SW Iowa Times

U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher has joined as an original co-sponsor of H.R. 1383, also known as the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act. This bill is aimed at extending Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding through the fiscal year 2026. Fulcher emphasized the importance of this funding, stating that it is "critical for rural communities across Idaho to keep classrooms open, roads maintained, and emergency services operating."

The need for such legislation stems from "Idaho losing revenue in timber sales due to wildfires fueled by the federal mismanagement of our lands," Fulcher noted. He expressed pride in co-sponsoring the bill, which aims to provide local governments with necessary resources to support their communities.

The SRS program was initially enacted in 2000 to assist rural communities with significant amounts of tax-exempt federal land. These funds are used to support essential services like schools, road maintenance, and emergency services in some of the affected counties. In 2023, Idaho ranked third in receiving SRS funding, following California and Oregon.

Reauthorizing H.R. 1383 is meant to ensure continued support for rural counties that depend on this funding. Should the authorization lapse, many counties might struggle to maintain essential services without this support.