Key Committee Holds Hearing on Bill that Provides Critical Funding to Oregon Counties
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act provides funding for schools, roads, and other essential services
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining for holding a hearing on the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act—bipartisan legislation that Wyden co-leads with Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and James Risch, R-Idaho.
The legislation would invest in rural communities across Oregon and the nation for essential services such as education, road maintenance, search and rescue, wildfire prevention and watershed restoration by reauthorizing the U.S. Forest Service Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through 2026.
“The Secure Rural Schools program has been a vital lifeline for rural counties in Oregon and nationwide, but lapses in Congressional action leave rural counties dangling on an annual fiscal cliff,” Wyden said. “Reauthorizing Secure Rural Schools is critical and necessary to support education, road maintenance, forest and watershed health, fire prevention, search and rescue, and other essential services in rural communities. That’s why I’m working hard to continue this important program, and I applaud ENR Subcommittee Chair Catherine Cortez Masto for aiding in this effort by holding a hearing on my bill. Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools is one step closer to the finish line.”
Since Wyden first authored the program in 2000, SRS has provided nearly $4 billion to Oregon counties. To preserve this vital lifeline for rural communities, Secure Rural Schools must be reauthorized in fiscal year 2024.
The text of the bill is here.
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