This bill modernizes and expands the Job Corps program, a federal workforce development initiative that provides job training to low-income youth and young adults. The legislation increases the maximum age of eligibility from 21 to 24 years old and expands who can participate to include young people from qualified opportunity zones, military service members entering civilian life, homeless and foster youth, and low-income individuals. The bill also renames Job Corps "centers" to "campuses" throughout the program and gives campus operators greater autonomy in hiring staff, designing training delivery, setting security policies, and establishing partnerships with employers and educational institutions. Additionally, the law creates new career pathways into federal government positions in areas like agriculture and defense where agencies face hiring challenges, expands support for apprenticeships, and extends post-graduation transition assistance from three months to one year. The bill authorizes approximately $1.8 billion for fiscal year 2025, increasing to roughly $2.1 billion by 2030, and strengthens accountability through improved performance metrics and data collection using state wage records to track employment outcomes.
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