Murkowski Lauds Passage of Secure Rural Schools Act
Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the House of Representatives’ passage of S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025. The House vote follows a letter Senator Murkowski and her colleagues sent to House leadership last week urging prompt action on the legislation. The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program offsets lost revenue resulting from declining timber receipts and provides funding for schools, roads, and other critical municipal services in eligible communities. Senator Murkowski has been a longtime champion of the program, which passed the Senate earlier this year by unanimous consent. The bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.
“Secure Rural Schools provides vital stability for communities across rural Alaska. These funds ensure that schools can remain open, roads are maintained, and emergencies can be responded to in a timely manner,” said Senator Murkowski. “I urge the President to sign it into law to prevent a lapse in funding for the communities that rely on this essential program.”
Background
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was enacted in 2000 to assist communities negatively impacted by declining timber sale revenues. Payments to eligible communities may be used to support schools and roads, fire prevention, emergency services, and eligible land projects.
The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act renews the program through fiscal year 2026 and directs the Treasury Department to issue all program payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 within 45 days of enactment. Those payments will be reduced by any federal funding boroughs have already received for those years. Boroughs’ 2023 elections regarding how to allocate leftover funds will apply to fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
The Forest Service manages 22 million acres of land in Alaska, including 17 million acres in Southeast and several million more in Southcentral. The amount each eligible borough receives is based in part on how much federal forest land lies within its boundaries.
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