corps centers'' each place 
 such term appears and inserting ``Job Corps campuses''.

    (b) Individuals Eligible for the Job Corps.--

Section 144 of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3194) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) by amending paragraph

    (1) to read as follows:
 ``

    (1) not less than age 16 and not more than age 24 on the 
 date of enrollment, except that such maximum age limitation may 
 be waived by the Secretary, in accordance with regulations of 
 the Secretary, up to age 28 in the case of an individual with a 
 disability or a justice-involved individual; and'';
        (B) by striking paragraph

    (2) ; and
            (C) by redesignating paragraph

    (3) as paragraph

    (2) and by amending such paragraph--
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking 
 ``Basic skills deficient'' and inserting ``An 
 individual with foundational skill needs'';
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (B) , by striking ``A 
 school dropout'' and inserting ``An opportunity 
 youth'';
            (iii) in subparagraph
            (D) , by inserting 
 ``or an individual who is pregnant'' before the 
 period;
            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (G)
            (i) A low-income individual as defined in 
 subsection

    (h)

    (4) of 

section 402A of the Higher 
 Education Amendments of 1992 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11) as 
 determined using procedures similar to those in 
 subsection 402a

    (e) of such section; or
 ``
            (ii) a resident of a qualified opportunity zone 
 as defined in 

section 1400Z-1

    (a) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986.''; and

    (2) by amending subsection

    (b) to read as follows:
 ``

    (b) Special Rule for Veterans.--A veteran shall be eligible to 
become an enrollee if the veteran meets the requirements of subsection

    (a)

    (1) .''.
            (c) Recruitment, Screening, Selection, and Assignment of 
Enrollees.--

Section 145

    (a) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3195

    (a) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (2) --
        (A) in subparagraph
            (D) , by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
        (B) in subparagraph
        (E) , by striking the period at 
 the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (F) assist one-stop centers and other entities 
 identified in paragraph

    (3) in developing joint 
 applications for Job Corps, YouthBuild, and youth 
 workforce investment activities under which an 
 applicant may submit a single application for all such 
 programs.''; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (5) , by striking the last sentence.
            (d) Job Corps Campuses.--

Section 147 of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting at 
 the end the following: ``Such award shall be 
 based upon best value and fair and reasonable 
 pricing.''; and
            (ii) by amending subparagraph
        (B) to read 
 as follows:
 ``
        (B) Considerations.--
 ``
            (i) Student outcomes.--In selecting an 
 entity to operate a Job Corps campus, the 
 Secretary shall consider a numeric metric of 
 recent past effectiveness of the entity in 
 assisting opportunity youth to connect to the 
 workforce, to be calculated based on data 
 regarding--
 ``
            (I) the percentage of students 
 served by the entity who were in 
 education or training activities, or in 
 unsubsidized employment, during the 
 second quarter after exit from the 
 relevant program;
 ``
            (II) the percentage of students 
 served by the entity who were in 
 education or training activities, or in 
 unsubsidized employment, during the 
 fourth quarter after exit from the 
 relevant program;
 ``
            (III) the median earnings of 
 students served by the entity who were 
 in unsubsidized employment during the 
 second quarter after exit from the 
 relevant program;
 ``
            (IV) the percentage of students 
 served by the entity who obtained a 
 recognized postsecondary credential, or 
 a secondary school diploma or its 
 recognized equivalent, during 
 participation in or within 1 year after 
 exit from the relevant program;
 ``
            (V) expected levels of 
 performance established under 

section 159
            (c) (2) or similar metrics for 
 recruitment of eligible youth for 
 relevant contracts or grants.
 ``
            (ii) Market development.--
 ``
            (I) Mentor-protege program.--The 
 Secretary shall carry out a mentor-
 protege program in accordance with 
 

section 45 of the Small Business Act 
 (15 U.S.C. 657r) with respect to Job 
 Corps campus operations.
 ``
            (II) Past-performance.--The 
 Secretary shall publish comparable 
 alternative metrics for entities 
 without previous experience in Job 
 Corps campus operations to demonstrate 
 their past effectiveness in accordance 
 with the requirements of clause
            (i) .''; 
 and
        (B) in paragraph

    (3) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting 
 ``high-skill, high-wage, or'' before ``in-
 demand'';
            (ii) in subparagraph
            (C) , by striking 
 ``Workforce Investment Act of 1998'' and 
 inserting ``Workforce Innovation and 
 Opportunity Act'';
            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph
        (K) as 
 subparagraph
            (L) ; and
            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph
        (J) the following:
 ``
        (K) A description of the entity's ability to 
 demonstrate a record of successfully operating a safe 
 learning and residential environment for opportunity 
 youth.'';

