[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 40 (Thursday, March 8, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H2305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRESSIONAL INACTION JEOPARDIZES MALHEUR COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES

  (Mr. WALDEN of Oregon asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, the failure of Congress to 
reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination 
Act will have an extensive and extreme impact on more than 1,800 local 
governments that receive ``Payments in Lieu of Taxes'' funds, also 
known as PILT. The loss of the county payments program means these 
counties can now apply for the limited PILT fund, thus reducing funds 
to counties reliant on PILT, and many counties will see a 20 percent 
reduction.
  For Malheur County, Oregon, which is nearly 10,000 square miles and 
is 72 percent under Federal ownership and is larger than the States of 
Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode 
Island, it can mean real problems.
  As we all know, rapid response for emergency services is a life-and-
death issue. In many areas of Malheur County, it can take well over an 
hour to respond to a situation. Loss of critical PILT funds will mean a 
reduction in vital public services, and that is unacceptable.
  County Judge Dan Joyce, who is in Washington today, says loss of PILT 
funds will devastate our ability to respond rapidly in emergency 
situations. I call on the new Democrat majority to move H.R. 17. 
Services are being lost. Libraries are closing. Teachers are being 
given notices they won't be rehired. It is time for action.

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