Forestry Education and Workforce Development Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2621 | Sponsor: Rep. Fulcher, Russ (R-ID)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Forestry Education and Workforce Development Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make grants to eligible institutions to carry out forestry education and workforce development programs to prepare students for careers in forestry.
The amount of grant funds awarded each fiscal year to land grant colleges or universities shall be equal to the amount of grant funds awarded to other institutions of higher education and area career and technical education schools.
Enrollees in Civilian Conservation Centers may provide assistance in carrying out reforestation activities in priority areas, as determined by USDA.

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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