Youth Climate Leadership Act

Summary#

This bill would create Youth Advisory Councils at five federal agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Commerce. The councils would give recommendations on environmental issues that affect young people. Their work would include helping disadvantaged communities, suggesting performance measures for climate and environmental harms that affect youth, and focusing on environmental justice, climate mitigation and resilience, and pollution reduction.

Each council would have 15–25 non‑Federal members who are 16 to 29 years old at appointment. Agency heads must seek geographic diversity and consider a range of backgrounds (business, academia, state/local/Tribal government, public interest groups, environmental groups, service groups). No more than 60% of members may come from any one background category. At least 50% of members must come from, live in, or work in disadvantaged communities. Members serve 2‑year terms and may be reappointed. Each council must have a full‑time agency employee as a designated Federal officer, two co‑chairpersons, and two vice‑chairpersons.

Councils must meet at least annually and meetings are open to the public unless closed under the law. The designated Federal officer must approve agendas and be present for meetings. The public may attend meetings, appear before the council, and file written comments. Councils may form subcommittees. Agencies must provide an educational curriculum for council members and administrative support. Councils must submit reports with recommendations to the agency at least annually. The bill states that section 1013 of title 5 (a provision of the Federal Advisory Committee Act) does not apply to these councils. The EPA may designate the existing National Environmental Youth Advisory Council as its Youth Advisory Council.

What it means for you#

• If you are 16–29, you could be appointed to a council if you have knowledge or experience in environmental issues.
• Members should include people from many parts of the country and at least half from disadvantaged communities.
• Meetings are generally open to the public. Members of the public can attend, speak, or send written comments.
• Agencies must train and support council members and receive annual advice and reports from the councils.

Expenses#

The bill authorizes $250,000 to each of the five listed agencies for each fiscal year 2027 through 2037 to carry out the Act. No publicly available information on additional or total projected costs beyond this authorization.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.