# CAREER Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary

## What This Bill Does

The CAREER Act of 2025 reauthorizes and expands federal programs designed to help people with substance use disorders return to work and stable housing. Specifically, it extends and increases funding for two existing programs: one that provides grants for treatment, recovery, and job training services, and another that supports recovery housing (sober living facilities). The bill updates the programs to run through 2030 and increases annual funding from $5 million to $12 million for the workforce support grants.

## Who Benefits

This bill primarily helps individuals recovering from addiction by funding programs that offer:
- Job training and employment services
- Substance abuse treatment and recovery support
- Stable housing in recovery-focused communities
- Transportation assistance to get to work, training, or treatment

States and organizations that run these recovery programs would also benefit from the increased federal funding and extended authorization period.

## Key Changes

**Funding increases:** Annual funding jumps from $5 million (2019-2023) to $12 million (2026-2030) for workforce support grants.

**Extended timeline:** Both programs now run through 2030 instead of 2023.

**Transportation support:** Organizations can now use up to 5% of grant funds to provide transportation for participants to jobs, training, or treatment services.

**Flexibility:** The bill prevents the federal government from requiring grantees to use funds for activities beyond those specified in the law, giving organizations more autonomy in how they serve their communities.