Extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000

I am writing to urge you to extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, H. R. 1383. The Senate version, S.356, already was passed in June of 2025. Since 2000, Congress has reauthorized the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act through enacting, amending and updating public law, ensuring that rural communities with large tracts of federal land can continue to access vital funds for schools, infrastructure maintenance, and emergency services. This funding supports essential local services like schools, roads, and emergency services, which would otherwise be jeopardized, particularly after decades of declining revenue from federal timber sales. The program's funding helps to stabilize budgets, maintain infrastructure, and provide educational and public safety resources for residents. Because Congress failed to extend Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, the program is now behind schedule. The program is a historically bipartisan lifeline for rural communities who rely on other forms of revenue that have been limited by federal action and are highly impacted by federal lands. Since its enactment, SRS has provided $7 billion in payments to more than 700 counties and 4,400 school districts across 40 states. The Senate’s unanimous passage of legislation to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program is a critical first step in meeting the federal government’s responsibility to rural communities containing tax-exempt public lands. Without SRS, many counties across the country will fall short of the financial means to provide for these integral community functions. In particular, rural schools depend on SRS funds to provide vital resources, maintain buildings, and offer specialized programs. Without it, schools face significant cuts. This funding is vital for public education, allowing schools to avoid severe budget cuts, staff layoffs, and program reductions, and instead support essential services like hiring teachers, maintaining facilities, and providing special programs for students. Without this program, these schools face financial crises, and their communities will struggle even more to fund other basic essential services. For all of these reasons, I urge you to support the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, H. R. 1383, bringing it to a floor vote in the House so that it can achieve passage. Thank you.