WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representative Joe Neguse celebrated the final passage of their Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The SRS program provides crucial funds to rural and mountain communities that revolve around federal lands, which are tax-exempt. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
“Rural Colorado counties are home to millions of acres of public lands, which means they don’t receive the tax revenue other counties rely on to fund their schools, roads, and emergency services,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill makes sure rural communities get the dependable funding they need.”
“The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act is a lifeline for Colorado counties that steward our public lands and shoulder the responsibilities that come with them. These resources help rural communities keep teachers in classrooms, maintain safe roads, and provide public safety services that counties rely on,” said Bennet.
“The Secure Rural Schools program is a vital lifeline for the communities I serve across Western Colorado, and I’m proud that our efforts to build a bipartisan coalition in support of the program have enabled my legislation to get across the finish line. My top priority is always to deliver for the people I represent, forging common ground to advance the common good for our communities — from Grand County to Eagle County and everywhere in between. That’s why I’m incredibly proud to see my proposal to reauthorize SRS make its way to the President’s desk, continuing this crucial program for rural counties,” said Neguse.
The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act passed the Senate in June by unanimous consent.
The SRS program supports investments in local infrastructure, public safety, and public education. For communities in Colorado, this includes funding for wildfire mitigation, search-and-rescue operations, and trail and road maintenance. Rural school districts can also use SRS payments to improve school transportation services, ensure high-quality instructional materials, create new extracurricular activities, and more.
Full text of the Senate bill available HERE.
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