Letter to Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Chairwoman House Appropriations Committee, Hon. Patrick Leahy, Chairman Senate Appropriations Committee, Hon. Kay Granger, Ranking Member House Appropriations Committee, and Hon. Richard Shelby, Vice Chairman Senate Appropriations Committee - Representative Adriano Espaillat Leads Congressional Call to Create National Youth Employment Program

Letter

Dear Chair DeLauro, Chair Leahy, Ranking Member Granger, and Vice Chairman Shelby:

As Congress considers funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, we urge you to include $50 million to create a National Youth Employment Program. This funding was secured in the House-passed FY 22 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill and matches the funding level included in the President's Budget request.

This new competitive grant program will provide funding for youth employment programs, including summer and year-round opportunities. While we were pleased to see it included in the Senate LHHS bill, the Senate level of funding falls short by $25 million. The House level of funding ensures that youth and young adults who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and systemic inequality are able to receive the resources and opportunities they need.

Additionally, we ask that you prioritize the need to develop and expand Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEP's), a core tenant of the National Youth Employment Program. Studies show that SYEPS's reduce crime by providing routines, supervision, and reduced economic incentives for criminal activity. Historically, crime in cities dramatically increase during the summer months, especially in urban cities. Ahead of the Summer 2022 season, we must be proactive. In doing so, we must address the root causes of violence: poverty and systemic racism.

We have the chance to do so now by including $50 million to create a National Youth Employment Program which invests in programs that foster safe, healthy, and hopeful communities where our youth, principally opportunity youth, can learn, dream, and thrive. We encourage and support the House level of funding for the National Youth Employment Program as it more adequately addresses the needs of our youth and our societies. We believe this will be for a historic investment in young people, particularly among young people who have been historically excluded from economic opportunity, including opportunity youth, foster youth, youth of color, youth experiencing homelessness, and young people impacted by the criminal legal system.

Thank you for your attention and consideration of this request.