Bill Summary
The "Jobs in the Woods Act" is legislation aimed at addressing workforce development needs in the forestry sector. It mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a competitive grant program for eligible entities—such as non-profit organizations, state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and institutions of higher education—to implement career pathway training programs in eligible nonmetropolitan, low-income areas with populations of 20,000 or fewer.
Eligible entities must demonstrate their ability to carry out these programs and show the need within their region, as well as plans for sustainability and implementation. Priority will be given to those addressing challenges related to an aging workforce, youth migration, and those that collaborate with educational institutions to engage students. Grants will range from $500,000 to $2 million for up to four years, with a total of $10 million authorized for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2029 to support this initiative.
Possible Impacts
The "Jobs in the Woods Act" aims to support forestry workforce development through grants to eligible entities. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Job Creation and Skill Development**: The establishment of grant programs for career pathway training in forestry operations could lead to the creation of new job opportunities for individuals in eligible areas. This would benefit local communities by providing residents with the skills and training needed to pursue careers in forestry and related industries, thus contributing to economic growth and stability.
2. **Support for Low-Income Communities**: By targeting nonmetropolitan areas that qualify as low-income communities, the legislation aims to uplift economically disadvantaged populations. Residents in these areas may gain access to training programs designed to enhance their employability, ultimately helping to reduce poverty levels and improve the overall quality of life for individuals and families in those communities.
3. **Collaboration with Educational Institutions**: The Act prioritizes partnerships with secondary schools, vocational schools, and community colleges, which could lead to increased engagement of young people in forestry careers. This collaboration may result in educational programs tailored to local workforce needs, encouraging students to pursue careers in sustainable forestry. By doing so, the legislation could help address the issues of an aging workforce and youth migration, ensuring a steady influx of new talent into the forestry sector.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1336 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1336
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to
address forestry workforce development needs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 8, 2025
Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Crapo, Mrs. Shaheen,
Ms. Collins, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to
address forestry workforce development needs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Jobs in the Woods Act''.
SEC. 2. FORESTRY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Career pathway.--The term ``career pathway'' has the
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(2) Eligible area.--The term ``eligible area'' means an
area that--
(A) is a nonmetropolitan area that qualifies as a
low-income community (as defined in section 45D(e) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986);
(B) has access to, or has a plan to achieve,
broadband service with--
(i) at least 100 Mbps download speed and 20
Mbps upload speed;
(ii) latency sufficiently low for real-
time, interactive applications; and
(iii) network reliability of not more than
48 hours of outage time over any 365-day
period; and
(C) has a population of 20,000 or fewer
inhabitants.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a nonprofit organization;
(B) a State;
(C) an Indian Tribe;
(D) a unit of local government; and
(E) an institution of higher education (as defined
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a competitive
grant program to make grants to eligible entities to carry out career
pathway training programs in eligible areas with respect to forestry
operations and forestry products industries.
(c) Applications.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary
an application at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require, which shall
include--
(A) a demonstrated capacity to carry out a career
pathway training program in accordance with subsection
(b);
(B) a demonstration of need for such a program
within the applicable region;
(C) a projection of the extent of reach intended
for the program;
(D) a plan to ensure that the program is
sustainable; and
(E) a plan for the implementation of the program.
(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
(A) propose to carry out activities to address the
issues of aging workforce and youth migration;
(B) will partner with secondary schools (as defined
in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)), vocational or
technical schools, or junior or community colleges (as
defined in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058)) to engage students; and
(C) demonstrate the ability to assist with forestry
workforce placement and hiring.
(d) Term; Amount.--A grant made under this section shall be--
(1) for a period of not more than 4 years; and
(2) in an amount equal to--
(A) not less than $500,000; and
(B) not more than $2,000,000.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.
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