Wyden, Merkley, Crapo, Risch Celebrate Senate Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization
U.S. House of Representatives must act to fulfill federal responsibility for rural, forested counties in Oregon and nationwide
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., along with U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both R-Idaho, celebrated today’s unanimous Senate passage of their legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through Fiscal Year 2026.
“This is a significant, encouraging and urgently needed step for Oregonians living and working in counties that have depended for decades on these federal investments for local schools, roads, law enforcement and more,” said Wyden, who co-authored the initial bipartisan SRS legislation in 2000. “I’m glad the Senate has once again done the right thing by passing this bill in a timely fashion, and I strongly urge the House to act ASAP to reconnect this proven lifeline for rural communities in Oregon and nationwide.”
“By passing our bipartisan bill, the Senate has taken critical action to provide 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 rural?communities safe,”?said Merkley.?“The House must not fail to act again and swiftly pass our bill to extend the SRS program so Oregon communities can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.”
“In many rural counties in Idaho, the loss of resource revenue sharing from vast tracts of federally owned land inhibit counties’ ability to support local schools or even fund basic emergency services--including search and rescue,” said Crapo. “The Senate’s unanimous passage of legislation to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program is a critical first step in meeting the federal government’s responsibility to rural communities containing tax exempt public lands. Without SRS, many counties in Idaho and across the country will fall short of the financial means of providing for these integral community functions for local residents and visitors alike. I urge the U.S. House of Representatives to move expeditiously on this legislation.”
“Idaho counties rely on SRS funding for schools, road maintenance, and other essential services. Until we can bring historic timber revenue back to these areas, this program must be reauthorized,” said Risch. “The federal government made a promise to rural communities, and I’m proud to see the Senate follow through.”
The bill was led by Wyden, Merkley, Crapo and Risch. The measure was co-sponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan, R-Ala., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., John Curtis, R-Utah, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Rick Scott, R-Fla., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Lisa Murkowski, R-Ala., Jim Justice, R-W. Va., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
Wyden, Merkley, Crapo and Risch introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress and the Senate unanimously passed it in November 2024. It did not receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives before the end of the Congress. The House must reauthorize the program as soon as possible to avoid a gap in funding for rural counties that rely on the program for much-needed services.
The full text of the bill is here.
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