    (2) in subsection

    (b) , by striking paragraphs

    (2) and

    (3) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (2) High performance.--An entity shall be considered to 
 be an operator of a high-performing campus if the Job Corps 
 campus operated by the entity was ranked among the top 25 
 percent of Job Corps campuses, excluding Civilian Conservation 
 Centers described in subsection
            (d) , for the two most recent 
 preceding program years.'';

    (3) in subsection
            (d) , by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (4) Direct hire authority.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
 may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I 
 of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code (other than 
 sections 3303 and 3328 of such title), a graduate of a Civilian 
 Conservation Center who successfully completed a training 
 program focused on forestry, wildland firefighting, or another 
 topic relating to the mission of the Forest Service directly to 
 a position with the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
 for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management 
 qualification standards.'';

    (4) in subsection

    (f) , by striking ``2-year'' and inserting 
 ``4-year''; and

    (5) in subsection

    (g)

    (1) , by striking ``the preceding year 
 for which information is available'' and all that follows 
 through the end and inserting ``the preceding year for which 
 information is available, such campus has been ranked in the 
 lowest 10 percent of Job Corps campuses.''.

    (e) Program Activities.--

Section 148

    (a) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3198

    (a) ) is amended, in the subsection 
heading, by inserting ``Academic'' before ``Activities''.

    (f) Support.--

Section 150 of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3200) is amended--

    (1) in subsection
            (c) , by striking ``3 months'' and 
 inserting ``12 months''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (d) Period of Transition.--Notwithstanding the requirements of 

section 146

    (b) , Job Corps graduates may remain enrolled and a resident 
of a Job Corps campus for not more than 1 month after graduation, 
subject to approval by the director of the Job Corps Campus, in order 
to facilitate their transition into independent living and 
employment.''.

    (g) Operations.--

Section 151 of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3201) is amended to read as follows:

``

SEC. 151. OPERATIONS.

 ``

    (a) Operating Plan.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The provisions of the contract between 
 the Secretary and an entity selected to operate a Job Corps 
 campus shall, including any subsequent modifications to such 
 contract, serve as an operating plan for the Job Corps campus.
 ``

    (2) Federal changes to operating plan.--The Secretary may 
 require the operator to submit additional information, as the 
 Secretary deems necessary for compliance with any relevant 
 regulations, which shall be considered part of the operating 
 plan.
 ``

    (3) Availability.--The Secretary shall make the operating 
 plan described in paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) , excluding any 
 proprietary information, available on a publicly accessible 
 website.
 ``

    (b) Local Authorities.--Subject to the limitations of their 
approved budgets, the operators of Job Corps campuses shall have the 
authority, without prior approval from the Secretary, to--
 ``

    (1) hire staff and invest in staff professional 
 development;
 ``

    (2) enter into agreements with local partners, such as 
 secondary and postsecondary schools or employers; and
 ``

    (3) engage with and educate stakeholders about Job Corps 
 operations and activities.''.

    (h) Standards of Conduct.--

Section 152 of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) , by striking the second sentence;

    (2) by amending subsection

    (b) to read as follows:
 ``

    (b) Behavioral Management Plan.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--As part of the operating plan defined in 
 

section 151

    (a) , the director of each Job Corps campus shall 
 develop and implement a behavioral management plan, subject to 
 the approval of the Secretary. Such plan shall include student 
 standards of conduct, positive behavioral interventions and 
 supports, and multi-tier systems of supports.
 ``

    (2) Disciplinary measures and drug testing.--
 ``
        (A) Disciplinary measures.--To promote the proper 
 behavioral standards in the Job Corps, the director of 
 each Job Corps campus shall, consistent with the 
 applicable behavioral management plan described in 
 paragraph

    (1) , have the authority to take appropriate 
 disciplinary measures against enrollees if such 
 director determines that an enrollee has committed a 
 violation of the standards of conduct. The director 
 shall adopt a policy of dismissing enrollees for an act 
 of violence that seriously endangers the safety of 
 students, staff, or the local community, and for 
 illegal activity on the campus.
 ``
        (B) === Definitions. ===
-In this paragraph:
 ``
            (i) Controlled substance.--The term 
 `controlled substance' has the meaning given 
 the term in 

section 102 of the Controlled 
 Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).
 ``
            (ii) Zero tolerance 

=== policy ===
-The term 
 `zero tolerance policy' means a policy under 
 which an enrollee shall be automatically 
 dismissed from the Job Corps after a 
 determination by the director that the enrollee 
 has carried out an act of violence that 
 seriously endangers the safety of students, 
 staff, or the local community or engaged in an 
 illegal activity on the campus.
 ``

    (3) Advisory group.--The Secretary shall periodically 
 convene an advisory group of Job Corps operators and service 
 providers and subject matter experts to review the reporting 
 data collected under paragraph

    (5) and provide recommendations 
 for Job Corps behavioral management plans based on evidence-
 based research regarding effective and equitable behavioral 
 policies.
 ``

