Oregon, Idaho senators lead bipartisan push for critical county payments
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Oregon and Idaho congressional leaders are pushing to ensure counties do not lose out on essential services due to federal land ownership.
The bipartisan push for reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is led by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho).
The bill would reauthorize the SRS program through September 2022. The program, which helps fund essential services in rural communities home to federal land, expired in September 2020; the last payment under the current authorization is scheduled for April 2021, less than two months from now.