Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2023

The Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2023 (H.R. 4353) aims to expand job training and employment opportunities for young adults in the fields of wildland firefighting and forest management. The bill directs the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to offer specialized training at Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers, which serve eligible youth ages 16 to 24.

For citizens, this legislation would create a more direct career pipeline by establishing a goal for federal agencies to hire at least 300 program graduates annually into permanent or seasonal firefighting roles. Additionally, the bill proposes a pilot program to pay students for work on federal lands and involves them in constructing or repairing workforce housing to address housing shortages for agency employees.