Idaho, Oregon Senators Celebrate SRS Reauthorization for Rural Idaho and Oregon Counties

Washington, D.C.--President Donald Trump today signed S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act, which will reauthorize the SRS program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and provide lapsed payments for any missed payments for FYs 2024 and 2025. U.S. Senators from Idaho and Oregon celebrated the President’s signature as a win for Idaho’s and Oregon’s rural counties stewarding untaxed federal lands. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) led introduction of the bill in the U.S. Senate.

Thirty-four of Idaho’s 44 counties received SRS payments in 2023. Under Idaho law, 30 percent of SRS funding goes to counties to help with schools and the remaining 70 percent goes to roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. In FY 2023, $22.8 million was distributed to Idaho counties.

“The SRS program is rooted in century-old federal land management policy. Without it, many counties in Idaho and across the country would fall short of the financial means to provide for integral community functions for local residents and visitors alike,” said Senator Crapo. “I thank President Trump for signing this important bill into law, and I remain committed to working toward a long-term solution that provides more certainty to rural communities.”

“The federal government made a promise to rural communities, and today I’m proud to see President Trump follow through and reauthorize SRS,” said Senator Risch. “While we work to bring back historic timber revenue, SRS funding remains vital for Idaho counties to support schools, road maintenance, and other essential services.”

“The Secure Rural Schools program has been a lifeline for rural communities across Oregon and nationwide since I originally authored the program back in 2000,” said Senator Wyden. “I’m grateful Senator Crapo and I were able to get our legislation over the finish line to restore funding for communities that need it the most. This lapse in funding is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the support they need to not just survive, but thrive.”

“With our bipartisan bill now law, the federal government has finally taken action to restore funding that is crucial to keeping schools open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural communities safe,” said Senator Merkley. “Extending the SRS program ensures Oregon communities and local governments can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.”

“The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) is deeply grateful for Senator Crapo’s leadership in securing renewed funding for the Secure Rural Schools Act,” said Idaho Association of Counties Executive Director Seth Grigg. “His steadfast determination and advocacy, along with the continued support of Senator Risch and Representatives Simpson and Fulcher, make a real difference for the safety of Idahoans. This funding is essential for timber counties across Idaho to maintain critical road infrastructure, invest in public safety, and support the basic services Idaho residents rely on every day.”

"We are grateful to the Oregon federal delegation for their unremitting support of this program — a lifeline for our counties and schools," said Association of Oregon Counties Executive Director Gina Nikkel. "Rural counties rely on SRS payments to provide numerous critical services for their communities, such as rural county roads, education, conservation projects, search and rescue missions, and wildfire prevention programs. We look forward to continuing to work with our federal partners for a permanent funding source for rural counties."

“This funding is essential to counties that have historically received resources from revenue-generating activities on federal lands within their boundaries,” said Julia Lauch, Idaho State Forester. “The impact is greatest in rural counties dominated by federal land. State Forestry Agencies have strong partnerships with counties to further active management on neighboring lands and protect communities from wildfire risk; Secure Rural Schools’ funds contribute to this work. This is shared stewardship in action, which in Idaho we have coined “no boundaries forestry”.

The advocacy of Idaho County, among many others across Idaho and our country, on behalf of the reauthorization was instrumental in reaching enactment of the legislation. Idaho County receives the largest portion of SRS funding in the state. Local community leaders helped make the case for the need for its reauthorization given the impacts of its absence.

“Senator Crapo’s leadership has been indispensable in restoring Secure Rural Schools funding,” said Idaho County Commissioner Skip Brandt. "His efforts give rural timber counties in Idaho the stability we need to keep school bus routes safe and to continue basic road and public safety services. This is a big win for Idaho County and other rural counties throughout Idaho that rely heavily on these dollars. We appreciate Senator Crapo’s willingness to lead the charge and get it done when other people thought it was too late.”

Crapo, Wyden, Risch and Merkley have been long-term advocates of the SRS program, which has been extended and amended multiple times since its inception in 2000. Wyden originally authored the program in 2000.

Passage of the bill comes on the heels of a bipartisan, bicameral letter led by Crapo and signed by 88 additional lawmakers, including Wyden, Risch and Merkley.

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