Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Introduced
Summary
Expand community college capacity to train the next generation of agricultural workers and strengthen links between schools and local farms. This bill creates a competitive federal grant program to help 2-year public colleges grow workforce training, research, and outreach in agriculture and related fields.
Show full summary
- Students and workers: More hands-on training, apprenticeships, and job-focused classes will be funded to boost skills for farm and agribusiness jobs.
- Community colleges and faculty: Eligible 2-year public colleges can get competitive grants to buy equipment, support faculty development, and become designated centers that share best practices regionally or nationally.
- Local farms and rural employers: Grants give priority to programs that partner with local agriculture operators, creating more on-the-job training and better pipelines from school to work.
*Authorizes $20 million per year in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, increasing federal spending authority over that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for community college agriculture
This bill would create a competitive grant program run by the Secretary of Agriculture. Eligible recipients would be two-year public or community colleges, or consortia of those colleges. Grants would help colleges expand workforce training, education, research, and outreach in agriculture and related fields. Allowed uses would include apprenticeships and work-based learning, faculty professional development, industry-focused courses, outreach, and buying equipment or infrastructure. Grants could not pay for building repair, renovation, or construction. The Secretary would give priority to programs that partner with local agriculture operators for hands-on student training. The bill would authorize $20,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, subject to future appropriations. The Secretary would evaluate the program and report to congressional agriculture and appropriations committees within 3 years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
CO • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
MS • R
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
MS • R
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov