PURPOSE AND FUNDING LIMITATIONS FOR NATIONAL GUARD CHALLENGE PROGRAM.

SEC. 579. PURPOSE AND FUNDING LIMITATIONS FOR NATIONAL GUARD CHALLENGE PROGRAM. (a) Program Authority and Purpose.—Subsection (a) of section 509 of title 32, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “(a) Program Authority and Purpose.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, may use the National Guard to conduct a civilian youth opportunities program, to be known as the ‘National Guard Challenge Program’, which shall consist of at least a 22-week residential program and a 12-month post-residential mentoring period. The National Guard Challenge Program shall seek to improve life skills and employment potential of participants by providing military-based training and supervised work experience, together with the core program components of assisting participants to receive a high school diploma or its equivalent, leadership development, promoting fellowship and community service, developing life coping skills and job skills, and improving physical fitness and health and hygiene.”. (b) Annual Funding Limitation.—Subsection (b) of such section is amended by striking “$50,000,000” and inserting “$62,500,000”.