The Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs), which are residential workforce development facilities for underserved youth operated by the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior. The bill directs the Secretaries of these departments, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, to offer specialized training programs at CCCs focusing on forestry and rangeland management , wildland firefighting , and other relevant natural resource topics. The Act establishes a Wildland Firefighting Workforce Development Pilot , enabling experimental programs for career and technical education in areas like incident management, heavy equipment operation, and forest restoration. To enhance the federal workforce, the Secretaries must set annual recruitment goals, including hiring 300 covered graduates into federal wildland firefighting or other critical roles, and may offer signing bonuses to aid their transition and housing. A significant provision grants direct hire authority for covered graduates into federal positions starting in fiscal year 2025, streamlining their entry into public service. The bill also permits the employment of covered students at regular rates of pay for necessary work and encourages their use in fulfilling obligations under Forest Service contracts and grants. Additionally, a Wildland Firefighting Housing Pilot Program will employ covered students to improve and expand federal housing for firefighters and other agency personnel. This legislation also mandates the Secretaries to submit a report to Congress within one year. This report must detail underutilized capacity at Civilian Conservation Centers, based on an assessment conducted by the Secretaries. It will also identify the investments, improvements, and efficiencies necessary to utilize the full capacity of these centers.
Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-1788| Senate
| Updated: 5/15/2025
The Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs), which are residential workforce development facilities for underserved youth operated by the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior. The bill directs the Secretaries of these departments, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, to offer specialized training programs at CCCs focusing on forestry and rangeland management , wildland firefighting , and other relevant natural resource topics. The Act establishes a Wildland Firefighting Workforce Development Pilot , enabling experimental programs for career and technical education in areas like incident management, heavy equipment operation, and forest restoration. To enhance the federal workforce, the Secretaries must set annual recruitment goals, including hiring 300 covered graduates into federal wildland firefighting or other critical roles, and may offer signing bonuses to aid their transition and housing. A significant provision grants direct hire authority for covered graduates into federal positions starting in fiscal year 2025, streamlining their entry into public service. The bill also permits the employment of covered students at regular rates of pay for necessary work and encourages their use in fulfilling obligations under Forest Service contracts and grants. Additionally, a Wildland Firefighting Housing Pilot Program will employ covered students to improve and expand federal housing for firefighters and other agency personnel. This legislation also mandates the Secretaries to submit a report to Congress within one year. This report must detail underutilized capacity at Civilian Conservation Centers, based on an assessment conducted by the Secretaries. It will also identify the investments, improvements, and efficiencies necessary to utilize the full capacity of these centers.