Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5468
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T16:42:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen agriculture and natural resources education at community colleges by authorizing federal grants. It seeks to enhance workforce training, research, and outreach programs to address needs in the agriculture sector, helping these institutions build capacity and prepare students for industry jobs.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- An "eligible entity" includes junior or community colleges (two-year public institutions, as defined under the Higher Education Act of 1965) that support agriculture advancement, or groups of such colleges working together.
- Competitive Grants: The Secretary of Agriculture (head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA) will award competitive grants to eligible entities to maintain and expand programs in workforce training, education, research, and outreach focused on agriculture and related fields (e.g., natural resources).
- Priority for Funding: Grants prioritize entities that partner with local agriculture businesses to offer hands-on training and student opportunities, such as internships.
- Allowed Uses of Funds:
- Help colleges compete for other federal or non-federal funding for education, research, and outreach on key agriculture issues at national, regional, state, or local levels.
- Develop courses on agriculture-related jobs, including farm management topics like accounting, legal support for farms, and finance.
- Share information on agriculture priorities with communities and the public.
- Encourage community involvement by providing matching funds from non-grant sources.
- Support infrastructure like buying equipment (but not building renovations or new construction), faculty training and development, and creating apprenticeships or work-based learning programs.
- Centers of Excellence: Eligible entities can apply to be designated as a "center of agriculture advancement." These centers receive funding to showcase best practices in agriculture and lead capacity-building efforts at regional or national levels.
- Evaluation and Reporting: Within three years of enactment, the USDA Secretary must evaluate the program's activities and submit a report to key congressional committees (Agriculture in the House and Senate, and Appropriations in both chambers).
- Funding Authorization: $20 million is authorized annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to implement the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (a law that funds agricultural education and research) by adding a new section (1473I) specifically for community college grants. Previously, the act supported four-year universities and other institutions but did not explicitly target two-year community colleges for agriculture capacity building. This introduces a dedicated grant program tailored to community colleges, emphasizing workforce training and industry partnerships, which expands the act's scope without altering its core structure.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The USDA will gain responsibilities for administering grants, evaluations, and reporting, potentially increasing administrative workload but also enhancing its role in supporting community-based agriculture education. Congress will receive oversight reports to inform future funding decisions.
- Citizens: Community college students, especially in rural or agriculture-dependent areas, could benefit from expanded training programs, leading to better job preparation in agriculture fields and potentially higher employment rates. Local communities may see improved access to agriculture information and outreach.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though stronger U.S. agriculture education could indirectly support global competitiveness in food production and trade by building a skilled domestic workforce.
- Broader Economy: The program could help address labor shortages in agriculture by fostering skilled workers, benefiting farms and related industries through better-trained employees.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Community Colleges and Consortia: Primary recipients of grants, enabling program expansion and infrastructure improvements.
- Students and Future Workers: Gain access to specialized education, apprenticeships, and job training in agriculture and natural resources.
- Agriculture Industry Operators: Benefit from partnerships providing experiential training, potentially leading to a more qualified workforce.
- USDA and Federal Government: Responsible for grant distribution, evaluation, and reporting.
- Congressional Committees: Involved in oversight and future appropriations for the program.
- Local and Rural Communities: Indirectly affected through enhanced outreach, education, and economic development in agriculture sectors.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill aligns with existing federal education and agriculture laws by building on the 1977 Act and referencing the Higher Education Act, ensuring consistency. It includes safeguards like competitive grants and evaluation requirements to promote accountability and prevent misuse of funds. No new regulatory burdens are imposed beyond grant administration.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it supports the federal government's role in promoting general welfare and interstate commerce through agriculture education, which falls under Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8).
- Political: This legislation could appeal to bipartisan interests in rural development and workforce training, particularly in agriculture-heavy states. By focusing on community colleges, it addresses affordability and accessibility in higher education, potentially reducing political divides on funding priorities. The time-limited authorization (through 2031) may encourage ongoing congressional debate on renewal and funding levels.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 2025-09-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-18 — PDF (5 pages)