Act Now: Urge House and Senate Republicans to Reauthorize SRS

The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is at risk, and counties must take immediate action to ensure its reauthorization. Counties must urge members of Congress in both the House and Senate - especially Republican lawmakers - to do the following:

• Support H.R. 1383 and S. 356 for SRS reauthorization.
  
• Reach out to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to communicate to these leaders the devastating impact of failing to reauthorize SRS.

Contact Your Members of Congress Today

Congress is returning from a district work period, making this the perfect time to engage directly and make sure SRS is top of mind as they return to Washington. Contact your representatives, urging them to fight for SRS reauthorization before it's too late.

Click below for more background on SRS and talking points to guide your conversation with your members of Congress.

Why This Matters

Created in 2000, the SRS program provides critical funding to more than 700 counties nationwide, funding critical services like education, infrastructure and public safety. Without reauthorization, federally forested counties will suffer up to an 80% reduction in payments, crippling essential programs.

Last year, the Senate unanimously passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2023 (S.2581) thanks to strong county advocacy. However, the House failed to act, leaving public lands counties facing severe budget shortfalls.