Huffman Calls for Swift Renewal of the Secure Rural Schools Program, Essential to Rural North Coast Communities

December 19, 2014

WASHINGTON­—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today called on Congressional leaders to reauthorize a program that provides key support to rural communities. Representatives Huffman, Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) led a bipartisan letter urging the swift renewal of Secure Rural Schools Act (SRS) funding to help counties with large amounts of federally-owned National Forest land.

Since National Forest land cannot be taxed by counties or states, for more than 100 years the U.S. Forest Service has shared revenues from timber harvests on federal lands with the nearby communities. In the letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi the members pointed out that SRS program provides vital funding to communities facing declining revenue from timber sales on federal lands. The program helps rural counties pay for infrastructure projects and supports local school districts.

“Failing to renew the SRS program will cause significant harm to the ability of rural and timber communities to provide basic services to their residents,” the members wrote in the letter sent today. “We urge you to work quickly, in a bipartisan fashion, to reauthorize, fund and make payments under SRS as early as possible in the next Congress ensuring that local governments across the country can access these essential funds.”

Across the nation SRS sends funds to more than 700 counties and 4,000 school districts. California is one of the top recipients of SRS funds, totaling more than $32.7 million in FY 2013, second only to Oregon. FY 2013 payments to counties in Huffman’s 2nd Congressional District totaled more than $5.7 million in SRS funds:

  • Del Norte: $1,217,621
  • Trinity: $3,286,334
  • Humboldt $935,964
  • Mendocino: $307,490

Huffman’s letter was signed by 34 other members and is supported by the National Association of Counties, National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition, The School Superintendents Association, Association of Educational Service Agencies, National Rural Education Association, and the National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition.

The full text of the letter follows and a PDF may be found HERE.

Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi,

As the 113th Congress comes to an end, we write to express our concern that the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) was not reauthorized for fiscal year 2014. More than 700 counties and school districts across the country receive funding through the SRS program.

As you know, for more than 100 years, the Forest Service has shared 25 percent of timber revenues with rural counties to compensate them for federal ownership of lands, which cannot be taxed at the local level. Counties and school districts rely on these funds to help support critical services, including education and infrastructure projects. While timber harvest levels have dropped over the last two decades, Congress has recognized the need to live up to its obligations and continue to support these districts.

Unfortunately, the authorization for SRS lapsed in September 2013 and the last payments were distributed in April 2014. Failing to renew the SRS program will cause significant harm to the ability of rural and timber communities to provide basic services to their residents.

We urge you to work quickly, in a bipartisan fashion, to reauthorize, fund and make payments under SRS as early as possible in the next Congress ensuring that local governments across the country can access these essential funds.

Sincerely,

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