{"id":9428,"date":"2025-07-05T20:04:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T04:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inedc.com\/24\/?p=9428"},"modified":"2025-07-05T20:04:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T04:04:15","slug":"senate-unanimously-passes-secure-rural-schools-bill-eyes-turn-to-house-for-final-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/inedc.com\/24\/government\/senate-unanimously-passes-secure-rural-schools-bill-eyes-turn-to-house-for-final-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Unanimously Passes Secure Rural Schools Bill, Eyes Turn to House for Final Action"},"content":{"rendered":"

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. \u2014 July 6, 2025 \u2014 The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act (S. 356), bringing new momentum to a vital funding program that supports counties like El Dorado with federal forest lands. The legislation now moves to the House, where Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) has introduced a bipartisan companion bill co-sponsored by 73 members.<\/p>\n

The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program provides essential payments to counties to help fund local schools, roads, and emergency services in areas where property tax revenue is limited by the presence of U.S. Forest Service land. Since its inception in 2000, the program has been a lifeline for dozens of rural counties across California, including El Dorado, where nearly 60% of the land is federally owned.<\/p>\n

The reauthorization bill, introduced by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), would extend the program through Fiscal Year 2026. Its passage in the Senate on June 18 signals strong bipartisan support for continuing the program at a time when rural schools are grappling with aging infrastructure, staffing shortages, and wildfire recovery costs.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor counties like El Dorado, this program helps fill critical funding gaps in our school districts and infrastructure budgets,\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

said Greg Norton, President and CEO of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re urging House leadership to move swiftly now that reconciliation is wrapping up.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

RCRC, a nonprofit that represents 40 rural counties in California, has been lobbying aggressively for reauthorization. With the Senate\u2019s unanimous approval and widespread bipartisan backing in the House, the bill is seen as one of the rare pieces of legislation with a clear path forward.<\/p>\n

In El Dorado County, past SRS payments have funded everything from school resource officers to rural road maintenance and fire preparedness. Without reauthorization, counties would revert to revenue-sharing formulas established under the 1908 Forest Reserve Act\u2014payments that are a fraction of what SRS provides.<\/p>\n

Local stakeholders are closely watching the House’s next move, especially with the school year approaching and budget deadlines looming. The bill\u2019s potential final passage would mark a critical win for rural America, reaffirming federal responsibility for lands held in public trust.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f U.S. House Representatives<\/h2>\n

Rep. Tom McClintock (R)<\/strong><\/h3>\n