[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2621 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2621
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a forestry
education and workforce development grant program, and for other
purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 16, 2021
Mr. Fulcher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
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A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a forestry
education and workforce development grant program, 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 ``Forestry Education and Workforce
Development Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FORESTRY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a
competitive grant program to make grants to eligible institutions to
carry out forestry education and workforce development programs to
prepare students for careers in forestry.
(b) Proposal.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an eligible institution shall submit to the Secretary of
Agriculture a proposal at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require.
(c) Equitable Awards.--For each fiscal year for which grants are
awarded under this section, the amount of grant funds awarded to
eligible institutions described in paragraph (1) of subsection (f)
shall be equal to the amount of grant funds awarded to eligible
institutions described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of such subsection.
(d) Use of Grant Funds.--
(1) In general.--Grants made under this section shall be
used to--
(A) award scholarships to students enrolled in the
eligible institution and pursuing degrees in forestry,
including students historically underrepresented in the
field of forestry;
(B) expand, enhance, or improve forestry
educational capacities of the eligible institution,
including libraries, curriculum, faculty, and
scientific instrumentation;
(C) recruit and retain--
(i) secondary school or undergraduate
students to pursue certifications in forestry
or acquire training in technical forestry
skills, including students historically
underrepresented in the field of forestry; or
(ii) undergraduate and graduate students to
pursue degrees in forestry, including students
historically underrepresented in the field of
forestry;
(D) design and develop resources or programs that
prepare students enrolled in the eligible institution
for careers in forestry, including internship and
apprenticeship programs;
(E) provide hands-on training and research
opportunities for such students; or
(F) carry out any other activity the Secretary of
Agriculture determines appropriate.
(2) Clarification of forestry education.--For purposes of
paragraph (1), the terms ``degrees in forestry'',
``certifications in forestry'', and ``training in technical
forestry skills'' include degrees, certifications, and training
in forestry, forest sciences, natural resources management, or
other related educational disciplines.
(e) Payment of Non-Federal Share.--As a condition of receiving a
grant under this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall require
the recipient of the grant to provide funds or in-kind support from
non-Federal sources in an amount that is specified by the Secretary and
based on assessed institutional needs.
(f) Eligible Institution Defined.--In this section, the term
``eligible institution'' means--
(1) a land grant college or university, including an
institution eligible to receive funding under--
(A) the Act of July 2, 1862;
(B) the Act of August 30, 1890, including Tuskegee
University;
(C) Public Law 87-788 (commonly known as the
``McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962''); or
(D) the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note);
(2) a community college or area career and technical
education school (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2302)); or
(3) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1002)).
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021
through 2030 to carry out this section.
SEC. 3. CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTERS REFORESTATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 147(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3197(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Reforestation activities.--Enrollees in Civilian
Conservation Centers may provide assistance in carrying out
reforestation activities in priority areas, as determined by
the Secretary of Agriculture.''.
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