Bill > HR7201

This bill, titled the "Rural Service and Workforce Corps Act," establishes a new program, the Rural Service and Workforce Corps Program, to address critical shortages of workers in rural areas by offering educational assistance and loan repayment in exchange for a commitment to serve in designated rural locations for three years. Modeled after the National Health Service Corps, this program, to be designed by the Secretary of Agriculture, will prioritize filling needs in sectors such as healthcare, skilled trades, energy infrastructure, and utilities, with the flexibility to update these priorities based on workforce needs and aging demographics, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor. The program will specifically target rural areas that are persistently poor, designated as health professional shortage areas, or home to Native American or Native Hawaiian communities, and will allow various types of employers, including public, non-profit, tribal, and private entities, to participate if they meet established wage and training standards. The Secretary of Agriculture will administer the program in collaboration with other federal departments, including Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Energy, to leverage their expertise. Furthermore, the bill mandates a report to Congress within four years detailing the program's implementation, effectiveness, and any challenges encountered, along with recommendations for improvement. The program is set to take effect one year after the bill is enacted.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7201/all-info