    (4) Law enforcement agreements.--The directors of each 
 Job Corps campus shall enter into an agreement with the 
 relevant local law enforcement agency of jurisdiction regarding 
 the procedures for reporting and investigating potentially 
 illegal activity on Job Corps campuses.
 ``

    (5) Incident reporting.--The Secretary shall establish 
 procedures for--
 ``
        (A) reporting significant health incidents, 
 including substance abuse, self-harm, and accidents 
 resulting in bodily harm; and
 ``
        (B) reporting significant behavioral incidents, 
 defined as acts of violence or illegal activity.
 ``

    (6) Accountability.--The Secretary shall establish 
 standards under which a Job Corps campus shall be required to 
 take performance improvement actions described in 

section 159

    (f) , based on an evaluation of such Job Corps campus, which 
 shall take into account reporting data collected under 
 paragraph

    (5) and recommendations of the advisory group 
 pursuant to paragraph

    (3) .''.
            (i) Experimental Projects and Technical Assistance.--

Section 156

    (a) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3206

    (a) ) is 
amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (a) Projects.--The Secretary may carry out experimental, 
research, or demonstration projects relating to evidence-based 
strategies for improving the operations of a Job Corps campus that was 
ranked among the bottom 10 percent of Job Corps campuses. The Secretary 
may waive any provisions of this subtitle that the Secretary finds 
would prevent the Secretary from carrying out the projects (other than 
sections 145, 147, and 159
            (c) ) provided that--
 ``

    (1) the project will not result in a reduction in the 
 number of students served; and
 ``

    (2) if the Secretary informs the Committee on Education 
 and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, in 
 writing, not less than 90 days in advance of issuing such 
 waiver.''.

    (j) Application of Provisions of Federal Law.--

    (1) In general.--

Section 157 of the Workforce Innovation 
 and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3207) is amended by adding at 
 the end the following:
 ``
            (d) Service Contract Act.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Operators and service providers, 
 including subcontractors thereto, are subject to and shall be 
 required to abide by chapter 67 of title 41, United States Code 
 (commonly known as the `McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of 
 1965').
 ``

    (2) Academic and career technical instructional 
 employees.--Notwithstanding 

section 6701

    (3)
            (C) of such chapter, 
 an academic or career technical instructional employee at a Job 
 Corps campus shall be considered a `service employee' for 
 purposes of applying such chapter under paragraph

    (1) .
 ``

    (3) Rule of construction.--To the extent compensation 
 levels being paid or scheduled to be paid by an employer are, 
 in the aggregate, greater than those determined by the 
 Secretary of Labor to be required under this subsection, or as 
 set forth in a collective bargaining agreement, nothing herein 
 shall be construed to require a reduction of such 
 compensation.''.

    (2) Effective date.--
        (A) Agreements in effect on date of enactment.--Not 
 later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
 Act, the Secretary shall, subject to appropriations, 
 modify all agreements with operators and service 
 providers in effect as of such date of enactment to 
 include the requirements imposed by the amendment made 
 by paragraph

    (1) .
        (B) Pending solicitations.--Upon the date of 
 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall include the 
 requirements imposed by the amendment made by paragraph

    (1) in any pending solicitation for an operator or 
 service provider.

    (k) Staffing.--

    (1) In general.--To ensure compliance with chapter 67 of 
 title 41, United States Code (commonly known as the `McNamara-
 O'Hara Service Contract Act of 1965'), as such chapter is 
 applied by 

section 157
            (d) of the Workforce Innovation and 
 Opportunity Act, the staffing plan and the associated budget of 
 an entity proposing to be an operator or service provider for a 
 Job Corps campus shall incorporate hourly wages (or salaries as 
 appropriate) and fringe benefit costs for occupational 
 classifications at least equal to the wage determination 
 determined by the Secretary of Labor for the locality of the 
 Job Corps campus. In preparing such wage determination, the 
 Secretary shall compare the specific job classifications at the 
 Job Corps campus with those occupations most closely correlated 
 with those employed by public education providers in the 
 locality with the goal of ensuring equivalency to the maximum 
 extent feasible.

    (2) Adjustments permitted.--The Secretary may further 
 adjust compensation levels in a contract with an operator or 
 service provider to ensure sufficient availability and 
 retention of qualified personnel in the locality.

