Today, Young Invincibles released an issue brief that identifies the American Jobs Act’s (AJA) many helpful provisions for young adults, and recommends further action to address the plight of youth.  With our nation’s economy struggling through a slow recovery, and young people bearing the brunt of the unemployment burden, the AJA could not have come at a better time. Although the Senate kept the bill from moving forward last week, it is not entirely dead, with talk of enacting pieces of the AJA separately.

The legislation targets young people directly in several ways, including funding summer jobs programs, year-round jobs programs, and  training programs. Young Americans will also benefit from the proposal to improve our educational infrastructure, both at the secondary and at the community college level. Other elements such as the extension and expansion of the payroll tax cut will create jobs for youth by increasing employment generally.

As Members of Congress discuss legislation aimed at getting the economy back on track, they should build on the framework of the AJA by improving young people’s access to its programs, and augmenting the foundation with bolder solutions for a struggling generation. Specifically, the brief recommends that Congress and the Administration:

• Broaden eligibility for proposed work programs beyond the unemployment insurance system, which systematically excludes young Americans who rarely hold the stable full time jobs that initially qualify them for the program.
• Refinance not just home mortgages, but also student loans.  Maintain the current low interest rate, allow borrowers with higher rates to refinance to current rates, and relieve graduates struggling to repay by changing collection policies.
• Focus tax reforms on young adults by extending the Earned Income Tax Credit to childless workers under age 25.

To read the full brief, click here.