{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fulcher.house.gov/2021/04/19/id-d817ea99-7a03-4c3c-834d-d5ab7533e9b8/", "Congressman Fulcher Introduces Bill to Invest in Forest Management Workers, Students, Resources", "2021-04-19", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Russ Fulcher", "F000469", "fulcher.house.gov", "fulcher", "https://fulcher.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Contact:\n\nAlexah Rogge\n\n202-225-6611\n\nalexah.rogge@mail.house.gov\n\nCongressman Fulcher Introduces Bill to Invest in Forest Management Workers, Students, Resources\n\nBill a part of larger package being introduced as alternative to Green New Deal\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Fulcher announced new legislation, the Forestry Education and Workforce Development Act. The bill, out of the Natural Resources Committee, will be compiled with several other pieces of legislation to form the Trillion Trees Act \u2014 a comprehensive initiative from several Republican members to introduce as an alternative to the left\u2019s radical Green New Deal.\n\nThe Forestry Education and Workforce Development Act creates a $20 million discretionary grant program to be divided equally between land-grant colleges, universities, and technical/vocational schools to provide degrees or certificates in forestry and forestry-related fields. It also allows reforestation to be included in federal Job Corps programs.\n\nChanges to the text of this act would allow for public, private, non-profit, and for-profit colleges and universities that offer accredited degrees, recognized certificates, and accept dual enrollment students.\n\n\u201cIn order to expand the breadth of our forestry workforce, we must invest in our education apparatus, which will return tenfold in stable jobs while preserving the natural beauty, ecology, economy, and culture of our state,\u201d commented Congressman Fulcher.\u201cThe rural communities in my district are asking for the opportunity to return our state and federal forests to a healthy ecosystem. This investment in our educational system and workforce management is an investment in our future.\u201d\n\n\u201cCatastrophic wildfires and years of poor forest management have made the need for reliable forestry workers all that much more important,\u201d statedHouse Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-AR). \u201cAs a licensed forester, I\u2019ve seen firsthand how skilled workers can improve our forests nationwide and make them healthier and more resilient. It\u2019s imperative that we train up the next generation in these skills, which is exactly what the Forestry Education and Workforce Development Act would do. I thank Congressman Fulcher for his leadership on this issue, and look forward to supporting this bill as it moves through the legislative process.\u201d\n\n\u201cForests are critical to Idaho\u2019s future, and an educated forestry workforce is critical to sustaining our forests. Rep. Fulcher\u2019s bill will help ensure that we can find workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage these important renewable resources, including our public forests,\u201d added Tom Schultz, Vice President, Idaho Forest Group and President, Federal Forest Resource Coalition. \u201cRanking Member Fulcher\u2019s bill also focuses on expanding reforestation, which is increasingly important as we work to restore our public forests in the wake of recent devastating wildfires. We look forward to working with him to secure passage of this important bill.\u201d\n\nWendi Secrist, Executive Director of the Idaho Workforce Development Council commented, \u201cIdaho\u2019s forest products industry provides great opportunities for high-skill, high-wage jobs. The Workforce Development Council appreciates Congressman Fulcher\u2019s foresight in championing funding to develop this workforce in partnership with our postsecondary institutions.\u201d\n\nView the bill language here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fulcher.house.gov/2021/04/19/id-d817ea99-7a03-4c3c-834d-d5ab7533e9b8/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 6.542186252772808, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}