{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-leads-legislation-investing-in-rural-schools", "Crapo Leads Legislation Investing in Rural Schools", "2023-07-28", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) was joined by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) in reintroducing a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service\u2019s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through 2026.\n\n\u201cSRS remains essential for rural counties across Idaho and the West,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cExtending SRS payments through 2026 is a good first step in ensuring Idaho\u2019s counties have funding for schools, road maintenance, public safety, search and rescue operations as well as mental and physical health services. Still, we are working toward the goal of a permanent solution--alleviating uncertainty for rural county governments in the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cTwo decades ago, I recognized the need for federal support for rural forested counties working to sustain and diversify economic opportunities in their communities,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cI fought then to pass, and have continued since, the essential Secure Rural Schools program that has delivered nearly $4 billion to hard-hit counties in rural Oregon \u2013 and additional funding across 42 states \u2013 with bipartisan support. This investment keeps local schools funded, communities safe with law enforcement resources, and roads maintained \u2013 and it\u2019s why we have to keep this lifeline intact.\u201d\n\n\u201cIdaho\u2019s schools and counties rely on SRS funding,\u201d said Risch. \u201cThe federal government made a promise to rural communities, and until we can bring historic timber revenue back to these areas, Congress has an obligation to fulfill that promise. Congress must reauthorize SRS.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur bipartisan bill provides reliable funding that is crucial to keeping schools and libraries open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep communities safe,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cCongress must continue the SRS program so Oregon communities can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.\u201d\n\nU.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (D-Colorado), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) and Val Hoyle (D-Oregon) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cExtending Secure Rural Schools for three years will help counties with large tracts of federal forests meet the needs of residents and visitors,\u201d said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. \u201cWithout SRS, counties would face, on average, an 80 percent drop in resources for infrastructure improvement, education programs and forest health projects. We also welcome this bill\u2019s proposed reforms to expedite the Resource Advisory Committee appointment process. Counties applaud the leadership of Senators Crapo, Wyden, and Risch and Representatives Neguse and McMorris Rodgers. We urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation.\u201d\n\nSRS was enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands. The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management administer the funds. The totals are based on a formula including economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from county to county. SRS payments are critical to maintain education programs for many rural counties that contain federal lands exempt from property taxes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-leads-legislation-investing-in-rural-schools"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8036200888454914, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}