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119-s-1336119th CongressWALLET

Jobs in the Woods Act

Sponsored By: Senator King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

Introduced

Summary

Creates competitive USDA grants to build career-pathway training in forestry for small, low-income rural communities. This bill would fund multi-year programs that link schools, community colleges, tribes, nonprofits, and local governments with employers to train and place workers in forestry operations and forestry products industries.

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  • Workers and youth: Jobseekers in eligible rural areas would get targeted training and hiring help, with priority for programs addressing an aging workforce and youth outmigration.
  • Rural communities: Towns with 20,000 people or fewer that qualify as low-income and have (or plan) high-speed broadband could host funded career-pathway programs.
  • Eligible entities and schools: Nonprofits, states, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and institutions of higher education can apply for grants between $500,000 and $2.0 million for up to 4 years.

*Authorizes $10.0 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out the grant program.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Forestry job training grants for rural areas

If enacted, this bill would create a competitive USDA grant program for forestry job training in small rural, low-income areas. The Agriculture Secretary would have to set up the program within 1 year. It would authorize $10 million each year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. Grants would be $500,000 to $2,000,000 and last up to 4 years. Eligible areas must be nonmetropolitan, low-income, have 20,000 or fewer people, and meet broadband rules (at least 100 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up, low latency, and no more than 48 hours outage per year). Eligible applicants include nonprofits, States, Indian Tribes, local governments, and institutions of higher education. The Secretary would give priority to projects that address an aging forestry workforce and youth migration, partner with secondary or technical schools and community colleges, and help place trainees into forestry jobs.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

ME • I

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]

    ME • R

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 3/2/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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