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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9936 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9936

 To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 with respect to workforce development, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 2024

Ms. Spanberger (for herself and Mr. Molinaro) introduced the following 
        bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 with respect to workforce development, 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. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Grants and Fellowships for Food and Agricultural Sciences 
Education.--Section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                inserting ``, junior or community colleges, and 
                postsecondary vocational instutitions'' after ``other 
                colleges and universities''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``food and 
                agricultural sciences teaching programs, or teaching 
                programs emphasizing'' and inserting ``teaching 
                programs, including paid, work-based learning, for food 
                and agricultural sciences or'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) applications for teaching enhancement projects, 
        including paid, work-based learning, that address a need for 
        additional trained professionals in food and agricultural 
        sciences or rural economic development, community development, 
        or business development.'';
            (3) in subsection (j)(1), in the matter preceding 
        subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection'' and inserting 
        ``section'';
            (4) in subsection (m)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
        2030.''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(n) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) 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)).
            ``(2) The term `postsecondary vocational institution' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 102(c) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
            ``(3) The term `work-based learning' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
        Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).''.
    (b) Experienced Services Program.--Section 1252(a)(2) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3851(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) assisting cooperative initiatives under 
                section 1417(b)(3) of the National Agricultural 
                Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
                U.S.C. 3152(b)(3)) to improve higher education teaching 
                programs, including paid, work-based learning, at--
                            ``(i) land-grant colleges and universities 
                        (including the University of the District of 
                        Columbia);
                            ``(ii) colleges and universities having 
                        significant minority enrollments and a 
                        demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching 
                        of food and agricultural sciences; and
                            ``(iii) other colleges and universities, 
                        junior or community colleges (as defined in 
                        section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 
                        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f))), and postsecondary 
                        vocational institutions (as defined in section 
                        102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                        U.S.C. 1002(c))) having a demonstrable capacity 
                        to carry out the teaching of food and 
                        agricultural sciences.''.
    (c) Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grants.--
Subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ``teaching'' and 
        inserting ``teaching, including paid work-based learning (as 
        defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
        Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)),''; and
            (2) in paragraph (7)(B), by inserting ``, junior or 
        community colleges (as defined in section 312(f) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f))), and postsecondary 
        vocational institutions (as defined in section 102(c) of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)))'' after 
        ``colleges and universities''.

SEC. 2. NRCS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.

    Section 1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) NRCS Direct Hire Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may appoint, without 
        regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 
        5, United States Code (other than sections 3303 and 3328 of 
        such title), qualified candidates, as described in paragraph 
        (2), directly to positions within the Natural Resources 
        Conservation Service that provide technical assistance under 
        conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources 
        Conservation Service.
            ``(2) Qualifications.--Paragraph (1) applies to a candidate 
        who--
                    ``(A) is qualified to provide the technical 
                assistance described in paragraph (1), as determined by 
                the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) meets qualification standards established by 
                the Office of Personnel Management.''.
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