Young Adults

California Democrats understand that young adults today are the first generation experiencing a lower quality of life than their parents as a result of policy choices that have failed to keep pace with rising costs, labor market changes, and long-term investments in education and housing. The actions of the federal administration have disregarded this generation by ignoring the health of our economy and our planet. We are causing the crisis they will be tasked with reversing. Whether our young adults choose to go straight to college, trade school or directly into employment, they deserve to start their lives with more options than currently available. 

To ensure that all young adults have the tools to reach their full potential, California Democrats will: 

1. Encourage policies to address college affordability including making Community College and Trade Schools free for California residents;
2. Advocate for a 3% cap on interest rates for student loans so no one is paying off their student loan with their retirement checks;
3. Advocate for financial assistance and training programs for first time home buyers and invest in housing affordability more broadly through increased housing supply, zoning reform, and tenant protections;
4. Promote the enforcement of wage and hour laws, prohibit age-based pay discrimination, and limit involuntary part-time work that disproportionately affects young workers;
5. Work with community groups and governmental agencies to strengthen consumer protections including caps on predatory interest rates, credit reporting reform, and enhanced oversight of lending practices that target young adults; 
6. Work to ensure that young adults have access to employer-supported, portable retirement savings options and earn wages sufficient to make saving for retirement realistic and invest in financial literacy education needed to address the Social Security insolvency crisis; 
7. Affirm that the California Democratic Party will promote the leadership and advocacy of  young adults in California to ensure a greater voice and participation in our politics and government;
8. Work to strengthen the social safety net and stop the existing erosion;
9. Support robust investment in mental health services to address the mental health epidemic specific to this age group; and,
10. Advocate for the expansion of state approved apprenticeship training programs across a varied spectrum of industries.