Legislative Updates

The House and Senate agreed to appropriate $102.5M to DOL's YouthBuild program for FY2010.  Previously, the House had appropriated $100M compared to $105M in the Senate bill, thus resulting in a compromise of $102.5M.

This means that DOL will have approximately $30M new dollars to grant in 2010. YouthBuild has finally broken the $100M barrier in the regular annual appropriations!   Congratulations to all!

$8.8 Million OJJDP Grant

YouthBuild USA received an $8.8M grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s  Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).  About $6M of these funds will be passed through to affiliates. Approximately $50,000/year will be available to about 40 programs for three years to create a mentoring program likely to be focused primarily on 16 to 18 year olds.  Funds may be distributed on a per year student basis support the costs of a mentoring coordinator who will implement the YouthBuild mentoring model piloted over the past 18 months. This project is considered by OJJDP to be “delinquency prevention” but will not be limited to young people with court involvement. It will put YouthBuild squarely in the mentoring world. Follow this link to read more about the OJJDP Mentoring Grant

Dorothy Stoneman testifies Before Congressional Committee

On October 1st, YouthBuild USA’s Founder and CEO, Dorothy Stoneman, testified before the House Committee on Education and Labor chaired by Congressman Miller.  Dorothy was asked to testify about YouthBuild, as a program in DOL that works for disadvantaged youth.  This is another indication of YouthBuild's positive reputation on Capitol Hill.   Though it was not possible to have YouthBuild students or graduates testify, Dorothy was able to submit the testimony of four graduates and took three graduates, (Wayne Whack from Philly, Ebonie Bazemore and Claudia Lovo from LAYC in DC) to be interviewed on camera on the Hill. Click to read Dorothy’s testimony, and click here to see a video of Dorothy’s testimony.

The US Department of Labor Received $50 Million of Stimulus Funds in addition to $70 Million Federal YouthBuild Funding for FY’09 to be Distributed to Local YouthBuild Programs in June, 2009

The DOL YouthBuild program received $50 million in stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (HR 1), which was signed into law on February 17, 2009. Combined with a $70 million appropriation approved by Congress on March 11^th as part of the Omnibus appropriation bill (HR 1105) for FY’09, the YouthBuild funding for FY’09 is $120 million.

The US Department of Labor Received $50 Million of Stimulus Funds in addition to $70 Million Federal YouthBuild Funding for FY’09 to be Distributed to Local YouthBuild Programs in June, 2009

The DOL YouthBuild program received $50 million in stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (HR 1), which was signed into law on February 17, 2009. Combined with a $70 million appropriation approved by Congress on March 11^th as part of the Omnibus appropriation bill (HR 1105) for FY’09, the YouthBuild funding for FY’09 is $120 million.

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act was signed into law by President Obama on March 30^th. The Act will increase the number of national community service positions from 75,000 to 250,000. Volunteers of all ages will have increased opportunities to serve in areas of national need. The legislation also recognizes the important role of social entrepreneurship and establishes a commission to further study how non-profits, private industry, and the federal government can collaborate to most effectively meet the challenges facing American communities. The bill passed with considerable bipartisan support.

The House of Representatives passed the FY ’09 Omnibus spending package, which included a $70 million appropriation for YouthBuild. The House vote came after negotiations to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The Senate had previously recommended $59 million for YouthBuild compared to $70 million in the House. The conference committee to resolve the differences between the two bills agreed on the House’s recommendation of $70 million for YouthBuild. The Senate is expected to vote on the final version of the bill before the end of February.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $50M for the federal YouthBuild program administered by the US Department of Labor (DOL). These funds will be distributed to local non-profit community-based and public agencies. The $50M new dollars, combined with a likely FY’09 appropriation of at least $60M, will allow the DOL to fund approximately 200 local organizations. 

Our Youth, Our Economy, Our Future: A National Investment Strategy for Reconnecting America’s Youth.
A Campaign for Youth policy recommendation.

On Thursday, June 7, 2007, the House Labor, HHS Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations bill and funded YouthBuild at just $60M, giving YouthBuild a $10M (20%) increase.

On Friday, September 22, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law S. 3534, the YouthBuild Transfer Act,  transferring YouthBuild from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Labor.

On Wednesday, September 6, 2006, after more than two years of negotiations with the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Office of Management and Budget and both Chambers of Congress, a consensus bill to transfer YouthBuild from HUD to DOL passed the House yesterday, after having passed the Senate by unanimous consent in July. The two bills were identical, as everything was ironed out both Chambers in advance.

At 11:55PM on August 3, 2006, just before adjourning for the summer recess, the full Senate passed the YouthBuild Transfer Act, by unanimous consent at the request of Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) in support of a bi-partisan bill co-sponsored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Mike DeWine (R-OH), John Kerry (D-MA), and Patty Murray (D-WA).  If passed in the House and signed into law, this bill will move the YouthBuild program from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to the US Department of Labor. 

Last month Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Mike DeWine (R-OH), John Kerry (D-MA), and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the YouthBuild Transfer Act (S.3534) in the Senate.

This week Senators John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Mike DeWine (R-OH) delivered the YouthBuild Support Letter with 48 Senatorial Signatures (see below for complete list) to Chairmen Chairmen Kit Bond and Arlen Specter and Ranking Members Patty Murray and Tom Harkin urging them to include $90M for the federal YouthBuild program in the budget for Fiscal Year 2007.

The Administration’s budget for Fiscal Year 2007 released in early February includes just $50M for YouthBuild, in the Department of Labor. This $50M request perpetuates the 20% cut that YouthBuild suffered for Fiscal Year 2006 as a result of confusion about whether we would be in HUD or DOL.  

On Friday, November 18, the Congressional House and Senate Conference Committee concluded its appropriations process for the Transportation, the Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, Judiciary, District of Columbia appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2006 and selected the lower of the two Chambers’ recommendation for the YouthBuild appropriation.

All 42 House Members of the Congressional Black Caucus introduced a bill to support the reconstruction of the Gulf Coast.  H.R. 4197, Providing for the recovery of the Gulf Coast, addresses housing, health care, voting rights, small business, education, and other issues affecting the Gulf, ending with a call for the president to put forth a plan to eliminate poverty. 

The President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2006 was released on February 7, 2005.

The President requested $59M for the Youthbuild program, a decrease of just over 4% from Fiscal Year 2005. The overall Department of Labor Budget was also decreased by 4%.