Secure Rural Schools funding reauthorization bill unanimously passes Senate, Oregon’s Wyden and Merkley report

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- A bipartisan bill to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program through 2026 introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and has been unanimously approved by the Senate.  

Crapo and Wyden were joined by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and in reintroducing the legislation in 2024. 

“Building on a history of bipartisanship, today, the Senate reiterated its support for rural communities,” Wyden said after the Senate approval Monday night.  “I thank Senators Crapo, Merkley and Risch for their partnership to extend this critical funding – a lifeline that helps rural communities keep open their schools, libraries, roadways and supports other vital resources. 

"Once we’ve completed the remaining work to secure this three-year extension, I will be using it as a bridge to a permanent fix for providing services to rural Oregonians and Americans in every corner of our country.”

“Our bipartisan bill provides reliable funding that is crucial to keeping schools and libraries open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep communities safe,” Merkley said. “The Senate did its job and now the House must swiftly pass this bill to extend the SRS program so Oregon communities can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.” 

“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.  “I encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to swiftly reauthorize the SRS program to avoid any disruption to this vital program as rural counties rely on these continued payments to ensure funding for schools, road maintenance, public safety, search and rescue operations as well as mental and physical health services.”

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

SRS was authored by Wyden and enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands.  The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management administer the funds.  The totals are based on a formula including economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from county to county. 

The lawmakers said SRS payments are critical to maintain education programs for many rural counties that contain federal lands exempt from property taxes.