Senate introduces legislation impacting rural Idaho schools

The U.S. Senate is introducing a legislation that would impact the financial security of some rural Idaho schools.

Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and James Risch (R-ID) announced their co-sponsoring legislation with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) that would impact the financial security of some Idaho county schools, according to a press release from Crapo’s office.

The Secure Rural Schools program, which expires at the end of fiscal year 2018, provides rural Idaho counties with funding for essential services such as roads and schools, according to the

.

The newly authored version of the Forest Management for Rural Stability Act makes the Secure Rural Schools Program permanent,

.

, the passage of this legislation would bring some much needed financial security to Idaho schools in forested counties.

“The secure rural schools program has become vital in budgeting for essential services in Idaho’s forested counties with large tracks of tax exempt federal lands,” Crapo said. “This endowment will stabilize the program for generations and maintain the important link between economic growth and forest management ion forested counties.”

The “Secure Rural Schools Act” was originally co-authored by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and enacted in 2000, according to the press release.

Sen. Crapo (R-ID) believes the new legislation should garner a wide range of bipartisan support.