WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon passage of S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act of 2025, by the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 399-5.

"The Secure Rural Schools program has provided critical funding for schools, roads, and other municipal services to more than seven hundred counties across the country, including here in Central Washington," said Rep. Newhouse. "This longstanding commitment from the federal government helps rural areas where resources are stretched thin, and the program's lapse has put a real strain on counties who historically depend on these funds.

As a longtime supporter of SRS, I am pleased to see this program reauthorized, and I am thankful for the bipartisan support we have in making sure rural communities begin receiving this assistance again."

Funding for the SRS program lapsed in 2023, resulting in school closures, delayed road and bridge maintenance, and reduced public safety services.

This legislation, passed by the U.S. Senate with unanimous consent on June 18, 2025, reauthorizes the SRS program for rural communities who depend on it.

Background

Since 1908, federal law has required the U.S. Forest Service to share 25 percent of revenue generated on federal land with local governments for public schools and public roads of the county or counties in which the forest reserve is situated.

For decades, timber sales were the largest source of revenue for local jurisdictions in these areas. However, as revenues declined, this created unexpected and prolonged fiscal challenges for local governments home to untaxed National Forest lands.

In response, Congress enacted the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, giving counties the option to receive SRS payments to support public services like road maintenance, infrastructure, education, wildfire mitigation, and other efforts to address public safety.

Congress has consistently reauthorized these payments with overwhelming bipartisan support.

See full bill text here.(link is external)

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