McMorris Rodgers leads bipartisan, bicameral bill to extend funding for Rural Schools Program

Communities facing declining revenues from timber production would see relief under legislation led by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) that would extend the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program through fiscal year 2017.

McMorris Rodgers was joined by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) who introduced the bipartisan and bicameral legislation in the Senate, along with U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), who co-sponsored the measure to extend SRS.

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 established SRS to provide critical funding to 775 rural counties, like those in McMorris Rodgers’ home district in Eastern Washington.

Almost a century ago, Congress stipulated that 25 percent of revenues from timber harvests on federal lands would go to affected counties to support public schools, roads and municipal services. Rural communities have lost that critical source of funding, however, as timber harvests on federal lands have shrunk.

“The Secure Rural Schools program is vital for our rural communities, like those in Northeastern Washington,” McMorris Rodgers said. “While we work toward active forestry reforms to get our federal forests working again, we must still provide certainty for our counties.”

Mike Manus, the commissioner of Pend Oreille County in Washington, testified on May 2 before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that SRS was needed to bridge the gap in funding until active forestry reforms are signed into law.

“This bill will help provide that certainty by ensuring the extension of the SRS program which aids affected counties with essential services, funding for public education and infrastructure maintenance,” McMorris Rodgers said. “I’m proud to lead this legislation because people in Eastern Washington rely on the Secure Rural Schools program for their livelihoods.”

Hatch noted that massive reductions in the nation’s timber production over the last 30 years have resulted in serious decline in timber revenues to rural governments. The impacted counties have seen more than an 80 percent reduction in timber receipts since the SRS program lapsed, Hatch said.

The legislation would reauthorize SRS payments for 2 years – retroactively – to make counties whole for their FY 2016 and FY 2017 payments.

“Prevailing uncertainties about these necessary funds make it nearly impossible for impacted rural local governments to plan their local budgets, and I’ve committed to helping local leaders get the certainty their communities deserve,” Hatch said. “We all recognize that we have to find an acceptable way to pay for this program before the bill can move forward in the Senate and as chairman of the Finance Committee I look forward to working toward finding a suitable offset.”

Gardner noted that SRS funding is also a top priority for county commissioners and other local officials in communities along Colorado’s Western Slope.

He spoke about the need for SRS payments at a recent Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.

“Our counties need certainty in their budgets to fund schools, road projects and other vital services my constituents rely on every day,” Gardner said. “Throughout my time in the Senate, I have worked to find a long-term funding solution to this program, and while the legislation will reimburse counties for costs they incurred over the last two years, I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Trump administration to provide more certainty to those that rely on the program.”