Rep. Kiley Urges Congress to be In Session and Act on Rural School Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Kiley (CA-03) is calling for swift congressional action to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which provides essential funding to public schools in rural communities across the United States, including those in California’s Third Congressional District.

The SRS program was created in 2000 to offset revenue losses for counties containing large areas of National Forest land, where timber sales have been dropping. These declines have directly impacted several rural counties in Congressman Kiley’s district, where local school budgets are heavily reliant on this federal support.

The most recent congressional authorization for the SRS program expired in September 2023, leaving a significant funding gap. Without reauthorization, counties in California’s Third District are set to receive just $4.49 million, a sharp drop from the $8.59 million they would receive under a fully funded SRS program, a shortfall of more than $4 million that jeopardizes the quality of education and essential services in rural schools.

“Helping rural schools across the nation receive necessary funding is something Congress needs to do immediately,” said Congressman Kiley. “That’s one of many reasons why the House of Representatives should be in session. Passing legislation like the SRS reauthorization would provide real, immediate help to communities that need it.”

This week, Congressman Kiley met with Future Farmers of America students who spoke about the cutbacks their program is having to make without SRS funding.

Both the House and Senate have worked in a bipartisan way to pass SRS funding but have yet to get it over the finish line.

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