H.R. 4575

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4575 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4575

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to 
address forestry workforce development needs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 21, 2025

Ms. Perez (for herself, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Stauber, Ms. Pingree, Mr. 
Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

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) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the 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 
in accordance with subsection (c).
(2) Term; amount.--A grant made under this section shall 
be--
(A) for a period of not greater than 4 years; and
(B) made in an amount--
(i) greater than or equal to $500,000; and
(ii) less than or equal to $2,000,000.
(b) 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 
(c);
(B) a demonstration of need for such program within 
a region;
(C) a projection of the extent of reach intended 
for such program;
(D) a plan to ensure that such program is 
sustainable; and
(E) a plan for the implementation of such 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 an aging workforce and youth migration;
(B) to engage students, intends to partner with--
(i) a secondary school;
(ii) a vocational or technical school; or
(iii) a junior or community college; and
(C) demonstrate the ability to assist with forestry 
workforce placement and hiring.
(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section shall use the grant funds to carry out career pathway 
training programs with respect to forestry operations and forestry 
products industries.
(d) 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--
(A) a nonmetropolitan area that qualifies as a low-
income community (as defined in section 45D(e) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986);
(B) an area that has access to or has a plan to 
achieve broadband service (as defined in section 601 of 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
950bb)); and
(C) an area that has a population of 50,000 or 
fewer inhabitants.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
nonprofit organization, a State, an Indian Tribe, a local 
government, or an institution of higher education.
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001).
(5) Junior or community college.--The term ``junior or 
community college'' has the meaning given such term in section 
312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)).
(6) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has 
the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Agriculture.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.
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