{"id":23433,"date":"2025-12-04T12:40:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=23433"},"modified":"2025-12-04T12:42:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:42:23","slug":"wyden-merkley-crapo-risch-push-for-passage-of-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/wyden-merkley-crapo-risch-push-for-passage-of-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization\/","title":{"rendered":"Wyden, Merkley, Crapo, Risch Push for Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bipartisan group of 83 lawmakers in the Senate and House call for action in the U.S. House of Representatives to aid rural, forested counties<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington DC <\/strong>\u2013\u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Oregon), alongside U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and James Risch (both R-Idaho) are leading a bipartisan coalition of 83 lawmakers in sending a letter today to House leadership requesting urgent reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Self Determination Act<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill, which the Senate unanimously passed in June 2025, would reauthorize the program through fiscal year 2026 and provide lapsed payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Funding for the SRS program lapsed in September of 2023, with the last authorized payments distributed to counties in early 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“. . . Counties and school districts across 41 states have seen a 63 percent cut in funding.  This $177 million loss is devastating for rural communities, leading to school closures, delayed road and bridge maintenance and reduced public safety services.  These are not abstract policy debates; they are tangible consequences for local governments and the communities that steward untaxed federal lands,” <\/strong>the letter reads. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

 Background on the SRS program: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n