Bill > HR3465

This bill enhances the operations and capabilities of Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs), which are residential workforce development facilities for underserved youth operated by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture. The bill establishes specialized training programs focusing on forestry, rangeland management, and wildland firefighting, with a priority on facilities serving disadvantaged communities. It creates a pilot program to develop career and technical education curricula covering a wide range of skills including incident management, disaster response, forest restoration, and equipment operation. The legislation also sets recruitment goals for hiring CCC graduates in critical workforce areas, introduces direct hire authority for graduates, and allows for signing bonuses to support employment transitions. Additionally, the bill establishes a housing pilot program that would employ CCC students to improve and expand housing stock for wildland firefighters and other agency employees. The Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior are required to submit a report within one year detailing the underutilized capacity of Civilian Conservation Centers and recommending investments and improvements. The overall aim is to create more robust workforce development pathways, particularly for underserved youth interested in conservation, firefighting, and related environmental fields.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3465/all-info