Youth Engagement, Skills & Resilience Act
Prepare teens (ages 13-21) for success! Trade skills, apprenticeships, peer mentors, AI literacy, cyberbullying prevention, and face-to-face service learning. Less screen time, more real-world skills!
🎓 What Does This Bill Do?
Young people today face a TRIPLE crisis: 2 million unfilled trade jobs, historic levels of anxiety and depression, and 37% of teens get cyberbullied. This bill tackles ALL THREE! Tax credits encourage employers to hire youth apprentices. Grants fund pre-apprenticeship programs in welding, construction, and healthcare. "Digital Ambassadors" (older teens) mentor younger kids on social media safety and AI literacy. Face-to-face volunteer service gets kids OFF screens and INTO their communities. Taxpayers protected: Pay-for-Success means government ONLY pays if programs WORK!
🚨 The Youth Crisis
🏛️ Four Pillars of Youth Success
Trade Skills
Apprenticeships, VR training, real careers
Digital Resilience
AI literacy, cyberbullying prevention
Peer Mentorship
Digital Ambassadors help younger kids
Face-to-Face
Service learning, real human connection
🔧 Trade Skills & Apprenticeships
2 million jobs are waiting—let's train young people to fill them!
Tax Credit
Employers get $5K/year per youth apprentice (ages 16-21)
Pre-Apprenticeship Grants
VR training, job shadowing, multiple trades
Rotation Exposure
Try welding, electrical, plumbing, HVAC
📱 Digital Ambassador Corps
Older teens (16-21) mentor younger kids (13-15) on navigating the digital world!
AI Literacy
Understand ChatGPT, deepfakes, algorithmic bias
Cyberbullying Prevention
Bystander intervention, reporting, support
Screen-Life Balance
Healthy habits, sleep, physical activity
Help-Seeking Skills
When to ask for help, trusted adults
🤝 Face-to-Face Service Learning
Get kids OFF screens and INTO communities through real volunteer work!
Senior Centers
Tutoring
Food Pantries
Environment
Youth Sports
Shelters
🤖 AI Literacy for the Real World
Kids need to understand AI—not just use it! Voluntary national standards for grades 6-12.
How Algorithms Work
Why social media shows what it shows
Deepfakes & Manipulation
Spot fake images, videos, and audio
Ethics & Bias
AI isn't neutral—understand the limits
Human-AI Collaboration
Work WITH AI, don't be replaced by it
💰 Pay-for-Success: Taxpayers Protected
Private investors take the risk. Government ONLY pays if programs WORK!
🛡️ Built-In Protections
100% Voluntary
No state or school required to participate.
Parental Consent
Written consent required. Parents can opt out.
No Curriculum Mandates
AI standards are VOLUNTARY, not required.
Taxpayer Protected
Pay-for-Success: no results = no payment.
GAO Reviews
Years 3, 6, 9 independent evaluations.
10-Year Sunset
Expires unless Congress reauthorizes.
🎓 Real Skills. Real Connections. Real Resilience.
Young people face a triple crisis: 2 million unfilled trade jobs, historic mental health struggles, and rampant cyberbullying. This bill attacks all three. Tax credits encourage youth apprenticeships in welding, healthcare, IT, and construction. Digital Ambassadors—older teens mentoring younger kids—teach AI literacy and cyberbullying prevention. Face-to-face service learning gets kids OFF screens and INTO communities. Pay-for-Success protects taxpayers: private investors take the risk, government only pays for RESULTS. That's showing your work.
Gregory Burgess for Congress
No Party Preference • California's 2nd Congressional District
"Show Your Work" Campaign