ASPIRE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5138
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-04: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-19T09:08:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The ASPIRE Act (H.R. 5138) aims to strengthen the U.S. agriculture industry by authorizing federal grants to educational institutions for developing training programs that prepare students for agriculture jobs. It focuses on building a skilled workforce through partnerships between schools and industry to promote industry growth, competitiveness, and worker retention.
Key Provisions
- Grant Authorization: The Secretary of Agriculture, through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will award grants to eligible institutions to create and run "agriculture workforce training programs."
- Definitions:
- Agriculture workforce training program: A program where students receive hands-on training from industry partners, including internships (temporary work experiences), apprenticeships (structured on-the-job learning), experience-based classes, and workshops on technical skills like farming techniques or equipment use.
- Eligible institution: Includes land-grant universities (public colleges focused on agriculture and related fields, established by federal laws like the Morrill Acts), community colleges, technical schools, and other institutions offering agriculture-related studies. Specific types include 1862 Institutions (original land-grants), 1890 Institutions (historically Black land-grants), 1994 Institutions (Tribal land-grants), Hispanic-serving colleges, and career/technical education schools.
- Targeted industry partner: Agriculture companies, industry groups, registered apprenticeship programs (federally approved job-training initiatives), or nonprofits that help people find agriculture jobs.
- Use of Funds: At least 5% of grant money must support the training program directly, covering student recruitment efforts and faculty training to better prepare students for agriculture careers.
- Implementation Timeline: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must start the program by January 31, 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 2501(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 by adding a new subsection (16). Previously, this section authorized various competitive grants for agriculture education and outreach but did not specifically include workforce training programs tied to industry partnerships. The addition creates a dedicated grant category for practical, job-focused training in agriculture, expanding federal support beyond traditional research and extension services.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The USDA and NIFA will gain new responsibilities for administering grants, reviewing applications, and ensuring compliance, potentially increasing their workload and budget needs through annual appropriations (funding amount not specified in the bill).
- Citizens: Students and potential workers, especially from underserved groups (e.g., at Hispanic-serving or Tribal institutions), will have more access to free or low-cost training, leading to better job opportunities in agriculture. This could help address labor shortages in farming and related fields.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though a stronger U.S. agriculture workforce could enhance the competitiveness of American exports in global markets, indirectly supporting trade relations.
- Broader Economy: May boost rural economies by improving worker skills and retention in agriculture, a key sector employing millions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Educational Institutions: Eligible schools (e.g., universities, community colleges) that apply for and receive grants to build training programs.
- Agriculture Industry: Companies, associations, and nonprofits partnering with schools for internships and apprenticeships, benefiting from a more skilled labor pool.
- Students and Workers: Trainees gaining practical skills for entry-level or advanced agriculture roles, such as crop management or agribusiness.
- Federal Government: USDA/NIFA as grant administrators; Congress for funding oversight.
- Underserved Communities: Institutions serving minorities, Tribes, and rural areas, promoting equity in agriculture education.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill builds on existing federal authority under the 1990 Act without creating new agencies or mandates, ensuring smooth integration. It requires collaboration with registered apprenticeship programs, aligning with labor laws like the National Apprenticeship Act.
- Constitutional: No major issues; it supports the federal role in promoting agriculture and education under the Constitution's commerce clause (regulating interstate economic activities) and general welfare clause.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Republican and Democratic representatives) highlights broad support for workforce development in agriculture, a vital rural and economic issue. It could influence future farm bills by emphasizing job training amid ongoing debates on immigration and labor shortages in the sector, but it avoids controversial topics like visa programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-04: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Agriculture Skills Preparation for Industry Recruitment Efforts Act — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (6 pages)