A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to address forestry workforce development needs, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 1336
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-03T11:56:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Jobs in the Woods Act" (S. 1336) aims to support workforce development in the forestry sector by creating a federal grant program. It focuses on training programs to build skills for forestry operations and related industries, particularly in rural, low-income areas facing labor shortages due to an aging workforce and youth leaving these communities.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Career pathway: A structured series of education, training, and job experiences leading to employment (as defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act).
- Eligible area: Rural (nonmetropolitan) low-income communities with populations of 20,000 or fewer that have or plan to achieve reliable high-speed broadband internet (at least 100 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload, low latency for real-time use, and minimal outages).
- Eligible entity: Nonprofits, state governments, Native American tribes, local governments, or colleges/universities.
- Secretary: The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who oversees the program.
- Grant Program Establishment:
- The Secretary must create a competitive grant program within one year of the bill's enactment.
- Grants fund career pathway training programs in eligible areas for forestry operations (e.g., logging, management) and forestry products industries (e.g., wood processing).
- Application Process:
- Applicants must submit plans showing their ability to run the program, local need, expected reach (number of people served), sustainability after funding ends, and implementation steps.
- Priority goes to proposals that:
- Tackle an aging workforce and youth out-migration.
- Partner with high schools, vocational/technical schools, or community colleges to involve students.
- Help with job placement and hiring in forestry.
- Grant Details:
- Duration: Up to 4 years.
- Funding per grant: Between $500,000 and $2,000,000.
- Total funding: $10 million authorized annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new grant program under the Department of Agriculture, with no direct amendments to prior laws. It builds on existing frameworks like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (for career pathways) and tax code definitions (for low-income communities) but creates a targeted initiative for forestry workforce needs that did not previously exist at this scale.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Agriculture will need to allocate staff and resources to administer the program, review applications, and monitor grants, potentially increasing administrative workload but supporting rural economic goals.
- Citizens: Rural residents in qualifying areas could gain access to job training, leading to better employment opportunities in forestry and reduced out-migration. It may help sustain local economies in underserved communities by addressing skill gaps.
- International Relations: No direct impacts; the focus is domestic workforce development in U.S. forestry.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible Entities: Nonprofits, state/local governments, tribes, and educational institutions that apply for and receive grants to deliver training.
- Forestry Workers and Job Seekers: Current and potential employees in forestry, including youth and older workers, who benefit from training and placement services.
- Rural Communities: Low-income, small-population areas with forestry ties, gaining economic revitalization through job programs.
- Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges partnering on training, potentially expanding their role in vocational education.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The program emphasizes competitive grants and sustainability plans, promoting efficient use of federal funds without mandating specific outcomes. It aligns with federal workforce laws but requires broadband access, which could exclude some very remote areas without infrastructure plans.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it involves standard congressional authority over spending and agriculture policy, supporting equal access to opportunities in rural areas without infringing on states' rights (as states and locals can apply).
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from senators across parties) highlights broad support for rural job creation. It could influence future agriculture funding debates by prioritizing workforce issues in forestry, a key sector for environmental management and timber economies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Cosponsors (9)
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Jobs in the Woods Act — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (5 pages)