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Local officials plan fly-in as Secure Rural Schools reauthorization stalls in U.S. House
Summary
A Secure Rural Schools representative urged Okanogan County leaders to support a May fly-in to Capitol Hill after the House stalled reauthorization; organizers seek county participation and funding for travel to press House leadership to pass approximately $250–$270 million in annual payments to counties.
Representatives of the National Forest Counties & Schools Coalition briefed the Okanogan County commissioners on a stalled reauthorization for the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and urged county support for an organized fly‑in to Washington, D.C.
The speaker, who identified himself as Glenn with Secure Rural Schools, said the Senate passed a three‑year extension unanimously late last year but that the House has not moved the bill. He asked that commissioners consider sending representatives to a coordinated fly‑in with other affected counties, planned to arrive in Washington on Monday, May 12, with meetings on Capitol Hill Tuesday–Thursday (May 13–15). “We’re gonna go fly in to get that message… we budgeted for this. It needs to be paid,” he said, describing SRS as a compact that returns a share of federal receipts to counties and estimating a national payment range of between $250,000,000 and $270,000,000 per year.
Glenn asked for the county’s help in lobbying House leadership and encouraged commissioners to coordinate with other Western counties that have organized similar delegations. Commissioners discussed possible travel and agreed staff may need to prepare a budget supplemental if the county elects to sponsor travel expenses for commissioners or staff who join the fly‑in. No formal county appropriation was made at the meeting.
