US EditionHouse Reauthorizes Lapsed ‘Secure Rural Schools’ Funding Program
The bill extends funding through FY2026 and provides retroactive payments for 2024-2025 to rural counties with national forests, supporting education and public services.
- On Tuesday, Congress passed legislation to extend the Secure Rural Schools program and provide lapsed payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for his signature.
- The Secure Rural Schools program was created in 2000 as a temporary fix after logging revenues declined, providing payments to rural counties in the West lacking property-tax revenue due to federally owned forest land.
- On Dec. 3, a bipartisan letter led by Rep. LaMalfa urged renewal, with over 80 signatures, as Jaime Green lobbied repeatedly and attended Tuesday's vote.
- The extension restores payments that fund schools and local services, with nearly $34 million going to California, and district leaders said layoffs were averted, Downing said.
- The program began in 2000 as a temporary federal fix, with funding lapsing in fall 2023 and reauthorization stalling in 2024 after being dropped from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act this year.
19 Articles
19 Articles
According to experts, the Safe Rural Schools Act also helps to protect and restore national forests
Congress approves Secure Rural Schools funding critical to rural Northwest counties
A measure to renew critical funding for rural counties and schools, including many in Oregon and Washington, has won bipartisan approval in Congress.The U.S. House of Representatives voted 395-4 in favor of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, which the Senate approved in June. It now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.For many rural counties with huge swaths of untaxable federal land in the Northwest, the bill wi…
ABC FOX Montana
KULR-TVMontana congressman supports "Secure Rural Schools" funding extension
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy Downing expressed his support for the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 following his vote to pass it. The legislation extends the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program through Fiscal Year 2026, providing lapsed payments…
Congressman Doug LaMalfa leads effort in U.S. House of Representatives to pass Secure Rural School Re-authorization Act of 2025
The new legislation aims to restore the missed 2024 payments and authorize payments for 2025 and 2026. Once signed into law, rural counties and schools are expected to restart programs and rehire staff.
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