Hatch, Wyden, McMorris Rodgers, and Bonamici Push for Critical Funding for Rural Counties through Secure Rural Schools Program
Washington, D.C.—Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), alongside Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), sent a letter to Mick Mulvaney, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to encourage adequate funding for the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program in the President’s budget for fiscal year 2018.
“Prevailing uncertainties about SRS make it nearly impossible for local governments to plan their annual budgets,” the members wrote. “The federal government has long recognized its obligation to these forest counties, and we are committed to working in Congress to provide these counties the resources they need to serve their populations. We ask that you do all that you can in FY18 and into the future to work with us in this effort.”
They also wrote, “SRS payments provide critical revenues to more than 775 rural counties and 4,400 schools throughout the country, impacting nine million students across 41 states. In many cases, these ‘forest counties’ include massive swaths of public lands, particularly National Forest System lands, often consuming 65 to 90 percent of total land within their boundaries.”
The SRS program expired on September 30, 2015, and it has not been reauthorized for FY16 or beyond. Forest counties and schools received their last authorized SRS payment in 2016. Without SRS, existing revenue sharing payments are not sufficient to support critical services these counties must provide.
The full letter is below:
February 17, 2017
Mick Mulvaney
Director
Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Director Mulvaney:
As the Office of Management and Budget begins its work to set priorities for fiscal year 2018 and write the President’s budget request, we strongly encourage you to support adequate funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination (SRS) program. SRS payments provide critical revenues to more than 775 rural counties and 4,400 schools throughout the country, impacting nine million students across 41 states. In many cases, these “forest counties” include massive swaths of public lands, particularly National Forest System lands, often consuming 65 to 90 percent of total land within their boundaries.
Nearly 100 years ago, recognizing the key support these counties provide to our national forests, Congress passed legislation to specify that 25 percent of revenues from timber harvests on federal lands would be shared with affected counties for “the benefit of the public schools and public roads in county or counties in which national forests are situated.” Though helpful, massive reductions in timber production on federal forests over the last 30 years have dropped revenues by as much as 99 percent in some counties and over 70 percent nationwide.
SRS was first enacted in 2000 to renew this 100-year-old revenue sharing promise in light of significant losses faced by forest counties as timber revenues declined. This promise is as relevant today as ever given these counties are still expected to provide essential services on their public lands. SRS expired on September 30, 2015, and it has not been reauthorized for FY16 or beyond. Forest counties and schools received their last authorized SRS payment in March 2016. Without SRS, existing revenue sharing payments are not sufficient to support the services these counties must provide, and counties are forced to choose between critical services for their citizens.
Prevailing uncertainties about SRS make it nearly impossible for local governments to plan their annual budgets. The federal government has long recognized its obligation to these forest counties, and we are committed to working in Congress to provide these counties the resources they need to serve their populations. We ask that you do all that you can in FY18 and into the future to work with us in this effort.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Senator Orrin Hatch
Senator Ron Wyden
Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Representative Suzanne Bonamici
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Hatch Applauds Confirmation of Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator
Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, issued the following statement on the confirmation of Scott Pruitt to serve as the Administrator of the Environment Protection Agency:
“Mr. Pruitt wants an EPA that is both pro-environment and pro-growth. He understands that protecting our lands and helping our businesses succeed is not a zero-sum game. With Mr. Pruitt at the helm, I am confident he will bring much-needed change to the EPA and restore the public’s trust in the agency.”
Prior to the confirmation vote, Senator Hatch spoke on the floor about urging his Senate colleagues to support Pruitt’s confirmation. The full text of his remarks can be found below:
Mme. President, I rise today to speak in support of the nomination of Attorney General Scott Pruitt for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Attorney General Pruitt has a distinguished record of public service, having served for eight years in the Oklahoma State Senate before being sworn in as the Attorney General of Oklahoma in 2010.
Two dozen state attorneys general wrote to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works supporting Mr. Pruitt’s nomination. He has been endorsed by a wide variety of organizations representing a broad swath of American culture and industry, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Home Builders, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Western Energy Alliance, and the Western Growers Association, just to name a few.
In his capacity as state Attorney General, Mr. Pruitt has consistently fought against federal intrusion on state and individual liberties, and he has shown himself to be a thoughtful attorney dedicated to the Constitution and to the rule of law. The next Administrator of the EPA must respect the limits of federal power. Few know these limits better than Mr. Pruitt, which is why I believe he will be a capable leader at the EPA. Mr. Pruitt will rein in federal overreach and put a stop to many of the overbearing regulations that have done little to protect the environment but much to hurt businesses large and small.
Modernization of the Environmental Protection Agency is long overdue. For too long, the EPA has acted outside its legal authority. For too long, the agency has strayed from its core mission of protecting human health and the environment. For too long, it has imposed draconian regulations that cause undue harm to America’s small businesses and rural communities. I have long held that the EPA can fulfill its vitally important mission of protecting the environment without causing unnecessary harm to the economy. But to achieve this objective will require a massive culture change at the agency—a culture change that only Mr. Pruitt can bring.
Mr. Pruitt wants an EPA that is both pro-environment and pro-growth. He understands that protecting our lands and helping our businesses succeed is not a zero-sum game. With Mr. Pruitt at the helm, I am confident he will bring much-needed change to the EPA and restore the public’s trust in the agency.
Once confirmed, I am eager to work with Mr. Pruitt to discuss how we can best protect our air and water and how we can best modernize the EPA.
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