    (3) Annual updates.--The Secretary shall update hourly 
 wages (or salaries as appropriate) and fringe benefit levels 
 for such occupations covered in this paragraph on an annual 
 basis.
            (l) Special Provisions.--

Section 158

    (f) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3208

    (f) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``Secretary'' and inserting ``directors of 
 Job Corps campuses'';

    (2) by striking ``the Job Corps or individual'' and 
 inserting ``such''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following: ``Any real property 
 acquired shall be directly transferred to the Secretary in 
 accordance with chapter 5 of title 40 and on a nonreimbursable 
 basis.''.
            (m) Management Information.--

Section 159 of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3209) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) , by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (4) Annual reconciliation.--Prior to the expiration of 
 any appropriated Job Corps operations funds for any fiscal 
 year, any anticipated unobligated funds may, subject to 
 appropriations, be obligated to projects identified under 
 subsection

    (h)

    (1) .'';

    (2) in subsection
            (c) --
        (A) by amending paragraph

    (1) to read as follows:
 ``

    (1) Levels of performance and indicators.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--At the start of each contract 
 period, and at least every two program years in the 
 case of Civilian Conservation Centers, the Secretary 
 shall establish expected levels of performance for each 
 Job Corps campus relating to each of the primary 
 indicators of performance for eligible youth described 
 in 

section 116

    (b)

    (2)
        (A)
            (ii) using the model described 
 in subparagraph
        (B) .
 ``
        (B) Performance model.--At least every four years 
 and no more than every two years, the Secretary shall 
 develop a model for establishing the expected levels of 
 performance for each Job Corps campus, in accordance 
 with the following:
 ``
            (i) Equity.--The model shall account for 
 significant correlations between various 
 factors and student outcomes, including:
 ``
            (I) Student demographics, 
 including age, gender, race, ethnicity, 
 documented disabilities, and education 
 level on entry.
 ``
            (II) Employment conditions in 
 students' home communities.
 ``
            (ii) Development.--The model shall be 
 developed by subject matter experts in the 
 fields of Job Corps operations, program 
 evaluation, statistical analysis, and related 
 fields using available Job Corps data as well 
 as regional economic data.
 ``
            (iii) Transparency.--The performance 
 model and the past effectiveness metric 
 identified in 

section 147

    (a)

    (2)
        (B)
            (i) , 
 including the procedures outlined in 

section 147

    (a)

    (2)
        (B)
            (iv) , shall be published for 
 comment in the Federal Register.'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking 
 ``and'' at the end; and
            (ii) by striking subparagraph
        (B) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``
        (B) the number of enrollees recruited that meet 
 the requirements of 

section 144

    (a) ; and
 ``
            (C) the measurement described in subparagraph
        (K) of subsection
            (d) (1) .''; and
            (C) in paragraph

    (4) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking 
 ``and'' at the end;
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (B) , by striking the 
 period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (C) information on the performance of the Job 
 Corps selection process in 

section 147

    (a)

    (2) with 
 respect to increasing performance as measured pursuant 
 to subparagraph
        (A) , specifically including information 
 on the performance of each Job Corps campus as compared 
 to its annual performance immediately prior to its 
 current operating agreement.'';

    (3) in subsection
            (d) (1) --
        (A) by striking subparagraph
            (I) ; and
        (B) by redesignating subparagraphs
        (J) through
        (O) as subparagraphs
            (I) through
        (N) , respectively;

    (4) in subsection

    (f) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (E) , by adding ``or'' 
 at the end;
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (F) , by striking ``; 
 or'' and inserting a period; and
            (iii) by striking subparagraph
        (G) ; and
        (B) by amending paragraph

    (4) to read as follows:
 ``

    (4) Civilian conservation centers.--In addition to the 
 primary indicators of performance specified in subsection
            (c) (1) , Civilian Conservation Centers shall be evaluated on 
 their contribution to the nation's conservation goals by the 
 Secretaries of Agriculture and Labor. If the Secretaries 
 jointly conclude that a Civilian Conservation Center is not 
 meeting these dual performance goals, they may take performance 
 improvement actions described in subparagraph
        (A) ,
        (B) , or
            (C) of paragraph

    (2) of this subsection.''; and

    (5) in subsection

    (g)

    (2) --
        (A) by striking ``has entered'' and inserting 
 ``enters''; and
        (B) by striking ``comply'' and inserting ``attest 
 to compliance''.

    (n) Technical Amendment.--Subtitle C of title I of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is amended by 
striking ``Committee on Education and the Workforce'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``Committee on Education and Labor''.

    (o) Authorization of Appropriations.--

Section 162 of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3212) is amended to read as 
follows:

``

SEC. 162. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

 ``

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this subtitle--
 ``

    (1) $1,809,857,925 for fiscal year 2026;
 ``

    (2) $1,873,202,952 for fiscal year 2027;
 ``

    (3) $1,938,765,056 for fiscal year 2028;
 ``

    (4) $2,006,621,833 for fiscal year 2029;
 ``

    (5) $2,076,853,597 for fiscal year 2030; and
 ``

    (6) $2,149,543,473 for fiscal year 2031.
 ``

    (b) Construction Costs.--Of the amount authorized in subsection

    (a) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, $107,800,000 shall be 
for construction, rehabilitation, and acquisition of Job Corps 
Campuses.''.
 <all>