This bill would create Youth Advisory Councils inside five federal agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce. Each council would give recommendations to its agency on environmental issues affecting young people, including environmental justice, climate change, pollution reduction, and ways to help disadvantaged communities.
Councils must have 15–25 non‑Federal members ages 16–29. At least half of members must come from, live in, or work in disadvantaged communities. The agencies must try to pick members from different parts of the country and from different backgrounds (for example, business, schools, local or Tribal government, environmental groups, or service groups). No more than 60% of members can be from any one category.
Members serve two‑year terms and can be reappointed. Each council gets a full‑time agency employee as a designated Federal officer, plus two co‑chairs and two vice‑chairs chosen from the members. Councils must meet at least once a year, hold open meetings unless a federal law allows closure, let the public comment, and submit at least one report per year with their recommendations. The bill says a federal advisory law (section 1013 of title 5) does not apply to these councils. Agencies must provide administrative support and an educational curriculum for members.
The bill authorizes $250,000 to each of the five named agencies (EPA, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, Commerce) for each fiscal year 2027 through 2037 to carry out the bill. That is $250,000 per agency per year. Together the five agencies would be authorized $1,250,000 per year. Over 2027–2037 (11 years) the total authorized amount is $13,750,000. These are authorizations of appropriations; they do not guarantee funds will be spent.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.