The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act (S. 356/H.R. 1383) has been introduced in the 119th Congress amid pressure to act swiftly to avoid significant budget cuts or tax hikes. Attempts to pass SRS legislation in the 118th Congress failed, despite unanimous consent in the Senate in November, and broad bipartisan support in both chambers.
On February 3, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), alongside 19 bipartisan colleagues, reintroduced SRS legislation in Senate Bill 356, which would reauthorize the SRS program through Fiscal Year 2026. This measure is expected to advance in the Senate by unanimous consent, allowing the House to consider it under suspension of the rules.
On February 14, U.S. Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-Butte County), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA), and 4 additional bipartisan colleagues introduced the House version of the bill (H.R. 1383).
In January, the U.S. Forest Service indicated that reauthorization needed to occur by the end of that month to maintain the program timeline and avoid delayed payments. In January, U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03) sent a letter urging house leadership to immediately prioritize a three-year extension of SRS; and, on January 27, a bicameral bipartisan group of twenty-three California Legislators sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Harkeem Jefferies, strongly urging them to reauthorize SRS.
RCRC continues to advocate for the reauthorization of SRS and press Congress for a long-term sustainable solution for SRS funding. RCRC’s Officers are headed to Washington D.C. next week, to meet with members of Congress and the Administration about this and other pressing matters of importance to California’s rural counties.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.