Amendment Restores $21 Million for National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program
A bipartisan amendment offered by Rep. David B. McKinley (R-WV) to restore funding for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program passed the House yesterday. The amendment added $21 million to the program for at-risk kids after it was cut by President Obama.
“With all the problems we face in America and West Virginia, we can’t lose sight of kids at risk of falling through the cracks,” said McKinley. “The Youth ChalleNGe program gives young people who have dropped out of high school a chance to turn their life around. As a father and grandfather this is important to me.”
“By teaching important life skills, instilling discipline and structure, and stressing education, the Youth ChalleNGe program helps steer young people away from drugs, alcohol, and crime and put them on a path to a productive life,” said McKinley. “In West Virginia we are fortunate to have such a program at Camp Dawson in Preston County.”
“For the third year in a row, Congress continues to reduce overall federal spending,” said McKinley. “We are finding ways to reduce wasteful spending and increase support for programs like this that are cost effective.”
The amendment was co-sponsored by Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA). McKinley and Napolitano are the co-chairs of the Congressional Youth ChalleNGe Caucus.
