East Idaho Times

A bipartisan bill to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service's Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through 2026 has been unanimously approved by the Senate. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), with support from Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon).

“Today’s action in the Senate gets us one step closer to providing the funding certainty upon which rural county governments can rely,” said Crapo. He urged the U.S. House of Representatives to swiftly reauthorize the SRS program to prevent disruptions, as rural counties depend on these payments for funding schools, road maintenance, public safety, search and rescue operations, and health services.

Wyden emphasized the bipartisan nature of the support: “Building on a history of bipartisanship, today, the Senate reiterated its support for rural communities.” He expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their partnership in extending this critical funding and mentioned plans for a permanent solution for providing services to rural areas.

In parallel, U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (D-Colorado), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington), and Val Hoyle (D-Oregon) have introduced companion legislation in the House.

The SRS program was established in 2000 to assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands financially. It is administered by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management based on a formula considering economic activity and timber harvest levels among other factors that vary by county. These payments are crucial for maintaining education programs in many rural counties with federal lands exempt from property taxes.