In response to the 113th Congress’ failure to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS), RCRC is leading the charge on behalf of rural counties across the state to pass local resolutions urging Congress to immediately reauthorize the SRS program. SRS funding is authorized by Congress to mitigate the impact to county governments and schools from the reduction of timber harvesting production on federal forest lands. California’s rural communities have come to rely on SRS funding – more than $33 million statewide (annually) – to support public schools and vital road programs. To date, 24 of California’s rural counties have adopted local resolutions which will be used as part of a multi-pronged media and advocacy strategy to build statewide support and pressure to reauthorize this critical program.
Later this month, RCRC staff will join the RCRC Officers and federal advocates on Capitol Hill for scheduled meetings with key Congressional leadership and staff during the National Association of Counties’ Annual Legislative Conference.
The 24 rural California counties that have adopted local resolutions over the past month include Alpine, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Modoc, Mono, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, and Yuba. It is anticipated that additional counties will be adopting resolutions in the coming weeks. These counties represent more than 54 percent of California’s federally managed land, and more than $27 million in annual SRS funding. RCRC’s press release on the statewide SRS resolution drive can be accessed here.