[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 31 (Saturday, February 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 12, 2007

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my great concern 
over the current funding situation facing rural schools. The Secure 
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 provided 
compensation to counties with a large presence of Nation Forest lands. 
Unfortunately, the law authorizing these payments expired at the end of 
2006. When it became apparent the reauthorization would not pass the 
House through regular order during the 109th Congress, my colleagues 
and I introduced H.R. 6423, which would have extended the funding for 
one year, providing us with more time to work for a long-term solution. 
Despite our efforts, the 109th Congress adjourned without reauthorizing 
the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. However, 
I maintain my commitment to providing this much-needed funding for 
rural counties.
  I fully support the reauthorization of this law, which provides 
essential funding for over 4,400 schools in 780 counties. This money 
compensates counties for the loss of tax revenue as the Federal 
Government placed large amounts of land in forest reserves. The 
revenue-sharing mechanism that was created for the counties when this 
land transfer occurred is no longer viable due to decreasing timber 
sales.
  With nearly 5.5 million acres of National Forests in my Congressional 
District, my counties are greatly affected by the expiration of the 
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. As 
an example from a county in my district, Plumas County School District 
receives roughly $2.5 million annually from this program, which 
represents 20 percent of their annual operating budget. Without this 
funding, the County is preparing to:
  Lay off 9 administrators (out of a total of 16); lay off 47 teachers 
(out of a total of 150); close all school libraries; possibly close 
some or all cafeterias and cut transportation activities.
  In Sierra County, schools will be shut down and students will be 
bussed up to 3 hours over the State line to attend school in Nevada. As 
you can see, reauthorization of this program is essential.
  The Federal Government has a responsibility to compensate these 
counties from which large amounts of land were taken to create the 
National Forest System, and by failing to produce a real solution that 
will provide this funding, we are neglecting that responsibility.
  I was disappointed to see that no funding was provided for rural 
schools in the continuing resolution we have recently passed. I am 
hopeful that the emergency supplemental we will soon consider will 
contain the needed funding for these counties, which are truly in dire 
circumstances.